Subject: ACFOA on East Timor: 'Back to the
beginning'
Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 08:46:43 +0000
From: Gerry van Klinken <g.vanklinken@mailbox.gu.edu.au>BACK TO THE BEGINNING:
REPORT OF AN AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR OVERSEAS AID (ACFOA) DELEGATION TO EAST TIMOR, 5-12
JUNE 1999 :
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
The delegation found a pervasive climate of intimidation and human rights violations in
East Timor. Records from one NGO showed 308 violations had occurred in April, most
perpetrated by the military and militias against civilians. Civil servants are being
required to sign a form to indicate which way they will vote in the ballot and
pro-independence officials are experiencing severe intimidation. The police, who have
formal responsibility for security, show little evidence of being able to enforce the rule
of law or arrest perpetrators of human rights.
One of the conditions identified by the UN Secretary General for carrying out the
Ballot is the full cooperation of the Indonesian authorities. At present, this is absent
and the evidence indicates that a concerted effort is being made by government officials
and the military to ensure a vote for autonomy, in direct breach of the 5 May Agreement.
We heard many accounts of complicity by some bupati and camat (regency and district heads)
in direct support for the military, the militias and the pro-autonomy campaign. This
includes funding support.
There are between 40-50,000 internally displaced people living in appalling conditions.
Many are in 'camps' controlled by the militias. Humanitarian organisations are facing
extreme difficulties in reaching these people as local authorities and militias frequently
deny their existence or refuse access to them. They are in urgent need of food and medical
care and it is imperative that the UN maintain intense pressure on those denying access to
them to grant it.
More generally health needs are particularly acute, and trusted church clinics are
under intense stress. The security situation is preventing the normal coffee harvest, as
well as harvest of subsistence crops, to proceed and nutritional problems are likely to
worsen.
UNAMET has been set an impossible timeframe and some delay to the Ballot is necessary.
Because of the continuing intimidation, the conditions for holding a free and fair Ballot
cannot be achieved. The resources committed to East Timor by the UN are inadequate to the
task, both in the shorter and the longer term.
It is urgent that the UNAMET electoral information messages to the East Timorese
population be given clearly in an effective and credible education and communication
process. In order to achieve this, the UNAMET measures already taken through STT and RRI
must be supplemented.
The tripartite agreement allows for official monitors from Indonesia and Portugal and
for other civilian monitors. UN officials affirm that additional civilian monitors would
be most welcome. Given that UN personnel and UN Volunteers will be insufficient to provide
adequate cover for the planned 700 polling places, these civilian monitors are seen to
have an important supplementary role. An international coordinating mechanism for them
needs to be established in Dili as a matter of urgency.
Over the past twenty-four years, a culture of violence has developed in East Timor. The
need for peace building was acknowledged by all. The Catholic Church is perhaps the only
institution with the status and influence in East Timorese society to bring about an
effective dialogue among all the various groups.
It is clear from the tenuousness of peace-building initiatives that the post-Ballot
period will be a critical one in establishing a lasting peace in East Timor. There is no
adequate local institutional infrastructure to ensure an ordered transition or one in
which ongoing violence from the losers, whichever they may be, will be avoided.
Recommendations
- · That the UN Secretary General take into account that the conditions for a free and
fair Ballot are absent at present and that more time will be required for even their
minimal establishment.
- · That, if the Ballot is delayed, it not be delayed indefinitely, but only for long
enough to allow UNAMET to carry out its mandate.
- · That the numbers of UNAMET personnel be urgently increased to allow it to carry out
its mandate effectively.
- · That UNAMET negotiate access to relevant international broadcasters as another
channel for the dissemination of information concerning the Ballot.
- · That the Indonesian Government, at all levels, implement the terms of the tripartite
agreement, including the prohibition on public funds being used for any aspect of the
campaign.
- · That the Indonesian military also abide by the terms of the tripartite agreement and
withdraw wholly from any involvement, overt or covert, in the carrying out of the Ballot.
This redeployment to be carried out immediately.
- · That the police be given full support in carrying out their responsibilities for
ensuring security and enforcing the rule of law.
- · That pressure should be brought to bear on the Indonesian Government to ensure
humanitarian access to the IDPs; assistance in the form of food aid, water, sanitation and
health care is urgent.
- · That Portugal maintain and assist in the coordination of substantial resources to the
carrying out of the Ballot.
- · That Portugal provide substantial resources to peace building, human rights,
development and the strengthening of civil society, both during the transition and
afterwards.
- · That funding set aside by the Australian Government to support the Ballot be made
available to support UN accredited civilian monitors, including: · adequate support to
the identified coordination mechanism in Australia including for the selection and
training of volunteers; · airfares and some logistical support for the volunteers
selected; · the immediate establishment of a small unit in Dili to organise the monitors.
- · That a comprehensive and independent nutrition survey be undertaken and that
negotiations take place with all parties to allow full access to all areas so that this
and UNICEF's immunisation campaign for children can proceed as a matter of urgency.
- · That all concerned governments provide strong and active support to the efforts of
the Churches to strengthen dialogue and peace building in East Timor.
- · That the Indonesian Government reconstitute the Commission for Peace and Stability
(KPS) to include a broader representation of local East Timorese organisations and
representatives of civil as well as political society.
- · That any KPS officials demonstrating partisan support for either Ballot option be
removed immediately.
- · That a UNAMET presence be maintained in East Timor after the Ballot and beyond the
transition period, the length of time necessary to be reviewed a year after the Ballot.
Janet Hunt Executive Director Australian Council for Overseas Aid Private Bag 3 Deakin
ACT 2600 Ph: 61 2 62851816 Fax: 61 2 62851720
Website: www.acfoa.asn.au
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