Subject: Xanana Statement
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 1999 08:50:51 -0400
From: "Solidamor" <Solidmor@centrin.net.id>CNRT - Timor-Leste Xanana
Gusmão
STATEMENT
From January March 31st 1999, the population of East Timor was subjected to
intimidation, and murders were committed in Ainaro, Liquiça, Maubara, Zumulai, Suai,
Atabae, Bobonaro, Baukau, Dili, Hatu Udo, Laga, Vikeke and Same, with a total of 21 dead,
approximately 20 sustaining bullet wounds, and another 20 severely beaten.
Over the same period, the people, fearing for their lives, fled their homes, resulting
in over 18,000 internally displaced people in the areas of Zumalai, Tilomar/Suai, Cailaco,
Maliana/Bobonaro, Fatubesi, Maubara, Liquica, Lacluta/Vikeke, Dili.
However, the first condition to an open, serious and meaningful dialogue - and finding
a solution to the East Timor issue requires no less - would be for both sides, or rather
all parties involved, to agree to put an end to the difficult situation of the population.
A state of calm must be returned to the people, they must be left to go about their lives
in peace.
This appeal was never heard, and, for us, reconciliation has no meaning unless this
pre-condition is met. To talk about reconciliation as the population is under threat and
mourns its dead would be inhumane. To have the "leaders" discuss reconciliation
while the East Timorese people are subjected to premeditated terror amounts to a horrific
black-mail aimed at forcing one side to accept autonomy.
Following the 22 March seminar in which Minister Ali Alatas himself participated, I
appealed to all pro-integrationists to accept that the two Timorese Bishops lead the
reconciliation process. I also reiterated my support for KOMNAS HAM to establish a
Commission for Peace and Stability in the territory.
Efforts have been undertaken by the two Bishops to conduct preliminary meetings with
each faction. Upon conclusion of these meetings the pro-integration groups declared
themselves in favour of reconciliation, only to then carry on with their intimidation
campaigns as if they did not undermine the process of reconciliation. Our appeal for calm
was taken as a sign of weakness on our part, as an invitation to maintain a state of
terror and assassination.
We discovered that, weeks earlier, the Udayana Regional Military Commander, General
Adam Damiri, had met with several militia leaders in Bali and that it had been decided to
set up the Forces for the Defence of Integration, a militia front estimated to consist of
2000 armed men.
The Liquiça massacre has not shaken people's conscience one bit. These blood oaths in
the defence of integration only show that people no longer value human life, the life of
their own brothers.
This strategy, aimed at blocking the New York negotiations, has been built on the blood
of the defenceless people of East Timor. The mentors of this strategy are satisfied with
the power they feel they have acquired and are confident that they have finally succeeded
in imposing their reign on East Timor, continuing to spread horror and to shed blood.
I am obliged to continue to ask that the defenceless people of East Timor refuse to
allow themselves be slaughtered like animals, although I know that no one will stop the
murderous bullets, although I know that ABRI will keep on supporting the militias as part
of the inhumane plan devised by the Indonesian generals to destroy the East Timorese
people. And these generals will no doubt repeat, as Adam Malik did, "we killed 70,000
but 'saved' many more", as if referring to the cows infected with the mad-cow disease
in England or the flue-spreading chickens of Hong-Kong.
FALINTIL have proved their courage throughout these 23 years of heroic resistance.
Courage is not measured in combat terms only and FALINTIL has demonstrated another kind
courage which is innate to its mission - the courage to continue to be judicious in its
actions!
It is in this context that I renew my APPEAL FOR PEACE, DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION!
Let us turn to dialogue, bearing in mind that restoring peace of mind and tranquillity
is our duty to the East Timorese people so that they can go about their already difficult
daily life, raise their children and cultivate their fields.
We have always stressed the need to forget the past. Some Indonesian generals did not
take kindly to this and are now trying to open new wounds to divide the East Timorese. I
have always believed that, provided the East Timorese are not drugged with interests that
are not their own, they are capable of sitting together and opening their hearts to each
other.
I appeal to ABRI to adopt a position of political maturity, of greater openness and
humanity, as today's world demands it.
I salute all those who, in Indonesia, demand a just solution for East Timor. I pay
tribute to President Habibie and his team who are engaged in a resolution of the conflict,
and salute the Reform Movement within ABRI.
The true Statesmen are those who put their country's interests above all else and have
the courage to change policies and correct the errors of history. The Indonesian men and
women who wish to put an end to the East Timor problem must not allow the fear of losing
face to guide their actions.
Charles de Gaulle, one of the most famous Frenchmen of all times, put an end to one of
the bloodiest periods of French history by ordering the withdrawal of France from Algeria.
He was not a weak man. He did not lose face. This general's name is written in gold
letters in the pages of French history after all he did for his country in the post-Second
World War period.
Richard Nixon ordered the American withdrawal from Vietnam. No one ever referred to him
as weak and, to this day, the United States of America has not lost face. Yasser Arafat
and Isaac Rabin, who once desired one another's mutual destruction, found the courage, the
intelligence and the political vision to reach a compromise. No one said they had been
weak or that they had lost face.
All these men are highly respected today for having made these decisions. This is the
difference between a true Statesman who does not need to resort to war as a form of
political survival or moral comfort.
I wish to extend this invitation to the politicians of Indonesia, and above all to the
Indonesian military.
I wish to acknowledge here the sympathy that the East Timorese people have received
from the governments of the USA, the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Brazil, South Africa and the Scandinavian countries. We cannot forget today the fraternal
and continuous support the peoples and governments of Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde,
Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome e Principe have given us all these years.
I also wish to express our appreciation for the extraordinary efforts of the UN
Secretary General, Kofi Annan, whose strong preoccupation for the long-standing problem of
East Timor has come to be the motor of progress in the negotiations.
I could not fail to address a special word to the President of the Portuguese Republic,
Dr. Jorge Sampaio, who, at such a difficult time, is standing by the side of the East
Timorese people. Prime Minister, Eng. Antonio Guterres, has displayed the same concern.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaime Gama, and his diplomatic team, have also shown great
dedication in defence of the Rule of Law, Justice and Peace.
Finally, to our dear and respected Bishop of Dili, D. Carlos Ximenes Belo, I extend the
expression of my firm solidarity at this most trying of times when, yet again, he is
bearing witness to the slaughter of the defenceless and victimised people of East Timor.
The establishment of a climate of peace in East Timor can only benefit Indonesia
itself. Indonesia can test its political good-will by solving this problem. In addition,
its commitment to alleviating the suffering of the East Timorese people would be amply
demonstrated by its authorising the entry of international observers and UN specialised
agencies such as WHO, UNICEF, UNDP into the territory.
Salemba, 14 April 1999
President of the CNRT
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao
Commander of the FALINTIL
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