Declaração de TL NGO em solidariedade com Burma

Tradução da Margarida:

Declaração Conjunta

As ONGs de Timor-Leste em Solidariedade com as Manifestações Pacíficas Lideradas pelos Monges Budistas em Burma Urgem que o Governo entre em Diálogo

Nós, representantes das ONG’s de Direitos Humanos de Timor-Leste expressamos a nossa mais profunda solidariedade no espírito dos direitos humanos com o pacífico e santo movimento iniciado pelos Monges Budistas e a que se juntaram muitos cidadãos Burmaneses, que têm andado a realizar manifestações pacíficas exercendo os seus direitos à liberdade de opinião e expressão há vários dias e em locais diferentes do país.

Estamos muito preocupados com relatos dos media que o Governo usou a força em resposta às manifestações, que bateram nos manifestantes e que morreram duas pessoas. Condenamos fortemente esta repressão brutal para parar com a manifestação pacífica e urgimos ao Governo para entrar em diálogo com a população, e que autorize ao Enviado Especial da ONU acesso livre e imediato ao país.

Apoiamos declarações da ONU bem como da comunidade internacional incluindo do Governo de Timor-Leste que condena fortemente a violência em Burma. Apelamos à ASEAN e ao Governo Chinês para intervir de qualquer maneira possível, para urgir que o governo de Burma tenha a máxima de contenção e que evite o recurso à dor e ao sofrimento que resultou das suas acções em 1988, à quase vinte anos atrás. Apelamos à ASEAN e a todos os seus membros, no verdadeiro espírito de ser uma associação de nações, para actuar imediatamente e não considerar que os acontecimentos recentes em Burma são apenas um assunto interno de Burma.

Os eventos correntes em Burma lembram a nós, Timorenses, fortemente a luta pelos direitos humanos que ocorreu na nossa história recente. Não esquecemos nunca a solidariedade internacional mostrada no passado à volta do mundo pela luta dos Timorenses.
Sabemos que o uso da violência e da opressão nunca leva à estabilidade e paz genuína e duradoura. As vozes do povo da Burma precisam se ser ouvidas urgentemente. Por isso apelamos ao governo de Burma para libertar imediatamente o líder da Liga Nacional para a Democracia, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi e se engajar em conversas com a ideia de encontrar no fim uma solução a longo prazo para os assuntos importantes que Burma está a enfrentar hoje, e que seja justa para todo o seu povo.

Timor-Leste, 27 Setembro 2007

Para emissão e mais informação
Contacte: João Pequinho (Hp. (+670) 724 2099)

Esta delaração foi assinada por:

FORUM TAU MATAN EYES ON HUMAN RIGHTS (FTM)
La'o Hamutuk - The Timor-Leste Institute for
Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
East Timor Reflection Network (ETCRN)
Grupo Feto Foinsae Timor Leste (GFFTL)
Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP)
East Timor Insight Research Laboratory
Konfederasaun Sindikatu Timor-Leste (KSTL)
Alola Foundation
KATILOSA Disability Support Program
HAK Association
Pat Walsh (Individual)
Rogerio Vicente (individual)
Amelia de Araujo (individual).

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Address by H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly

27 September 2007
Check against delivery Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers and Ambassadors,
Excellencies,

As I address this esteemed body, may I seize the opportunity to extend to you, Mr. President, my sincere and warm congratulations on your well-deserved election to preside over the 62nd session of the General Assembly.

In view of the constraints of time and in deference to all, I shall take no more than 10 minutes to share with Your Excellencies both some facts and reflections on the situation in my country as well as on select issues of regional and international concern.

Timor-Leste is encouraged by the fact the Secretary-General has convened the High-Level Event on Climate Change to be followed by the negotiations on the UN Framework Convention in Bali. The industrialized countries of the North bear an enormous responsibility for the damage done to our fragile eco-systems. They, more than anyone else, must reverse the course and lead the effort in saving this earth. However, we in the developing world cannot escape our own responsibilities. Demographic explosion and our own efforts, to catch up with the rich North, all contribute to the pressures on our land, forests, rivers, lakes and oceans. Let’s put rhetoric aside and work as one to redress the enormous damage we have done to the common Home of Humanity.

The political situation in Timor Leste

In April/May 2006, less than 5 years after my country’s accession to full independence, we were plunged into our first major crisis. The then President of the Republic, the Speaker of National Parliament and the Prime Minister jointly agreed to seek United Nations urgent assistance and the rapid intervention of friendly countries.

I wish to reiterate here our sincere gratitude to those who came to our assistance in this time of need. We are forever grateful to Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand and to Portugal – which dispatched a fully equipped company of its elite force, the National Republican Guard (GNR), from 20 thousand miles away.

The Security Council approved the deployment of an integrated mission, UNMIT, with a police component of 1,740 police. The deployment of UNPOL was understandably extremely slow – only in January 2007 was the projected force close to completion.

We have made significant progress since the dark weeks of April/May 2006. Presidential and Legislative elections were held between April and June 2007. The election campaign period was mostly free of violence and there were few reported irregularities. Though we are proud that the two elections were managed by our own agencies, we also acknowledge that the active support from UNMIT and other UN agencies like the UNDP were indispensable and crucial to enable us to undertake such a complex task.

While the result of the presidential election was warmly welcome by all including the defeated candidate, the same did not happen when a new government was announced following the June 30th legislative election.

Fretilin, the former ruling party, won most votes but not enough to govern on its own and after several weeks of lobbying it failed to forge a coalition to govern. A post-election four-party parliamentary alliance, opposed to Fretilin, secured 37 seats in the new Parliament of 65 seats, was invited to form government. There was violence in a number of locations in which local law enforcement elements were implicated but the swift UNPOL and ISF intervention succeeded in quickly controlling the situation. Our own defense force played a constructive role in helping to defuse the violence. I acknowledge also the role played by the Fretilin leadership in restraining their more passionate followers.

Law and order has been restored. However, the relative tranquility prevailing in the country is a precarious one and is due in a large measure to the effective role played by UNPOL, ISF and our own Defense Force. This will remain the case until such a time when our police force has been reconstructed and turned into a credible and effective force. This will take two to five years at a minimum. I wish to assure all that in the meantime, the East Timorese will continue a national dialogue so that we may reconcile and heal the wounds of the past.

Together with the Speaker of the National Parliament and the Prime Minister I have established a high level mechanism in order to provide a cohesive and unified East Timorese leadership on the security sector reform. An expert team of national and international advisers, working under our two Secretaries of State for Defense and Security, currently interfaces with UNMIT’s own security sector reform group. Our shared goal is to ascertain a sound strategy for the appropriate reform of our police force and the development of our defense force.

The social situation in Timor Leste

The 2006 crisis caused widespread looting and destruction in the capital. More than 30 people died – more than 100 were wounded – and tens of thousands were displaced. We are slowly recovering. However, tens of thousands of people remain in precarious camps in the capital and elsewhere. I thank the international community, the UN and its agencies, IOM, and international NGOs for their generous and prompt assistance. The new government has pledged to cooperate with all to address the IDP situation.

The late rains of last year, floods and a locust plague have caused significant damage to our subsistence agriculture sector. As a result, an acute food shortage is foreseen in the coming months. The government is planning to purchase significant amounts of food items in the regional markets to make up for the food shortage.

Endowed with some oil and gas resources, Timor-Leste cannot complain of not having enough financial means to turn our economy around and lift the living standards of our people. According to a recent ADB report, Timor-Leste’s economy will see a strong 22% growth this year due to our oil revenues and UN presence.

Based on Norway’s expert advice, the previous National Parliament adopted the Petroleum Law which lays down strict guide-lines for the use and management of the oil and gas revenues. As of July 2007 our Petroleum Fund has accumulated over US$1.4 billion. Monthly revenues of US$100 million are being deposited in the Fund. However, this has not translated into any visible improvement in the lives of the poor.

During my brief tenure as Prime Minister (July 2006 – May 2007), working with my ministerial colleagues, and assisted by the World Bank and the IMF, I introduced some major reforms with a view to streamlining a number of complicated bureaucratic procedures so that we could fast-track budget execution and services delivery. The new government has also accepted my fiscal reform proposal that will turn Timor-Leste into a tax free country.

However, all this is not enough to improve the living standards of the people. The vast majority of the people who have been poor for centuries cannot and should not wait. I have pledged to be the President of the Poor and I intend to be their best advocate. I am establishing a fast-track mechanism under my personal leadership to provide direct assistance to individuals, groups or rural communities. The idea is that it should take not more than 10 working days for a decision to be made on a project and for the first installment of a grant to be disbursed. Coupled with public investments in infrastructure (roads, bridges, port and airport) and in the agriculture sector, Timor-Leste should see in the medium term a significant reduction of unemployment and a decrease in the poverty levels.

Education and youth employment are areas that my presidency and the new government are prioritizing with more public spending. I have proposed the establishment of a permanent Youth Parliament with youth in the age bracket of 13 to 17 to be eligible to serve as Youth MPs for a certain period of the year. This is not only an effective and creative way to empower youth but it also serves as a unique leadership development process and as a school for future leaders.
My presidency, in partnership with the government which under our Constitution holds primary executive responsibility to provide services to the people, is determined to accomplish the Millenium Development Goals by 2015. Working together with Civil Society, Churches, the NGO’s, the private sector and the international community we can do it. We owe it to the poor in our country. There cannot be nobler mission than freeing our fellow human beings from the slavery of poverty.

UN presence

We are cognizant of the fact that the international community faces a number of critical situations around the world, notably, in the Middle East, Somalia, Sudan-Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, to mention but a few that are far more serious than the situation in Timor-Leste and maybe are of greater strategic importance and implication for regional and world peace.
Hence, we are conscious that the East Timorese leadership and the people must make every effort to consolidate peace and stability in our country in order to free the UN from the burden in Timor-Leste resulting from the 2006 crisis, a crisis of our own making and for which we must take full responsibility with courage and humility. We hope that the UN will consider a longer-term engagement with us to further stabilize the situation, strengthen our national institutions and consolidate peace and democracy.

