Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- SUA990908(1)

URGENT PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIVES IN EAST TIMOR
* IMMEDIATELY SEND PEACE KEEPING FORCES to Protect Civilians
* STOP Human Rights Violations
8 September 1999

Action Requested || Sample Letter
 

Summary

Following the referendum held on August 30, 1999 under the auspices of the United Nations, there is an increase in human rights violations committed by the pro-integration militia groups which renewed their campaign of terror against the people of East Timor who voted for independence in the territory. Unconfirmed reports claim that 145 have been in the last 24 hours. The militias continued attacking the refugees shelters beside the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), the home of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bishop Belo (where there are at least 4,000 refugees). Humanitarian agencies warned of impending disaster, with 150,000 East Timorese displaced. The Red Cross said at least 25,000 had fled their homes in Dili, the capital of East Timor since the voting date. Analysts believe that a frightening pattern has developed throughout East Timor, with the Indonesian army using intimidation to force out foreigners who are first being told they will soon be attacked and that the police are unable to protect them. Militias are then used to attack foreign offices and missions, often firing into the air and not directly at the foreign workers. The Indonesian army then come in and evacuate foreigners. There is genuine fear that a massacre is happening even before the Indonesia's legislature meets in November to ratify the separation process.

Local groups are urging for international pressure on the United Nations to immediately SEND PEACE KEEPING FORCES to East Timor as the Indonesian military can not or will not restore peace and order even the martial law was declared on Sept 7. It is believed that the human rights situation will be even worse under martial law because the military has massive powers to shoot on sight, to control the media and any expression of opinion and to assume all authority in East Timor. To PROTECT human life in East Timor, ALL MUST ACT QUICKLY because PRESSURE IS VERY IMPORTANT AT THE MOMENT.

 
Action Requested

Please write to the United Nations expressing your concern about the escalating violence against the East Timorese and support the local call for

* United Nations peace keeping forces to be sent to restore peace and order in East Timor
* United Nations human rights monitoring to stop further abuses in East Timor.

(1) His Excellency Kofi Annan
Secretary General to the United Nations
United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A.

Fax : 1 - 212 - 963 4879 / 2155
Email: webadmin.hchr@unog.ch

(2) H.E. Peter van Walsum, Chairperson, Security Council, United Nations
C/O Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations
235 East, 45th Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA

Fax: 1-212-370 1954
Email: netherlands@un.int / nlgovnyv@undp.org

(3) Diplomatic representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations in your country. The members are: (i) United States of America, (ii) United Kingdom, (iii) France, (iv) The Peoples' Republic of China and (v) Russia

 

Sample Letter

I/we am/are gravely concerned about the continued intimidation and escalating violence against East Timorese after the referendum held on August 30, 1999 under the auspices of United Nations. I/We want to state my/our recognition to the professional work undertaken by the international and local staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), with full respect to the free will of the people to vote in East Timor. Nevertheless, after the announcement of the ballot result that the majority of the East Timorese population vote for independence, there has been a systematic process of intimidation and violence against the East Timorese population as well as local and international UNAMET personnel and international observers. The violence committed by the so called "militias", whose action have been tolerated by the Indonesia police and military. The Indonesia government is clearly not willing to fulfill its responsibilities to disarm and bring the militias under control. To prevent the human lives in East Timor from being treated inhumanely or killed, I/we strongly support the repeated and urgent calls by the local East Timoreses to urge the Security Council of the United Nations to immediately send peace keeping forces to East Timor to restore peace and order. The United Nations needs to stop further abuses and ensure a peaceful transition in East Timor.
 
WE SHALL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF THE LATEST SITUATION AND NECESSARY ACTIONS REQUIRED BY THE LOCAL GROUPS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
 

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