Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- UA991207(19)

Continuing Call for the Safe Repatriation of East Timorese Refugees and Solidarity Message to Bishop Belo
~ East Timor ~
7 December 1999

Action Requested || Sample Letter

 

Summary

Hotline Asia, together with justice and peace workers and representatives of non-governmental organization of ten Asian countries, have just ended a justice and peace meeting (from November 26 to 29, 1999) in Bangkok, Thailand, for the purpose of forging greater unity in the struggle for the promotion of human rights in Asia. East Timor is matter of great concern of the participants.

 
Action Requested

To support East Timorese refugees in West Timor, it is hoped that the international community can express their continued concern for the well being of the East Timorese refugees by writing:

(1) Solidarity messages to

Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo, Bishop of Dili, East Timor
c/o Secretariat for J&P Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, JL, Cut Mutiah 10 Tromolpos 3044, Jakarta Pusat 10002, Indonesia
c/o By Email: shanti@indo.net.id
c/o By Fax: 62-21-314-7989

(2) Letters to

President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice-President Megawati, Sukarnoputri, of the
Republic of Indonesia urging for the protection of the rights and guarantee of the safety of East Timorese refugees in West Timor during the repatriation process.

Postal address for:
President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri
c/o President of the Republic of Indonesia
Istana Negara, Gedung Binagraha, Jl. Veteran, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
By Fax: 62-12-345-7782

c.c.: Diplomatic representatives of Indonesia in your country.

 

Sample Letter

N.B. The message below is from the participants and may be used as a sample letter.

(1) Solidarity Letter to Bishop Belo

Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo, Bishop of Dili
Dili, East Timor

Your Excellency / Most Reverend Monsignor,

We, Justice and Peace Workers in Asia - Pacific, are in solidarity with you and your people in your struggle for freedom, justice and peace.

We are deeply aware of the suffering of your people and are saddened because of the loss of lives and properties, the human rights abuses, their hunger, sickness, trauma and dislocation as a result of a senseless war.

Please know that we are praying for you, that we have acted to put pressure on the international community and the Indonesian government; and supported your people by sharing human and material resources.

We assure you of our continuing effort to support you through these initiatives until such a time that East Timor could rehabilitate itself as a new nation with equal dignity and opportunities like the rest of the other nations.

(2) Appeal for the Safe Repatriation of East Timorese Refugees in West Timor

TO: President of the Republic of Indonesia

Your Excellency,

We have known your commitments to democracy and human rights and we are happy when you assumed the Presidency of the Republic of Indonesia.

We know that you are familiar with the plight of the East Timorese people who are still scattered throughout Indonesia.

But having learned that Your Excellency have many other important tasks to attend to, nonetheless, we, workers for Justice and Peace in Asia would like to ask you, to set as a priority, the process of stability of East Timor by
helping to expedite their people's safe repatriation especially those who are in refugee camps of West Timor.

We trust in your capacity to summon the military to ensure the safety and protect the rights of the East Timorese refugees on their way back to their nation.

We pray for the success of your government to promote the welfare and prosperity of the Indonesian people as well as your support for the emerging nation.

TO: Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia

Her Excellency,

We are happy to have a woman as the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia. It is not by mere coincidence that you have been appointed in-charge of East Timor. Its' people now need the motherly care at the infancy stage of their new nation.

We know that you are familiar with the plight of the East Timorese people who are still scattered throughout Indonesia.

But having learned that Her Excellency have many other important tasks to attend to, nonetheless, we, workers for Justice and Peace in Asia would like to ask you, to set as a priority, the process of stability of East Timor by helping to expedite their people's safe repatriation especially those who are in refugee camps of West Timor.

We know you are in a position to influence the military to ensure the safety and protect the rights of the East Timorese on their way back to their nation.

We pray for the success of your Vice-Presidency to promote the welfare and prosperity of the Indonesian people as well as your support for the emerging nation.
 

Please remember to send copies of your letters to Hotline Asia for monitoring purpose.
Thank you for Your Continued Support!!