As the situation progresses, we hope that the Peace Building Commission will consider placing Timor-Leste on its agenda as a follow-up to UNMIT.

Human Rights, Rule of Law, Justice

When sovereignty was transferred to the people of Timor-Leste in May 2002, what existed then was no more than the sketch, the idea of a modern, democratic state. We had to build our country from scratch. Yet while we failed in many areas, we succeeded in others. We have succeeded in not abandoning our deep commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Timor-Leste stands among very few that have ratified all seven core Human Rights Treaties. We are grateful to the High Commissioner for Human Rights for assisting us in our reporting obligations to the Treaty bodies.

The events of 2006 led to serious breaches of human rights, including the right to life. Our justice sector, though still fragile, is coping well with its responsibilities thanks to generous assistance from a number of friendly countries through the UNDP. The report, conclusions and recommendations of the Independent Commission of Enquiry mandated by the Secretary-General are duly considered by our respective State bodies.

Timor-Leste seeks a seat on the Human Rights Council for the term 2008-2011 and we are particularly pleased and grateful that many countries have so far expressed support for our candidacy. I wish to assure all that as a member of the HRC, Timor-Leste will favor dialogue on serious human rights situations; will prioritize strengthening the thematic procedures, promoting ratification of existing human rights treaties, and strengthening national and regional human rights mechanisms.

As a country born of centuries of colonization, with its own weaknesses and failings, but rich in experience, both good and bad, we believe in dialogue to solve national and international disputes, in the power of ideas, in partnerships and cooperation to address regional and international challenges.

Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF)

In August 2005, the Presidents of Timor-Leste and Indonesia inaugurated a forward-looking policy and mechanism of truth-finding as a means to address the violence of 1999 when the two countries parted ways. While there were some calls for the establishment of an ad hoc International Tribunal to try those responsible for the 1999 violence, the leaders of the two countries opted instead for a bi-national version of the South African Truth and Reconciliation process. This was a novel and unique approach to redress the wrongs of the past and being untested it provoked much criticism and opposition in certain quarters.

The 10 Commissioners of both sides are reaching the end of their mission. In early 2008 they will produce a report and recommendations and then the Heads of State and Government of the two countries, inspired by our two countries best interests and in respect of truth and the interests of the victims, will review these recommendations and follow up where possible.
For our part in Timor-Leste, we remember our past and we honor our fallen heroes and victims. Many are alive and carry in their body and soul the suffering that was inflicted on them. But we have refused to be hostage to the past and to the temptation of seeking revenge. For Indonesia and Timor-Leste, two developing countries and emerging democracies, facing a multitude of domestic and regional challenges, we simply cannot walk the path some have suggested to us, namely the path of justice at any cost. We must guard against destabilizing our fragile democracies.

International and regional relations

Timor-Leste is expanding and consolidating our relations with the region and the world. We are an active member of the ASEAN Regional Forum and working towards full membership in ASEAN. We are an active observer in the Pacific Islands Forum and are a member of the Comunidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa.

The situation in Myanmar

Excellencies,
I shall now turn to some international issues of concern to Timor-Leste. As a country of the region, Timor-Leste follows with deep concern and disappointment the developments in Myanmar. As human beings and friends we are distressed at the deteriorating social, humanitarian and political conditions in that neighboring country.

The leaders in Myanmar must not continue to hold Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung Suu Kji and the entire nation hostage to a mind-set that belongs to the Cold War and to policies that have brought international opprobrium and economic ruin to a country endowed with vast natural resources and with a very proud people.

On the other hand, we do not believe that a strategy of isolating and punishing a whole community is the best way to advance the cause of freedom and democracy - for the actual consequence of such a strategy is the further isolation and impoverishment of a whole people.

Nuclear proliferation

Timor-Leste commends the six-party on North Korea who have achieved some positive results in inducing North Korea to reverse its nuclear weapons capability. This modest success shows that patient diplomacy may advance even the most intractable conflicts when the parties involved identify common concern and interest.

On the other hand, Timor-Leste is deeply concerned with the climate of mistrust and confrontation as regards the situation in Iran. Iran is entitled to explore every peaceful means to acquire technology that would make it less reliant on non-renewable sources of energy. No one disputes such a right for Iran or for any other nation. However, Iran must do more to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to reassure its neighbors and the rest of the world that it is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons capability.
Asia is the most nuclearized region of the world. I don’t know that we should be proud of such a status. The Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is indeed madness as the acronym itself suggests. Our scientists have developed Frankstein monsters that may well destroy us all - either by design if the weapons fall into the hands of non-state actors or by accident.

Those powers that possess nuclear weapon should reengage and dismantle all such weapons and all other forms of weapons of mass destruction.

History has shown us how mighty empires and regimes built on terror and fear, have come and gone, crumbled in spite of their arsenals.
Death Penalty

Timor-Leste is part of a cross regional initiative calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. We note that the trend towards the worldwide abolition of the death penalty continues.

Situation in Darfur

Timor-Leste commends the African Union and the United Nations and all those in government and those individuals who have done their very best to end the suffering of the people there, a suffering now compounded by natural calamity. In the midst of such tragedy we can retain some consolation and inspiration as we see millions of people around the world, traversing religions and cultures, joining together in solidarity with the victims of Darfur.

Situation in Palestine

As a small and newly-independent nation and a friend of Israel, Timor-Leste cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of the Palestinian people, many times victims, victims of Israeli obstinate policies of occupation and discrimination, victims of manipulation of regional powers, victims of their own sectarian division and violence. While Timor-Leste does not subscribe to the many one-sided anti-Israel resolutions adopted throughout the year in various UN bodies, the facts on the ground show a whole people living on the edge of desperation as a result of decades of humiliation, exclusion and violence. Timor-Leste joins the international community in calling for the implementation of the road map leading to the formal establishment of a viable Palestinian State.

Western Sahara

Over 100,000 people in Western Sahara continue to live in precarious camps following the war that ensued after the 1975 Tri-Partite Madrid Agreement which split the former Spanish colony into two, for Mauritania and Morocco. Timor-Leste is encouraged and commends both Morocco and the Polisario Front for the recent talks held in Long Island under United Nations good-offices. We believe that only dialogue may bring about a resolution of this decades-old conflict which along with the Palestinian conflict is becoming one of the world’s longest running problems.

Indigenous peoples’ rights

More than five hundred years ago, long after Chinese navigators and explorers had circumnavigated the globe, European kings, navigators, missionaries, adventurers and mercenaries began the great European conquest of the world. In the process tens of millions of people were subjugated, colonized; fortunes and empires were made at the expense of the peoples they came into contact with; new diseases were brought into the new colonies; slavery uprooted at least 10 million from the African continent alone.

Millions of indigenous peoples were decimated by wars and diseases; their death and land gave birth to new nations that were alien to their sacred birth place. This very island of Manhattan was once sovereign home to native Americans. This is all part of the history of the world, the history of European conquest with its glory and tragedy. Timor-Leste commends the General Assembly for finally adopting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is the least that we can do to redress the grave injustices done to some of the earlier civilizations of the world.

UN reform

Consultations and negotiations on reform of the UN system and in particular of the Security Council should start; rather than desiring drastic reforms, we may want to adopt an incremental approach. The SC must be incrementally expanded to include major powers like India, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, South Africa and Germany.
It is an absurdity that Asia which contains almost half of the world population should be so grossly under-represented.
May God the Almighty and the Merciful bless us all.

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Friday, 28 September 2007

"UNMIT assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the articles or for the accuracy of their translations. The selection of the articles and their content do not indicate support or endorsement by UNMIT express or implied whatsoever. UNMIT shall not be responsible for any consequence resulting from the publication of, or from the reliance on, such articles and translations."

National Media Reports

The Catholic Church disagrees with the CTF citing “manipulation”

The Catholic Church has disagreed with the establishment Truth and Friendship Commission (CTF), because according to the Church, the Commission could damage victims’ rights by offering impunity to those who have committed human rights violations.

“I think that the Commission will not contribute to justice and will make military sympathizers heroes,” said the Director of Peace and Justice of the Baucau Diocese, Fr. Martinho Gusmao.

Fr. Gusmao also said he will not participate in the Commission. (DN)

John Hutcheson: “ISF deployed 4 placements in eastern part”

The commander of the International Security Forces (ISF) says there are currently four deployments to support the F-FDTL and UNPol in maintaining security in the eastern part of the country.

Speaking to the journalists on Thursday (27/9) in a Press Briefing in Caicoli, Mr. Hutcheson said that all people should know the work of ISF in Timor-Leste is to support the communities who are facing security problems.

The soldiers who are deployed in Baucau, Viqueque, Watulari and Lospalos are partnering with the F-FDTL, UNPol and PNTL to maintain security across the country. (DN)

Xanana-Paulo signed travel authorization of Railos, Fretilin presents to NP

The Fretilin MP Elizario Ferreira said a travel authorization letter for Railos, which signed by the former President Xanana Gusmã and the former PNTL Commander Paulo Martins shows he was granted official permission relating to last year’s crisis.

Speaking to the journalists on Thursday (27/9) in the national parliament, Mr. Ferreira said that the travel authorization shows that Railos is being afforded immunity and was able to authorize arson, theft and intimidation of people in Liquicia.

“This shows where the crisis comes from, and Mr. Paulo himself recognizes that they signed the authorization letter,” added Mr. Ferreira. (DN)

Government to identify the status of IDPs

The government is going to create coordination team to identify the status of the IDPs in camps before building houses and facilities for them.

