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Emergency Alert on East Timor
(September 9, 1999 )
Please call President Clinton, your Senators and Representative
urgently and tell them the U.S. must pressure Indonesia to give
up its security responsibilities in East Timor and allow a United
Nations-endorsed international armed intervention force to step
in.
Points:
A human tragedy is underway in East Timor. Almost all foreigners
have been forced out of the territory, leaving no one to witness
the slaughter of innocent people. Thousands of Timorese have
fled their homes and villages and are taking refuge in religious
sites or in the mountains. An unknown number have already been
killed.
Nobel Laureate Bishop Carlos Belo's house in Dili has been
burned to the ground and the 3,000 refugees taking refuge in
his compound have been forced out and taken away--no one knows
where.
The Asia Pacific Center had an observer delegation present
for the ballot. The delegation was forced to leave before schedule.
Before leaving, members witnessed burning of buildings; armed
militias roaming the streets of Dili and other towns in view
of police and military; the elite military force Kopassus firing
on U.N. helicopters; journalists, UNAMET personnel and all foreigners
threatened and attacked.
It is clear that Indonesia either cannot or will not fulfill
its responsibilities for maintaining security in East Timor.
Its leaders have issued nothing but words ever since the May
5 agreement.
Indonesia MUST be pressured to step back and allow in a United
Nations-endorsed armed international force to take over the
role of security and save the lives of the East Timorese people.
Indonesia must NOT be given any more chances to control the
situation. Every hour of delay is that many more lives lost.
The international community must act NOW to stop further bloodshed
in the territory.
For more information, contact:
Miriam A. Young
Executive Director
Asia Pacific Center for Justice and Peace
110 Maryland Avenue NE, Box 70
Washington, DC 20002
Tel: (202) 543-1094
Fax: (202) 546-5103
E-mail: miriam@apcjp.org
Web site: www.apcjp.org
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