Dear Friend,
Every day the news is filled with examples of injustice and suffering, but few of these tragic stories also offer the potential for hope that East Timor does. Illegally invaded by Indonesia in 1975, this island nation has endured a brutal Indonesian military occupation which has killed over 200,000 people, or one-third of the pre-invasion population. But the East Timorese people have persisted against all odds in their struggle for the right to decide on their countryís future. Thanks to their courage and resilience, it appears that they will finally have that chance this summer.
On May 5, 1999, Indonesia and Portugal signed an agreement for the United Nations for an August 8th vote in which the East Timorese can choose whether or not they want to be independent from Indonesia. Due to an Indonesian-military sponsored terror campaign against supporters of independence, this vote has since been postponed to late August. In East Timor, however, the Indonesian military has organized paramilitary groups which are currently terrorizing people throughout the territory in an effort to make the population too afraid to vote for independence. Since last April, at least 50,000 East Timorese have become internal refugees as a result of paramilitary attacks. Hundreds more have been killed. According to the UN, a free and fair vote will be impossible unless conditions dramatically improve soon.
1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has called for a strong international presence in East Timor starting this summer until the vote has been conducted and ballots counted. The presence of international observers will be a deterrent to further violence and will help create a climate in which a fair and safe vote can be held.
The International Federation for East Timor (IFET), an international coalition of non-governmental organizations, has initiated an emergency project to send an international team of at least 200 election observers to East Timor. I will be one of 70 US volunteers on this project. Observers have already started to arrive in East Timor. I plan to depart on xxxxxx.
We will not campaign for one side or another, but will be there as a presence in support of the East Timorese peopleís right to decide for themselves. In addition to observing and reporting on the campaign and voting process, observers, by their visible presence as representatives of the world community, will help deter violent efforts to subvert the UN process.
Those of us traveling to East Timor must raise our own money for travel and living expenses. It will cost me $2000 to travel to East Timor and $200 per week during the time I am there. I'm writing to ask you for your help and support at this crucial time. Checks can be made out to xxxx and mailed to xxxx. Donations of frequent flyer miles are also helpful.
Regardless of whether you are able to help financially, please consider becoming part of an emergency support network for those of us who will be in East Timor. Members of this network may be asked to contact their members of Congress, the State Department, and others in response to events as they unfold around the August vote. If you would like to be a part of such a network or you would like to talk with me about the observer project, give me a call at xxxx.
I cannot emphasize enough how critical this time is for the people of East Timor. I strongly believe that we must do everything possible to ensure a peaceful and fair vote this August. Our presence in East Timor may literally help turn the tide of history and give the people there the opportunity to decide their own future.
Anything you can do to help this project and the East Timorese will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for all your support. Our collective effort will make a difference!
Sincerely,
Dear Friend,
Every day the news is filled with examples of injustice and suffering, but few of these tragic stories offer the potential for hope that East Timor does. Illegally invaded by Indonesia in 1975, this island nation has endured a brutal Indonesian military occupation which has killed 200,000 people, or one-third of the pre-invasion population. But the East Timorese people have persisted against all odds in their struggle for the right to decide on their countryís future. Thanks to their courage and resilience, it appears that they will finally have that chance this summer.
On May 5, 1999, Indonesia and Portugal signed an agreement at the United Nations for an August 8th vote in which the East Timorese can choose whether or not they want to be independent from Indonesia. Due to an Indonesian military-sponsored terror campaign against supporters of independence, this vote has since been postponed to late August. In East Timor, however, the Indonesian military has organized paramilitary groups which are currently terrorizing people throughout the territory in an effort to make the population too afraid to vote for independence. Since last April, at least 50,000 East Timorese have become internal refugees as a result of paramilitary attacks. Hundreds more have been killed. According to the UN, a free and fair vote will be impossible unless conditions dramatically improve soon.
1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has called for a strong international presence in East Timor starting this summer until the vote has been conducted and ballots counted. The presence of international observers will be a deterrent to further violence and will help create a climate in which a fair and safe vote can be held.
The International Federation for East Timor (IFET), an international coalition of non-governmental organizations, has initiated an emergency project to send an international team of at least 200 election observers to East Timor. Observers will not campaign for one side or another, but will be there as a presence in support of the East Timorese people's right to decide for themselves. In addition to observing and reporting on the campaign and voting process, observers, by their visible presence as representatives of the world community, will help deter violent efforts to subvert the UN process.
I'm writing to ask for your help and support at this crucial time. The costs of the project including establishing an office in Dili, equipping the main office and observer teams throughout the territory with phones and computers, hiring cars, drivers, and translators, training observers, and hiring staff to coordinate the project is estimated at $250,000. To make a donation, make your check payable to the East Timor Action Network (ETAN) and send the check to PO Box 1181, White Plains, NY 10602 USA. Please indicate in the subject line that the money is to be used for the observer project.
We are seeking donations of relevant equipment, such as modem-equipped laptop computers in good working condition and satellite phones. Donations of frequent flyer miles are also helpful. For more information on donations of equipment or frequent flyer miles, contact Kristin Sundell at 773-878-4033 or etanfield@igc.org.
Regardless of whether you are able to help financially, please consider becoming part of an emergency support network for US observers who will be traveling to East Timor this summer. Emergency network members may be asked to contact Congress, the State Department, Indonesian officials, and others in response to needs of the observer teams and events in East Timor. If you would like to be a part of such a network or you would like more information about the observer project, please contact Kristin Sundell (contact information above).
I cannot emphasize enough how critical this time is for the people of East Timor. We must do everything possible to ensure a peaceful and fair vote this August. The observer presence in East Timor together with our efforts here in the US can literally help turn the tide of history and give the people there the opportunity to decide their own future.
Anything you can do to help this project and the East Timorese will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for all your support. Our collective effort will make a difference!
Sincerely,