The State Secretary of Council of Ministries, Agio Pereira said that the coordination team will identify who are the IDPs and who are not.

Mr. Pereira also said the Ministry of Solidarity has funding to prepare shelter for IDPs ahead of the rainy season. (TP)

Audição Alternativa para responder à Audição da CVA

Tradução da Margarida:

ETAN - 25 Setembro 2007
Este convite e programa, bem como as fotografias da manifestação da sociedade civil no exterior da audição da Comissão da Verdade e Amizade em Dili em 25 de Setembro, 2007, estão em http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/TFC/07PhotosCVADemo.html

Audensia publika alternativa hasoru CVA nia audensia

Organizada por FONGTIL Secretariado com Membros: HAK ASSOCIATION, FOKUPERS, FTM, ESPADA, HCTL, KATILOSA, KSUTL, GFFTL, MBC-TL, HAPOTI, JSMP, CARITAS AUSTRALIA, LAO HAMUTUK, LUTA HAMUTUK, INCLUDES ICTJ, ETCRN, ANTI e FRONT MAHASISWA TIMOR LESTE
Timor Leste - Indonesia

Verdade e justica mak dalan ba amizade
Verdade e justiça é a estrada para a amizade
Datas: 28-29 Setembro 2007
Horas: 8:30 am às 17:00
Local: Sala de Reuniões das Irmãs Canossianas, Becora, Dili

[Segue-se o Tótum depois do Português em baixo, o calendário das audições alternativas segue-se depois desta.]

Com Respeito,
Todos sabemos que apesar de Timor-Leste ter caído numa longa crise em 2006 e 2007, a Comissão da Verdade e Amizade (CVA) realizou audições públicas em Denpasar e Jacarta, Indonésia. Alguns Timorenses vítimas e testemunhas foram convidados a dar testemunhos nestas audições. A atenderem estiveram antigos apoiantes pró-Autonomia e generais Indonésios, que deram também testemunho.

De acordo com as observações da sociedade civil de Timor-Leste, “a Indonésia disse que as audições públicas da CVA são um evento. Afirmam que procuram a verdade, mas dão espaço a generais Indonésios para se defenderem a eles próprios e negar as suas responsabilidades nas violações dos direitos humanosem Timor-Leste em 1999. Pior ainda, eles alegam que as violações dos direitos humanos em Timor-Leste são da responsabilidade do lado pró-independência e das Nações Unidas. Isto mostra que as Audições Públicas da CVA se tornaram um lugar para promover e alimentar a impunidade. A sociedade civil de Timor-Leste pensa que a CVA se tornou uma ameaça para a futura Justiça e Amizade entre Timor-Leste e a Indonésia.

A CVA é uma instituição bilateral que os Presidentes de Timor-Leste e da Indonésia creiaram em 2005. A presença da CVA trouxe debates a favor e contra no interior das comunidades de Timor-Leste e da Indonésia, na cara da comunidade internacional. Até hoje, a própria ONU não deu apoio à CVA. E a sociedade civil em Timor-Leste e na Indonesia não apoiam também a presença da CVA.
TFC plans to organize a Public Hearing in Dili, on 25-27 September 2007.
De modo a criar uma informação equilibrada acerca das violações dos direitos humanos em Timor-Leste em 1999, nós da sociedade civil de Timor-Leste estamos a organizar uma Audição Pública Alternativa para responder a esta audição da CVA. Por estas razões, gostaríamos de o convidar a participar nesta audição alternativa.
Esta audição é aberta ao público; por favor tragam amigos e membros da vossa família.
Muito obrigado pela vossa cooperação.

Dili, 24 Setembro 2007,
Organizadores:
-----
Loron : 28 ­ 29 Setembru 2007
Fatin : Aula Susteran Canosiana Becora/Dili
Horas : 08.30 ­ 17.30

Organizador:
Edio Saldanha Borges, Aliança para o Tribunal Internacional Tribunal ANTI; Ph:7284602 Email: kadiuk@yahoo.com
Jose Caetano Guterres, East Timor Crisis Reflection Network (ETCRN): Ph: 7253877 mailto:infoetcrn2006@yahoo.com

Programa para a Audição Pública Alternativa
Primeiro Dia (Sexta-feira, 28 Setembro)
08.00 - 09.00 Registu Bainaka / Registo dos Participante
09.00 - 09.15 Bemvindo ho Organizadora / Boa-vinda pelos organizadores
09.15 - 09.35 Diskursu Abertura Hosi Bispo Diocese Dili/Comentários de Abertura pelo Bispo de Dili
Sasin/Testemunhos
09.35 - 10.00 Panelista sira hola fatin iha oin/Painel na frente
10.00 - 10.30 Sasin hosi Jose Nunes, Sobreviventes iha Masakre Liquica 1999/Testemunho de José Nunes, Sobrevivente do Massacre de Liquica 1999
10.30 - 10.45 Snack
10.45 - 11.15 Sasin hosi Atina, Sobreviventes iha asaun oho iha Polres Maliana 1999/Testemunho de Atina, Sobrevivente de assassinatos na Estação de Polícia de Maliana 1999
11.15 - 11.45 Sasin hosi ILIGIO, Sobreviventes iha Masakre Igreija Suai 1999/Testemunho de Iligio, Sobrevivente do massacre da igreja de Suai Church 1999
11.45 - 12. 25 Sasin hosi Flaviano, Sobreviventes iha asaun oho iha Ermera 1999/Testemunho de Flaviano, Sobrevivente de assassinatos em Ermera 1999
12.25 - 13.00 Sasin hosi Malewe Guera, Sobreviventes iha Asaun Oho iha Lospalos 1999/
Testemunho de Malewe Guera, Sobrevivente de assassinatos em Lospalos 1999
13.00 -14.00 Lunch
14.00 - 14.30 Sasin hosi Ilidia da Silva, Kaben Saudoso Mahudo, 1999/Testemunho de Ilidia da Silva, viúva de Patriotic Mauhudo, 1999
14.30 - 15.00 Sasin hosi Agung Putri, ELSAM / Testemunho de Agung Putri, Elsam, Indonésia
15.00 -15.15 Snack
15.15 - 15.45 Sasin hosi Annan no Haris, Kontras/ Indonesia Testemunho de Kontras/ Indonesia
15.45 - 14.30 Konferensia ba imprensa / Conferência de Imprensa
Segundo Dia (Sábado, 29 Setembro)
08.00 - 09.00 Regista Bainaka / Registo Participantes
09.00 - 09.30 Panel hola Fatin iha Oin / Painel ocorre na frente
09.30 - 10.00 Sasin hosi Sr. Riak Leman / Testemunho de Riak Leman
10.00 -10.15 Snack
10.15 - 10.45 Sasin hosi Charles Scheiner, IFET / Testemunho de Charles Scheiner, IFET
10.45 - 11.30 Sasin hosi Ego Lemos / Testemunho de Ego Lemos
11.30 - 12.30 Diskusaun Panel Kona ba Verdade no Justisa mak dalan ba Amizade entre Timor Leste ho Indonesia / Painel de discussão sobre Verdade e Justiça a estrada para a amizade entre Timor-Leste e a Indonésia
12.30 - 14.00 Lunch no Preparasaun ba enceramento / Almoço e preparação do encerramento
14.00 - 15.00 Diskursu Enceramento hosi Presidente Parlamento Nacional / Comentário de Encerramento pelo Presidente do Parlamento Nacional
15.00 - 15.30 Konferensia ba Imprensa / Conferência de ImprensaPress Conference

Prefácio
Como sabemos, apesar das vítimas e da sociedade civil de Timor-Leste, Indonésia e da Comunidade Internacional e a ONU não apoiarem a existência da Comissão da Verdade e Amizade (CVA), os líderes das duas nações continuam com o processo da CVA. Não sabemos também exactamente o que a CVA tem andado a fazer, mas ouvimos dizer que grandes quantias de dinheiro público tem sido gasto com o trabalho da CVA.

Apesar disto, ouvimos dizer que a CVA fez quatro audições públicas em Jacarta e Denpasar na Indonésia. As nossas observações durante estas têm sido que as audições públicas da CVA não funcionam bem para revelar a verdade e promover princípios gerais e valores dos direitos humanos, mas funciina principalmente como uma oportunidade para as próprias pessoas se defenderam e manipularem factos sobre violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste. A CVA tem usado especialmente as audições públicas para promover a impunidade. Finalmente, ouvimos também que a CVA terá uma audição pública em Dili de 25 a 27 Setembro 2007.

Por esta razão vítimas e ONG's Timorenses mantêm-se a defender a verdade e a promover princípios gerais e valores dos direitos humanos, especialmente sobre como estabelecer a justiça em Timor-Leste. Isto é parte da luta pela justiça legal através de mecanismos que sejam baseados em padrões legais internacionais credíveis, justiça económica através de esforços para pagar reparações às vítimas, e justiça social através do reconhecimento e reabilitação da dignidade das vítimas. Consequentemente, as vítimas e as ONG's Timorenses querem organizar uma Audição Pública Alternativa para opor à audição pública da CVA em Dili.

Tópicos Gerais

Verdade e Justiça o Caminho para a Amizade para Timor-Leste e Indonésia
Princípios Gerais

Estabelecer a justiça para as violações dos direitos humanos em Timor-Leste 1999

1. Respeito pela dignidade das vítimas
2. O objectivo da audição pública é procurar a verdade e promover a educação dos direitos humanos
3. Parar o círculo da impunidade
4. Por isso a audição pública alternativa deve obedecer aos seguintes critérios:
· Ouvir as vozes das vítimas das violações de direitos humanos de todas as partes de Timor-Leste
· Clarificar os factores que causaram as violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste
· Dar uma oportunidade aos testemunhos das vítimas, ONU, guerrilheiros de 1975, grupos da resistência e activistas de direitos humanos Indonésios para clarificar políticas e decisões do passado que tiveram impacto nas violações de direitos humanos que ocorreram.
· Aprender das violações de direitos humanos no passado para assegurar que não ocorram outra vez no futuro nas nossas vidas.
· Facilitar o progresso de condições nas quais as pessoas estão assustadas e traumatizadas para conditções em que sejam abertas e onde se possa discutir sem medo violalações no passado dos direitos e de que se aprenda.

