A Statement by the AHRC

[Ed. Note: Following is the statement made by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) at a press conference held at the Foreign Correspondence Club of Hong Kong, on 9 September 1999, jointly with Amnesty International Asia-Pacific, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.]

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the state-sponsored terror, orchestrated by the Indonesian Armed Forces [TNI] and currently in full swing, to sabotage the independence of East Timor. The pro-Indonesian militia actions are meant to undermine the election results, create an atmosphere of fear and instability, and to create the excuse for the presence Indonesian troops in East Timor. The people of East Timor had declared clearly their wish to be independent through a totally democratic and peaceful procedure. The referendum for independence, in which East Timorese people participated overwhelmingly, was facilitated and witnessed by the United Nations. Now the international community seems to have left the same people in East Timor in an utterly defenseless situation in which they face forced eviction from their homes, re-location and carnage at the hands of the Indonesian military and pro-Indonesian militias. People in East Timor have been brave and courageous to come forward to vote in peaceful and democratic manner. Now the United Nations has betrayed the same people. In this crucial moment, the international community, and especially the United Nations, have a great moral responsibility to protect the lives of the innocent people, including children and women, who are in great danger.

The militias, backed by the Indonesian military, reacted violently to the vote for independence with more killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, threats and intimidation. Militiamen are constantly patrolling Dili on trucks and motorcycles; firing shots including rocket-propelled grenades, bazookas, and burning houses. At the same time more than 60,000 people have been forced into West Timor at gunpoint by the Indonesian military. Militias have attacked the house of East Timor’s spiritual leader Bishop Carlos Belo, the Catholic Diocese Office, and the ICRC office. The complicity between the Indonesian military and the militia elements is clear and cannot be disputed.

At this moment we are witnessing systematic evacuation of pro-independence East Timorese from their homes in East Timor. There are reports of the attempt by Indonesian authorities to re-populate East Timor with Indonesians from outside East Timor. The situation reflects the strategy of "ethnic cleansing" like that in Kosovo, which has been clearly condemned by the international community. The AHRC condemns such forced evacuation of the East Timorese people out of East Timor and calls upon Indonesian government to STOP IMMEDIATELY these violations of the rights of the East Timorese people. AHRC reiterate that sole responsibility for the present tragic situation in East Timor is with the Indonesian army and the Indonesian government. It is time to have international peacekeeping force in East Timor and nothing else would suffice.

AHRC urges the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to make arrangements IMMEDIATELY to dispatch peace keeping personnel to East Timor essential to prevent the imminent dangers of "genocide." AHRC appeals to the United Nations to assume transitional authority until a peaceful transition that respects the outcome of this vote has occurred and a new government has been elected in East Timor. During the transition period the presence of a UN coordinated international security force is necessary to maintain peace and the security of all East Timorese people. We believe that any attempt by the United Nations to pull out of East Timor would result in a massive loss of lives of innocent people. UN pulling out from East Timor means beginning of genocide. AHRC strongly urge the United Nations to take steps to immediately strengthen its presence in East Timor.

AHRC also urges the Indonesian authorities and Indonesian military take all necessary actions to protect the lives of people of East Timor, disarm and disband the militias and to facilitate the presence of peace keeping forces in East Timor; Delay to act means loss of more lives!

The repetitive attacks against unarmed East Timorese by pro-Indonesian militia and the Indonesian army has led to heavy casualties and is indicative of systematic crimes against humanity being committed with impunity. We call for monitoring of the situation by local and international human rights groups. Evidence collected through such monitoring would facilitate possible future prosecution, through international tribunals, of Indonesian military leaders for committing crimes against humanity.

In this critical moment it is not just the responsibility of United Nations to bring peace to East Timor. Its now the responsibility of all the international communities, including religious groups and religious leaders, non-governmental organizations, trade unions, civic organizations and governments to act promptly and urgently as we witness the carnage taking place before our eyes We encourage volunteers to join the peacekeeping mission if such a need arise. We appeal to all religious groups, civic organizations and individuals to hold public vigils to save lives of children, women and all people in East Timor and demand Indonesian government and United Nations to take immediate actions to secure the lives of the people of East Timor.