Objectivos

Os objectivos desta Audição Alternativa contra a CVA são:

6. Criar informação equilibrada sobre as violações dos Direitos Humanos em Timor Leste 1999.
7. Lembrar aos lóderes Timorenses e da Indonésia que a amizade é muito importante mas que não devem que a Verdade e a Justiça é a única estrada para alcançar a amizade.
8. Lembrar à ONU que deve manter a sua responsabilidade para levar os autores de crimes contra a humanidade em Timor Leste 1999 ao Tribunal Internacional .
9. Lembrar às instituições de soberania Timorense para debater o Chega! (relatório final da CAVR) e dar espaço efectivo à implementação de recomendações e valores importantes do Chega!.
10. Reafirmar que como parte integrante da sociedade em Timor-Leste não aceitamos a presença da CVA que gastou muito dinheiro do orçamento mas não beneficiou os sobreviventes e famílias das vítimas no país.

Actividades – Audição Pública

A Audição Pública Alternativa ocorrerá em 28-29 Setembro 2007. A audição realiza-se no antigo complexo da UNAMET ou no STP-CAVR (tentativa).
As actividades da Audição Pública serão compostas de:
Exibição de fotografias e documentos de violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste para o período 1975-1999

b. Audição de testemunhos de :
· Representantes de vítimas de violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste
· Representantes de Grupos de Resistência Pró-Independência (Falintil)
· Representantes de Partidários Pró-Indonésia de 1975
· Representantes de KPP-HAM e activistas Indonésios
· Representantes da ONU da missão da UNAMET para dar informação de clarificação correcta sobre violações de direitos humanos que aconteceram em Timor-Leste em 1999.
Criterios para a Escolha de Testemunhas para a Audição Alternativa
· Pessoas que quiserem dar testemunho
· Competentes (não perturbadas mentalmente) e capazes de falar claramente em público por elas próprias
· Experiência como representante – há muitas vítimas que têm também este tipo de experiência mas talvez nunca tenham tido a oportunidade de dar testemunho
· Testemunho ou informação que for apresentada e que seja credível e tenha a base em factos.
Painelistas
De modo a facilitar a Audição Alternativa os organizadores escolherão cinco pessoas que actuarão como Painelistas das Audições.
Participantes
Organizações que trabalham com vítimas e famílias das vítimas
Pessoas que deram testemunhos nas audições públicas na Indonésia
ONG's e vítimas da Indonésia
ONG's em Timor-Leste
Organizações da juventude e organizações de mulheres
Partidos políticos
Organizações religiosas
Universidades e escolas
Governo
Parlamento

Pobreza alimentou milícias em 1999, afirma antigo líder miliciano

Notícias Lusófonas
27.09.2007

Um antigo líder de uma milícia pró-indonésia afirmou hoje que, em 1999, a pobreza levou muitos civis timorenses a aderirem à luta contra o movimento independentista de Timor-Leste.


"Havia dinheiro e as pessoas não precisavam de ir para as zonas rurais. Havia arroz e era tudo muito bom", referiu Francisco Lopes de Carvalho durante a quinta sessão da Comissão para a Verdade e Amizade Timor-Leste/Indonésia.

Segundo o líder e fundador do Barisan Rakyat (Frente Popular), milícia pró-integracionista, assim que entravam nas diferentes organizações, os civis timorenses eram "avisados" de que só havia um inimigo: o movimento independentista.

"Era difícil não matar um timorense, tal como lhes era ordenado. Se alguém quisesse abandonar as milícias, era morto. Mais, se recusasse matar um timorense, a essa pessoa eram-lhe dados comprimidos "mad dog"", sublinhou Lopes de Carvalho, que reside há vários anos em Java, Indonésia.

Relatos dos acontecimentos de então dão conta de que, durante a onda de violência que assolou Timor-Leste antes, durante e depois do referendo de autodeterminação - que levaria à independência do país em 2002 -, os membros das milícias pró-integracionistas davam os tais comprimidos para encorajar os "operacionais" a matar.

"Depois, quando se mata, acaba-se na prisão", acrescentou Lopes de Carvalho, apontando para Johnny Marques, que se encontrava na audiência.

Johnny Marques, antigo líder de uma outra milícia pró-integracionista, a Alfa, testemunhara momentos antes e, nas suas declarações, afirmou ter estado sob o efeito de drogas quando chefiou uma operação que causou a morte de várias freiras e padres em Los Palos, em Setembro de 1999.

"Sei que não o devia ter feito, mas foi o mau corpo a reagir às drogas. Senti-me com raiva e estava desejoso de matar alguém", afirmou Johnny Marques, condenado a 33 anos de prisão efectiva pelo seu envolvimento na violência.

Por seu lado, Lopes de Carvalho acusou as autoridades militares indonésias de nunca lhe terem pago os "milhões de rupias prometidos" num hotel de cinco estrelas em Jacarta quando assinou um documento em que se comprometia a recrutar civis timorenses e a armá-los.

"Até agora, nunca recebi dinheiro nenhum", afirmou, sublinhando que o pagamento em numerário "era uma prática corrente" das autoridades militares indonésias em Timor-Leste.

No entanto, admitiu ter recebido um montante significativo em dinheiro do antigo comandante do Aquartelamento de Wira Dharma, coronel Tono Suratman.

Tal com o sucedeu a outros oficiais indonésios, Tono Suratman foi absolvido pelo tribunal "ad hoc" de Direitos Humanos das acusações de crimes contra a humanidade em Timor-Leste.

Lopes de Carvalho entregou também à Comissão uma série de documentos, incluindo certificados entregues pelos treinadores das milícias, assinados pelo então comandante militar de Udayana, major general M. Simbolon.

"Como é que é possível que os militares indonésios ou os membros do governo (de Jacarta) nunca tenham sido condenados?", questionou Lopes de Carvalho.

Lopes de Carvalho pediu à Comissão que entregue todos os dados resultantes das diferentes sessões que já decorreram - todo o processo de investigação foi iniciado em Janeiro deste ano - a um tribunal internacional, defendendo o "fracasso" de eventuais processos judiciais, quer na Indonésia, quer em Timor-Leste.

A Comissão, cujas investigações e audições começaram em Janeiro último, deverá concluir os seus trabalhos até ao fim deste ano, prevendo-se que apresente um relatório em Janeiro de 2008.

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Thursday, 27 September 2007

"UNMIT assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the articles or for the accuracy of their translations. The selection of the articles and their content do not indicate support or endorsement by UNMIT express or implied whatsoever. UNMIT shall not be responsible for any consequence resulting from the publication of, or from the reliance on, such articles and translations."

National Media Reports

ONGTL, conducting alternative public hearing against CTF

Non-Government Organizations of Timor-Leste (ONGTL) on 28-29 September will conduct alternative public hearings against the CTF.

“We will conduct the alternative public hearings because during public hearings conducted in Indonesia, the Commission of truth and Friendship (CTF) considered that all the witnesses are always good. We see that the witnesses who provided their statements for the public hearings have a tendency towards manipulation. We want to re-conduct these to find out the truth between the two nations. We will be involving victims, both from Indonesia and Timor-Leste because they are only blaming militias and not Indonesia military,” said Xisto dos Santos, the coordinator of Students’ Front of Timor-Leste and Administrative Council of National Alliance for International Tribunal (ANTI) on Wednesday (26/9) at the National University, Dili.

Mr. Dos Santos also said that public hearings of CTF tended towards manipulation as compared to the Expert Commission of UN who conducted its investigation in Timor-Leste. He also stated that the CTF work is to give amnesty to the criminal actors and not to find out the truth. (TP and DN)

Alkatiri: US$61M for three months might create corruption

Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said that the transitional fund of the Alliance government will create a broad way for corruption because he considers the amount to be too much to use in only three months.

“If this big money is the investment capital to build bridges and roads there might be no questions. So this amount of money should be spent carefully,” said Mr. Alkatiri. (DN)

Fernanda Borges: NP attributed to principles of international law

MP from National Unity Party (PUN), Fernanda Borges said that the national parliament will stand for the principles of international law because the Timorese constitution forces the MPs to do so.

Ms. Fernanda also said that if amnesty is granted to the criminals, then there will be impunity and anybody could do anything. (DN)

MPs worried about the mission of CTF

Indonesia and Timor-Leste’s CTF is worried because it appears to be dominated by politics.

“I am a little worried because the CTF has established itself upon political tendency and not upon finding the truth,” said Cecilio Caminha, MP from CNRT in the National Parliament on Wednesday (26/9).

Mr. Caminha also said that in reviewing the Terms of Reference, the CTF aims to find out the truth based on the public hearings, but the final result will be rely upon the writing by the Commissaries of the Commission. (STL)

TL NGO statement in solidarity with Burma


Joint Statement

Timor-Leste NGOs in Solidarity of Peaceful Demonstrations Led by Buddhist Monks in Burma ­ Urging Government to Enter into Dialogue

We, representatives of Timor-Leste Human Rights NGOs express our deepest solidarity in the spirit of human rights with the peaceful and holy movement initiated by Buddhist Monks and joined by many Burmese citizens, who have been holding peaceful demonstrations exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression for several days now in different places in the country.

We are very concerned about media reports that the Government has now used force in response to the demonstrations, that demonstrators have been beaten and that two persons might have been killed. We strongly condemn this brutal crackdown to stop this peaceful demonstration and urge the Government to enter into dialogue with its population, and to allow the UN Special Envoy immediate and free access to the country.

We support statements by the UN as well as the international community including the Timor-Leste Government strongly condemning the violence in Burma. We appeal to ASEAN and the Chinese Government, to intervene in whatever manner possible, to urge the Burmese government to show utmost restraint and avoid the recurrence of the pain and suffering resulting from its actions in 1988, now almost 20 years ago. We call on ASEAN and all its members, in the true spirit of being an association of nations, to act immediately and not to consider the recent development in Burma as Burma´s internal matter only.

The current events in Burma remind us, Timorese, starkly of the struggle for human rights we went through in our recent history. We never forget the international solidarity shown in the past around the world for the plight of the Timorese.
We know that the use of violence and oppression never leads to genuine lasting stability and peace. The voices of the Burmese people urgently need to be heard. We therefore appeal to the Burmese government to immediately release the leader of the National League for Democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and engage in talks with a view to ultimately finding a long-term solution to the important issues Burma is facing today, and that is just for all its people.

Timor-Leste, 27 September 2007

For release and for further information
Contact: Joao Pequinho (Hp. (+670) 724 2099)

This statement has been signed by:

FORUM TAU MATAN ­ EYES ON HUMAN RIGHTS (FTM)
La'o Hamutuk - The Timor-Leste Institute for
Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
East Timor Reflection Network (ETCRN)
Grupo Feto Foinsae Timor Leste (GFFTL)
Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP)
East Timor Insight ­ Research Laboratory
Konfederasaun Sindikatu Timor-Leste (KSTL)
Alola Foundation
KATILOSA ­ Disability Support Program
HAK Association
Pat Walsh (Individual)
Rogerio Vicente (individual)
Amelia de Araujo (individual).

[This message was distributed via the east-timor news list. For info on how to subscribe send a blank e-mail to info@etan.org. To support ETAN see http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm ]

Timor Leste Hopes To Join Asean In Five Years - Horta

September 27, 2007 10:54 AM

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Timor Leste hopes to become a member of Asean in about five years, says its president Ramos Horta.

"A multi-sectoral task force headed by myself has been formed and that shows the importance we attach to this process for the whole government (machinery) to prepare for an Asean accession," he said prior to his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi here Wednesday.

To attain accession, Horta said his country of a population of one million needed to make greater efforts to train and educate its people.

As such, he has proposed a joint funding to train Timorese in various fields, including vocational training.

On this, Abdullah has agreed that it would be far more beneficial to train the trainers in Timor Leste so that more people could be trained under this process.

Horta, who was elected in May this year, said Timor Leste's economy has improved, thanks mainly to the oil and gas revenues which were coming at US$100 million a month.

"That has given a tremendous boost to our economy," he said, adding that enabled Timor Leste to have about US$1 billion in terms of accumulated oil revenue.

However, he admitted that the huge oil revenues needed to be absorbed by the economy as there was lack of a strong private sector and middle-class in his country.

Besides oil and gas, Timor Leste produces coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas and vanilla.

There was also a need to acquire expertise in public administration, he said.

Horta paid tribute to Malaysia for the support it has given to the country located north-west of Australia.

"Malaysia provided support from Day One," he said.

Horta said he was thankful for the deployment of a Malaysian military and police force to Timor Leste when it faced unrest in April last year.

Asked about the political situation in his country, he said it had been calm.

"That's why I am able to come to New York or else I would stay back home," he added.

-- BERNAMA

PN - Agenda no. 21/II

Plenária Extraordinária

Quinta-feira, 27 de Setembro de 2007
A Sessão Plenária de hoje foi presidida pelo Vice-Presidente do Parlamento Nacional, Sr. Vicente da Silva Guterres coadjuvado pela Vice-Presidente Sra. Maria da Paixão de Jesus da Costa, Secretária, Sra. Maria Terezinha Viegas, Vice-Secretárias, Sra. Maria da Costa Exposto e a Sra. Teresa Maria de Carvalho.

O Presidente do Parlamento Nacional, Sr. Fernando La Sama de Araújo, não esteve presente por motivo da morte do seu pai.

Estiveram presentes as Ex-Deputadas da 1ª Legislatura, para participar na discussão do Projecto de Resolução n.o 4/II (Constituição do Grupo das Mulheres Parlamentares). Mas o Projecto referido não foi discutido e foi adiado para a próxima oportunidade.

No período de antes da Ordem do Dia, foram abordados os assuntos seguintes:
- informação sobre a renúncia da Sra. Milena Pires ao cargo de membro do Conselho de Estado, para o qual havia sido eleita pelo Parlamento Nacional;
- informação sobre a comissão de modernização a constituir, com pedido às bancadas parlamentares de indicação de membros para a sua composição;
- informação sobre queixa apresentada por vitimas da crise a viver no campo de deslocados (IDP) situado no jardim frontal ao Hotel Timor (Dili);
- apresentação e apreciação de relatório da comissão de Assuntos Constitucionais, Justiça, Administração Pública, Poder Local e Legislação do Governo (Comissão A) respeitante a visita dos seus membros ao campo de deslocados (IDP) localizado junto ao jardim frontal ao Hotel Timor (Dili) e encontro com representantes desse campo de deslocados;

No período de Ordem do Dia, teve o anúncio da admissão e baixa à Comissão de Economia, Finanças e Anti-corrupção da Proposta de Lei no. 2/I (Orçamento Geral do Estado para o Período de 1 de Julho a 31 de Dezembro de 2007).

Financiamento das abusivas forças militares da Indonésia

Tradução da Margarida:

Em These Times
Setembro 26, 2007

Apesar de numerosos abusos dos direitos humanos, os Estados Unidos continuam a bombear dinheiro para as forças militares Indonésias sob o disfarce de querra contra o terrorismo

Por Ben Terrall

Share Digg del.icio.us Reddit Newsvine Counterterrorism” tornou-se o último slogan na Indonésia para evitar a reforma das forças militares enquanto simultâneamente reforça o seu aparelho de repressão. Em troca pela sua lealdade na guerra ao terrorismo, a administração Bush passou ao lado de preocupação de abusos das forças militares na Indonésio do congresso.

A Amnistia Internacional observou no seu relatório de 2007 do país: “A maioria das violações de direitos humanos pelas forças de segurança não foram investigadas, e a impunidade por violações passadas persistem.” Estas incluem dois casos sobre os quais a Comissão Nacional dos Direitos Humanos entregou evidência em 2004 em que as forças de segurança tinham cometido crimes contra a humanidade.

Um relatório de Maio do Centro para Integridade Pública do Consórcio Internacional dos Jornalistas de Investigação (ICIJ) concluiu que as forças militares da Indonésia (TNI) é uma das maiores receptoras da assistência militar no pós-9/11. De facto, de 2002 a 2005, a Indonésia foi a maior receptora do Programa de Sociedade de Defesa Regional de Contra-terrorismo do Pentágono (CTFP). A ICIJ também anotou que sob o CTFP a TNI estava a receber tutelagem sobre “Informações no Combate ao Terrorismo”e “Prep. Estudantes da Polícia Militar.”

Ed McWilliams, um conselheiro político da Embaixada dos U.S.A. em Jacarta de 1996 a 1999, e agora um advogado independente de direitos humanos diz, “Enquanto permanece o problema da impunidade da TNI por abusos e corrupção em todo o arquipélago, é particularmente agudo na Papua Oeste. No verdadeiro sentido, a transição democrática pós-Suharto nunca transpirou na Papua Oeste, onde militares e polícias continuam a empregar terror, tortura e assassinatos extrajudiciais para impor a governação de Jacarta.”

Em 1969, a Papua Oeste estava incorporada na Indonésia através da ameaça de força. Não mudou muito. Em 5 de Julho, o Human Rights Watch relatou, “Ambas unidades de polícia e tropas … continuam a engajar-se em operações indiscriminadas de “limpeza” nas aldeias na perseguição de militantes suspeitos, usando excessiva, muitas vezes brutal, e às vezes força letal contra civis.”

Em 16 de Agosto, o jornal Indonésio Cenderawasih Pos, relatou em manifestações antecipadas na Papua Oeste apelando à auto-determinação, citou o Col. Burhanuddin Siagian como tendo dito que a TNI “não hesitará em disparar à vista” activistas pró-independência. Em 2003, a Unidade para Crimes Sérios apoiada pela ONU em Timor-Leste emitiu duas denúncias que afirmavam que Siagian fez discursos similares amealando matar apoiantes da independência e que fora responsável pela morte de sete Timorenses em Abril de 1999. O grupo Human Rights First anotou que activistas de direitos humanos da Papua foram ameaçados depois de se reunirem no princípio de Junho com um funcionário dos dirieitos humanos da ONU em visita.

“A TNI na Papua Oeste está a alimentar lutas sectárias ao recrutar migrantes largamente muçulmanos para formar paramilitares leais à governação de Jacarta,” diz McWilliams. “Está também a criar milícias Papuanas similares às que criou com efeitos devastadores em Timor-Leste. Como no passado através do arquipélago, a TNI visa gerar tensões comunais na Papua Oeste como justificação para manter a sua presença e para continuar a explorar os vastos recursos da região.”

A East Timor and Indonesia Human Rights Network (ETAN) e os seus aliados no Congresso, como Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) e Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), avançaram com várias provisões na nova Lei de Apropriações em Operações no Estrangeiro (H.R. 2764). As medidas requerem que a administração relate que a Indonésia fez progressos nos direitos humanos e na reforma militar antes de ser libertada a Jacarta $2 milhões em assistência militar. Apesar de não ser tão dura quanto a legislação aprovada depois do massacre de 1991 em Timor-Leste, a nova linguagem regista uma dissensão da política da administração Bush de apoio total à TNI. Mesmo assim, argumenta McWilliams, é necessário mais.

“A sorte de uma verdadeira reforma e possívelmente o sucesso da transição democrática na Indonésia depende muito da vontade do Congresso dos U.S.A. em insistir em reformas reais, especialmente em empurrar por genuíno controlo civili dos militares e acabar com a impunidade da TNI,” diz ele. “Os Democratas devem compreender que uma TNI não reformada, uma que — apoia e tem ajudado a criar milícias islâmicas fundamentalistas no interior da Indonésia, não pode ser um parceiro credível na chamada ‘guerra contra o terrorismo.’ O Congresso dos USA devem ouvir as vozes dos defensores dos direitos humanos na Indonésia e recusar financiar a criminalidade, abusos e criminalidade da TNI .”

UNMIT Daily Media Review - Wednesday, 26 September 2007

National Media Reports:

TP - Timor Post; DN - Diario Nacional; STL - Suara Timor Lorosae; RTTL - Radio e Televisao de Timor-Leste

UN rejects amnesty for criminals, says Jose Luis Guterres

Vice Prime Minister José Luis Guterres said that the UN does not disagree with the Truth and Friendship Commission (CTF); the UN just disagrees with some articles of the CTF that talk about amnesty, because criminals have to submit themselves to justice.

"I saw their statements which said that they do not agree with the article concerning amnesty, but it is the position of the UN that the CTF is a bilateral thing between Timor-Leste and Indonesia, and that seeking the truth is part of justice," said Mr. Guterres. (DN)

UN medal award for the members of the Chinese police

Ten UNPol contingents from China who joined the UN mission in Timor-Leste were awarded medals from UN.

The medal ceremony held in the Embassy of China in Farol, Dili, was attended by the Acting SRSG, Eric Tan, and the UNPol Commissary Rodolfo Tor.

In his speech, Ambassador Su Jian said that from 1999 until now China has deployed 300 police across the country.

"The UN recognizes and awards medals to these ten police officers for their good work in the area of security in 13 districts," said Rodolfo Tor, the UNPol Commissioner.
"During hard times, China has never closed its eyes to the people of Timor-Leste since 1999 - the medals for the ten police are recognition of this hard work," said the Acting SRSG Eric Tan. (DN)

Nelson Correia: Fretilin's position not destructive

Nelson Correia, MP from Social Democratic Party (PSD), said that the position of Fretilin insisting that the Alliance government is unconstitutional and illegitimate is not a destructive statement, but constructive.

According to Mr. Correia, the statement of Fretilin is a warning for the Alliance government that they should work better than the previous government.

Furthermore, Mr. Correia said that is not so important who governs this country; the important thing is to normalize the situation and see that the East Timor does not belong to the Alliance or Fretilin. (DN)

Julio Thomas Pinto: it's the decision of the parliament to send back ISF or not

The State Secretary for Defence, Julio Thomas Pinto said that the decision to send back the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) should be the decision of the national parliament following approval by MPs.

'I think any withdrawal of the ISF from Timor-Leste is for national parliament or for other sovereignty organs of the state to decide," said Mr. Pinto.

The secretary of state also said that at the present the ISF is working on good relations with F-FDTL by providing training to help professionalise the Timorese Defence Force. (DN)

David Dias: Alfredo has the right to choose place of his cantonment

David Dias Ximenes, MP from Fretilin, said that Alfredo has the right to choose the place for his cantonment, such as Ossu sub-district of Viqueque district.

"I only need to say that as a citizen of the country he has the right to choose a place of cantonment for the dialogue. But given his status now, he has no freedom to choose a place of cantonment; his status for the present is that he should responsible to the law," said Mr. Dias Ximenes.

According to Mr. Dias, as a prisoner used to finding his way out of prison, Alfredo should take accept the place of cantonment as that determined by the government, whether Ermera or Suai. (STL)

***

UNMIT - Security Situation - Wednesday 26 September 2007

The security situation in Timor-Leste has been generally calm, but disturbances continue in the Bebonuk neighbourhood of Dili.

Earlier today in Dili, UNPol attended five incidents, including two incidents of rock throwing: one in Comoro, and one in Matadoro. Police, including Formed Police Units (FPUs), brought both situations under control. One UN vehicle sustained minor damage in the process.

Separately, at around 08:30hrs, approximately 35 people armed with sling shots and arrows attacked the community living near Bebonuk primary school. A Formed Police Unit responded swiftly and dispersed the attackers, and there were no reports of any injuries.

On Tuesday in Dili, police used four cans of teargas whilst attempting to control a group of approximately 50 people who were fighting in Bebonuk. A 12-year-old boy sustained minor injuries in the fight and was taken to Dili Hospital.

Also on Tuesday in Dili, police received a report of a critically ill newborn baby in Atauro. The international security forces (ISF) were contacted, and they sent a helicopter to the island to bring the baby and its mother back to Dili hospital. The baby is reported to be in a stable condition.

On Tuesday in Bobonaro, police arrested three suspects in a case of assault and attempted robbery that took place on Sunday, 23 September.

On Tuesday in Ermera, a house was set on fire in the sub-village of Riheu. All eleven occupants of the house managed to escape unharmed. Police have identified a suspect in the case, who is thought to be mentally ill.

The Police advise to avoid travelling during the night to the most affected areas. Please report any suspicious activities. You can call 112 or 7230365 to contact the police 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Trial commences in case relating to the shooting of PNTL members that occurred in 2006.

JSMP - 26 September 2007
09/18/2007

On 18 September 2007, the Dili District Court opened the trial in the case relating to the shooting of members of the National Police Force (PNTL) which occurred in front of the Ministry of Justice on 25 May 2006, at a time when Timor Leste was in crisis.

This case was one of the cases recommended by the International Commission of Inquiry, so it was given serious attention by the international community as well as the wider community in Timor Leste, as it was one of a series of incidents that occurred during the crisis that have been classified as serious crimes.

The trial was attended by a huge number of people, and consequently the Dili District Court (operating out of the Court of Appeal) organized additional measures such as stringent security during the hearing. However we are quite concerned about the presence of F-FDTL’s members in military uniform who were on full alert and fully armed.

Before the hearing commenced the translator announced that during the hearing all people present should turn off their mobile phones and the court clerks conducted a check to make sure that no witnesses were present in the court room. However closer examination revealed that a witness from the F-FDTL named Major Maukalu was actually present. After being informed by the prosecution unit that he was one of the witnesses who would be summoned by the court to provide testimony about the shooting incident, Major Maukalu and his colleagues refused to accept this information and he protested because he believed that the court had not provided any notification that he would be summoned as a witness. Major Maukalu was adamant that he would remain in the court room. However, the lawyer Arlindo Dias Sanches approached him and explained the relevant procedure. Thereafter Major Laukalu was willing to remove himself from the court room.

After these matters had been cleared up, Judge Ivo Nelson Rosa Batista de Caires (International Judge), Judge Hugo Perdal (International Judge) and Judge Antoninho Goncalves (National Judge) entered the court room to start the hearing, however after the presiding judge conducted a check to see if all of the defendants were present in the hearing, it became evident that one of the F-FDTL members was absent. There should have been 12 defendants, namely 11 F-FDTL members and one Police Inspector.

Considering that one of the F-FDTL members who was a defendant in this matter had failed to attend the hearing, the presiding judge decided to discontinue the hearing in accordance with Article 253.1 of the Timor Leste Code of Criminal Procedure which states that “the defendant’s presence at the hearing is compulsory, except as otherwise stated in the law” and decided to continue the trial at 9:30am on 20 September 2007 at the Dili District Court (operating out of the Court of Appeal).

JSMP accepts that this decision was made in accordance with Article 253.1 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and the decision issued by the presiding judge should be respected and observed because the aforementioned article gives full authority to the presiding judge to adjourn the hearing in this matter.

JSMP fully respects the members of the F-FDTL who appeared at the court to give support to their colleagues who are defendants in this case, however JSMP regrets that some members of F-FDTL were unwilling to be searched by the police who were providing security for this trial, and some members of the F-FDTL where fully armed and providing security in a manner that was far too excessive. Things like this should not occur because everyone is same in the eyes of the court, and members of the community could see that they were trying to place pressure on the judicial actors, especially recalling that the hearing was being attended by the families of the victims who have been severely traumatized.

JSMP also recommends that members of the F-FDTL who attend the trial should respect all court procedures, such as allowing themselves to be searched before entering the court room, just like everyone else, in order to avoid setting a bad example, because the community know that this institution is in the process of positive reform after the 2006 crisis. JSMP also hopes that F-FDTL will demonstrate to every one else that the negative perceptions held by the wider community towards them are not accurate.

For further information, please contact: Roberto da Costa Pacheco; Email: bebeto@jsmp.minihub.org; Coordinator of Legal Research, JSMP

Alternative Public Hearing to respond to TFC Hearing

ETAN - 25 September 2007
This invitation and program, as well as photographs from the civil society demonstration outside the Truth and Friendship Commission hearing in Dili on September 25, 2007, are at http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/TFC/07PhotosCVADemo.html

Audensia publika alternativa hasoru CVA nia audensia

Organized by FONGTIL Secretariat with Members: HAK ASSOCIATION, FOKUPERS, FTM, ESPADA, HCTL, KATILOSA, KSUTL, GFFTL, MBC-TL, HAPOTI, JSMP, CARITAS AUSTRALIA, LAO HAMUTUK, LUTA HAMUTUK, INCLUDES ICTJ, ETCRN, ANTI and FRONT MAHASISWA TIMOR LESTE
Timor Leste - Indonesia

Verdade e justica mak dalan ba amizade
Truth and justice is the road to friendship
Dates: 28-29 September 2007
Hours: 8:30 am to 17:00
Place: Canossian Sisters Meeting Room, Becora, Dili

[Tetum follows after English below, schedule of alternative hearing follows after that.]

With Respect,
We all know that despite Timor-Leste falling into a long crisis in 2006 and 2007, the Truth and Friendship Commission (TFC) held Public Hearings in Denpasar and Jakarta, Indonesia. Some Timorese victims and witnesses were invited to give testimony at these hearings. In attendance were former pro-Autonomy supporters and Indonesian generals, who also gave testimony.

According to Timor-Leste civil society’s observations, “Indonesia said that the TFC public hearings are an event. They claim to look for the truth, but they give space for the Indonesian generals who to defend themselves and deny their responsibility for human rights violations in Timor-Leste in 1999. Even worse, they allege that the human rights violations in Timor-Leste are the responsibility of the pro-independence side and the United Nations. This shows that the TFC Public Hearings have become a place to promote and nurture impunity. Timor-Leste civil society thinks that TFC has become a threat to future Justice and Friendship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia.

TFC is a bilateral institution which the Presidents of Timor-Leste and Indonesia created in 2005. TFC’s presence brings debates for and against within the Timor-Leste and Indonesia communities, in the face of the international community. Until today, the UN itself does not give support to the TFC. And civil society in Timor-Leste and Indonesia also do not support the presence of TFC.
TFC plans to organize a Public Hearing in Dili, on 25-27 September 2007.
In order to create balanced information about human rights violations in Timor-Leste in 1999, we from Timor-Leste civil society are organizing an Alternative Public Hearing to respond to the TFC hearing. For these reasons, we would like to invite you to participate in this alternative hearing.
This hearing is open to the public; please bring friends and members of your family.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Dili, 24 September 2007,
Organizers:
-----
Loron : 28 ­ 29 Setembru 2007
Fatin : Aula Susteran Canosiana Becora/Dili
Horas : 08.30 ­ 17.30

Organizador:
Edio Saldanha Borges, Alliance for International Tribunal ANTI; Ph:7284602 Email: kadiuk@yahoo.com
Jose Caetano Guterres, East Timor Crisis Reflection Network (ETCRN): Ph: 7253877 mailto:infoetcrn2006@yahoo.com

Program for the Alternative Public Hearing
First Day (Friday, 28 September)
08.00 - 09.00 Registu Bainaka / Participants Registration
09.00 - 09.15 Bemvindo ho Organizadora / Welcome by organizers
09.15 - 09.35 Diskursu Abertura Hosi Bispo Diocese Dili/Opening Remarks by the Bishop of Dili
Sasin/Testimony
09.35 - 10.00 Panelista sira hola fatin iha oin/Panel in the front
10.00 - 10.30 Sasin hosi Jose Nunes, Sobreviventes iha Masakre Liquica 1999/Testimony by Jose Nunes, Survivor of Liquica Massacre 1999
10.30 - 10.45 Snack
10.45 - 11.15 Sasin hosi Atina, Sobreviventes iha asaun oho iha Polres Maliana 1999/Testimony by Atina, Survivor of killings in Maliana Police Station 1999
11.15 - 11.45 Sasin hosi ILIGIO, Sobreviventes iha Masakre Igreija Suai 1999/Testimony by Iligio, Survivor of Massacre in Suai Church 1999
11.45 - 12. 25 Sasin hosi Flaviano, Sobreviventes iha asaun oho iha Ermera 1999/Testimony by Flaviano, Survivor of killings in Ermera 1999
12.25 - 13.00 Sasin hosi Malewe Guera, Sobreviventes iha Asaun Oho iha Lospalos 1999/
Testimony by Malewe Guera, Survivor of killings in Lospalos 1999
13.00 -14.00 Lunch
14.00 - 14.30 Sasin hosi Ilidia da Silva, Kaben Saudoso Mahudo, 1999/Testimony Ilidia da Silva, widow of Patriotic Mauhudo, 1999
14.30 - 15.00 Sasin hosi Agung Putri, ELSAM / Testimony from Agung Putri, Elsam, Indonesia
15.00 -15.15 Snack
15.15 - 15.45 Sasin hosi Annan no Haris, Kontras/ Indonesia Testimony from Kontras/ Indonesia
15.45 - 14.30 Konferensia ba imprensa / Press conference
Second Day (Saturday, 29 September)
08.00 - 09.00 Regista Bainaka / Partisipantes / Registration
09.00 - 09.30 Panel hola Fatin iha Oin / Panel took place in the front
09.30 - 10.00 Sasin hosi Sr. Riak Leman / Testimony from Riak Leman
10.00 -10.15 Snack
10.15 - 10.45 Sasin hosi Charles Scheiner, IFET / Testimony from Charles Scheiner, IFET
10.45 - 11.30 Sasin hosi Ego Lemos / Testimony from Ego Lemos
11.30 - 12.30 Diskusaun Panel Kona ba Verdade no Justisa mak dalan ba Amizade entre Timor Leste ho Indonesia / Panel discussion on Truth and Justice the road to friendship between Timor Leste and Indonesia
12.30 - 14.00 Lunch no Preparasaun ba enceramento / Lunch and preparation for closing
14.00 - 15.00 Diskursu Enceramento hosi Presidente Parlamento Nacional / Closing Remarks by the President of National Parliament
15.00 - 15.30 Konferensia ba Imprensa / Press Conference
TOR (ENGLISH)

Preface
As we know, although victims and society in Timor-Leste, Indonesian and the international community and the UN do not support the existence of the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF), but the leaders of the two nations continue with the CTF process. Also we don’t know exactly about what CTF has been doing, but we hear that large amounts of public money have been spent on the CTF’s work.

Despite this, we hear that the CTF held four public hearings in Jakarta and Denpasar in Indonesia. Our observations during these have been that the CTF’s public hearings do not function well to reveal the truth and promote general principles and values of human rights, but function mainly as an opportunity for people to defend themselves and manipulate facts about violations of human rights in Timor-Leste. The CTF has especially used the public hearings to promote impunity. Finally, we also have heard that the CTF will also hold a public hearing in Dili from 25 to 27 September 2007.

For this reason victims and Timorese NGOs will stand to defend truth and promote general principles and values of human rights, especially about how to establish justice in Timor-Leste. This is part of the struggle for legal justice through mechanisms which are based in credible international legal standards, economic justice through efforts to give reparation to victims, and social justice through recognition and rehabilitation of the dignity of victims. Consequently, the victims and Timorese NGOs want to organize an Alternative Public Hearing to oppose the CTF public hearing in Dili.

General Topic

Truth And Justice The Way To Friendship For Timor Leste And Indonesia
General Principles

Establish justice for violations of human rights in Timor-Leste 1999

1. Respect for the dignity of victims
2. The public hearing’s objective is to seek the truth and promote human rights education
3. To stopped circle of impunity
4. Therefore the alternative public hearing must comply with the following criteria:
· Listen to the voices of victims of human rights violations from all parties in Timor-Leste
· Clarify factors which caused the occurrence of human rights violations in Timor-Leste
· Give an opportunity to the testimony of victims, the UN, 1975 partisans, resistance groups and Indonesian human rights activist to clarify policies and decisions from the past which impacted on the human rights violations which occurred.
· Learn from past violations of human rights to ensure that they will not occur again in our lives or in the future.
· Facilitate progress from conditions in which people are scared and traumatized to conditions which are open and in which past violations of human rights can be learnt from and discussed without fear.

Objectives

Aims of this Alternative Hearing against CTF was:

6. Create balance information about facts of Human Rights Violations in Timor Leste 1999.
7. Remind Timorese and Indonesia leaders that friendships is very important but don’t forget that Truth and Justice is the only road to achieve friendship.
8. Remind UN to maintain their responsibility to bring actors of crimes against humanity in Timor Leste 1999 to International Tribunal.
9. Remind Timorese sovereign institution to debate on Chega! (final report of CAVR) and to take efective space fo implementation of recommendations and important values of Chega!.
10. To reafirm that as an integral parts of society in Timor Leste we are not accept the presence of CTF which have spents big amount of budget but it has no benefits for survivers and Family of victimsin the country.

Activities - Public Hearing

The Alternative Public Hearing will be held 28-29 September 2007. The hearing will be held in the former UNAMET complex or in the STP-CAVR (tentative).
Alternative Public Hearing activities will composed of:
Exhibition of photographs and documents of human rights violations in Timor-Leste for the period 1975-1999

b. Hearing of testimony from:
· Representatives of victims of human rights violations in Timor-Leste
· Representatives of Pro-Independence Resistance Groups (Falintil)
· Representatives of Pro-Indonesia Partisans from 1975
· Representatives of KPP-HAM and Indonesian activists
· Representatives of the UN from the UNAMET mission to give accurate clarification information about violations of human rights which happened in Timor-Leste in 1999.
Criteria For Choosing Witnesses For Alternative Hearing
· People who indeed want to give their testimony
· Competent (not mentally impaired) and able to speak for themselves clearly in public
· Experience as a representative – there are many victims who also have this sort of experience but perhaps haven’t had an opportunity to give testimony
· Testimony or information which is presented is credible and has a basis in fact.
Panelists
In order to best facilitate the Alternative Hearing the organizers will choose five people who will act as Hearing Panelist.
Participants
Organisations which work with victims and families of victims
People who have given testimony in the public hearings in Indonesia
NGOs and victims from Indonesia
NGOs in Timor-Leste
Youth organisations and women’s organisations
Political parties
Religious organizations
Universities and schools
Government
Parliament

Presidente de Timor-Leste agradece apoio dos Açores

Acores.Net - 26 Setembro 2007

O Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste considera que o apoio português, e em particular o dos Açores, tem sido “vital” para que “o Estado e o Povo Timorense possam desenvolver as suas actividades diárias, sarar as suas feridas, estabilizar as instituições e viver diferenças políticas de modo sustentável e equilibrado”.

Numa carta dirigida a Carlos César, presidente do Governo dos Açores, José Ramos Horta, sublinha, também, “os laços fraternais e a amizade” que unem açorianos e timorenses.
Na missiva, o recém-eleito Presidente de Timor-Leste expressa, igualmente, “votos de sucesso e prosperidade para o Povo Irmão da Região Autónoma dos Açores”, reafirmando a sua determinação em prosseguir numa “caminhada de liberdade e de construção da Nação Timorense”.

Os Açores, representados pelo Presidente do Governo, foram a única região do mundo presente nas cerimónias da Independência de Timor-Leste, realizadas em Maio de 2002.

Ex-chefe de milícia de Timor-Leste acusa a Indonésia pelas desordens de 1999

Tradução da Margarida:

26 Set 2007 09:46:27 GMT
Fonte: Reuters
Por Tito Belo

DILI, Set 26 (Reuters) – A Indonésia foi responsável pelo derramamento de sangue que rodeou a votação da independência de Timor-Leste em 1999, disse um antigo chefe de milícia pró-Jacarta à comissão criada para investigar a violência numa audição na Quarta-feira. Milícianos pró-Indonésios entraram numa fúria violenta antes e depois da votação patrocinada pela ONU que pôs fim a 24 anos de governação de Jacarta na antiga colónia Portuguesa.

A Comissão da Verdade e Amizade (CTF), que foi criada pela Indonésia e Timor-Leste para promover a reconciliação entre os dois vizinhos, está a realizar a volta final de audições esta semana em Timor-Leste para tentar estabelecer a verdade acerca do derramamento de sangue.

Jhony Marques, que foi condenado a 33 anos de prisão por um tribunal de Timor-Leste, disse que o presidente da Indonésia nessa altura, B.J. Habibie, e o seu ministro chefe da segurança General Feisal Tanjung deviam ser responsabilizados pela violência.

"Todas as políticas foram determinadas pelo governo central e pelo chefe militar em Jacarta," disse à comissão Marques, que liderou o grupo de milícia Alfa .

"Por isso as autoridades, especialmente o presidente da Indonésia e Menkopolkam (ministro chefe da segurança), devem ser responsabilizados pelos homicídios em Timor-Leste," disse. "Não é justo se nós enfrentamos a justiça mas pessoas chave que eu mencionei estão livres."

Marques disse que ordenou aos seus homens para atacarem uma caravana de freiras e um padre no distrito de Lospalos em 1999 e admitiu que estava drogado na altura.

Oito pessoas foram mortas e 300 mulheres foram assaltadas sexualmente em ataques separados pelos seus homens e outros milicianos, disse ele.

Na Terça-feira, um antigo chefe de distrito disse à comissão que antes da votação lhe tinha sido pedido por dois generais Indonésios que eram ministros do Gabinete em 1999 para montar uma milícia para defender a integração.

"Fomos convidados pelo Ministro da Informação Yunus Yosfiah e ele disse-nos que a Indonésia daria financiamento e armas aos que apoiassem a integração," disse Tomas Gonsalves.

Alegou também que o então ministro da transmigração, Abdullah Hendropriyono, que mais tarde se tornou chefe da agência nacional de informações, ofereceu dinheiro do seu ministério para financiar a criação de um grupo de milícia.

As Nações Unidas estimam que cerca de 1,000 Timorenses foram mortos quando milícias pró-Indonésias entraram numa fúria antes e depois do território ter votado a separação da governação de Jacarta.

Entidades oficiais Indonésias têm dito à comissão que apenas cerca de 100 pessoas foram mortas. As milícias, apoiadas por membros das forças armadas Indonésias, destruíram também a maioria das infraestruturas de Timor-Leste.

Críticos dizem que a comissão não tem dentes porque lhe falta o poder para punir os que concluírem ser responsáveis por abusos.

Predominantemente católico, Timor-Leste tornou-se totalmente independente em Maio 2002 depois de 2-½ anos de administração da ONU que se seguiu aos 24 anos da ocupação Indonésia.

E.Timor ex-militia chief blames Indonesia for 1999 mayhem

26 Sep 2007 09:46:27 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Tito Belo

DILI, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Indonesia was responsible for the bloodshed surrounding East Timor's independence vote in 1999, a former pro-Jakarta militia chief told a commission set up to investigate the violence at a hearing on Wednesday. Pro-Indonesian militiamen went on a violent rampage before and after the U.N.-sponsored vote that ended 24 years of Jakarta rule in the former Portuguese colony.

The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF), which was set up by Indonesia and East Timor to promote reconciliation between the two neighbours, is holding a final round of hearings this week in East Timor to try to establish the truth about the bloodshed.

Jhony Marques, who was sentenced to 33 years in prison by an East Timor court, said that Indonesia's president at the time, B.J. Habibie, and his chief security minister General Feisal Tanjung should be held responsible for the violence.

"All policies were made by the central government and the military chief in Jakarta," Marques, who led the Alfa militia group, told the commission.

"So the authorities, especially the Indonesian president and Menkopolkam (chief security minister), must be responsible for the murder in East Timor," he said. "It is not fair if we face justice but the key persons that I mentioned are free."

Marques said he ordered his men to attack a convoy of nuns and a priest in Lospalos district in 1999 and admitted that he was on drugs at the time.

Eight people were killed and 300 women were sexually assaulted in separate attacks by his men and other militiamen, he said.

On Tuesday, a former district chief told the commission that before the vote he had been asked by two retired Indonesian generals who were cabinet ministers in 1999 to set up a militia to defend integration.

"We were invited by Minister of Information Yunus Yosfiah and he told us that Indonesia would give funds and weapons to those who supported integration," Tomas Gonsalves said.

He also alleged that then-transmigration minister, Abdullah Hendropriyono, who later became the chief of the national intelligence agency, offered money from his ministry to fund the creation of a militia group.

The United Nations estimates about 1,000 East Timorese were killed when pro-Indonesia militias went on a rampage before and after the territory voted to break away from Jakarta rule.

Indonesian officials have told the commission that only about 100 people were killed. The militias, backed by members of the Indonesian army, also destroyed most of East Timor's infrastructure.

Critics say the commission is toothless because it lacks the power to punish those found responsible for abuses.

Predominantly Catholic East Timor became fully independent in May 2002 after 2-½ years of U.N. administration that followed 24 years of Indonesian occupation.

Funding Indonesia’s Abusive Military

In These Times
September 26, 2007

Despite numerous human rights abuses, the United States continues to pump money into the Indonesian military under the guise of the war on terror

By Ben Terrall

Share Digg del.icio.us Reddit Newsvine Counterterrorism” has become Indonesia’s latest slogan for avoiding military reform while simultaneously strengthening its apparatus of repression. In return for its loyalty in the war on terror, the Bush administration has side-stepped congressional concerns of military abuses in Indonesia.

Amnesty International observed in its 2007 country report: “The majority of human rights violations by the security forces were not investigated, and impunity for past violations persisted.” These included two cases in which the National Human Rights Commission submitted evidence in 2004 that security forces had committed crimes against humanity.

A May report from the Center for Public Integrity’s International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) concluded that the Indonesia military (TNI) is one of the largest recipients of post-9/11 military assistance. In fact, from 2002 to 2005, Indonesia was the largest recipient of the Pentagon’s Regional Defense Counterterrorism Fellowship Program (CTFP). The ICIJ also noted that under CTFP the TNI was receiving tutelage on “Intelligence in Combating Terrorism” and “Student Military Police Prep.”

Ed McWilliams, political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta from 1996 to 1999, and now an independent human rights advocate, says, “While TNI impunity for abuses and corruption remain a problem throughout the archipelago, it is particularly acute in West Papua. In a real sense, the post-Suharto democratic transition never transpired in West Papua, where the military and police continue to employ terror, torture and extrajudicial killing to enforce Jakarta’s rule.”

In 1969, West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia through the threat of force. Not much has changed. On July 5, Human Rights Watch reported, “Both army troops and police units … continue to engage in indiscriminate village ‘sweeping’ operations in pursuit of suspected militants, using excessive, often brutal, and at times lethal force against civilians.”

On August 16, the Indonesian paper Cenderawasih Pos, reporting on anticipated demonstrations in West Papua calling for self-determination, quoted Col. Burhanuddin Siagian as saying that the TNI “will not hesitate to shoot on sight” pro-independence activists. In 2003, the U.N.-backed Serious Crimes Unit in East Timor issued two indictments which stated that Siagian made similar speeches threatening to kill independence supporters and was responsible for the deaths of seven Timorese men in April 1999. The group Human Rights First noted that human rights activists from Papua were threatened after meetings in early June with a visiting U.N. human rights official.

“[T]he TNI in West Papua is fueling sectarian strife by recruiting largely Muslim migrants to form paramilitaries loyal to Jakarta’s rule,” says McWilliams. “It is also creating Papuan militias along the lines of those it created to devastating effect in East Timor. As in the past throughout the archipelago, the TNI aims to generate communal tensions in West Papua as a justification for maintaining its presence and for continuing to exploit the region’s vast natural resources.”

The East Timor and Indonesia Human Rights Network (ETAN) and its allies in Congress, such as Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), have pushed several provisions in the new Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2764). The measures require that the administration report that Indonesia has made progress in human rights and military reform before $2 million in military assistance to Jakarta is released. Though not as tough as legislation passed following a 1991 massacre in East Timor, the new language puts on record a dissent from the Bush administration’s policy of blanket support for the TNI. Still, McWilliams argues, more is needed.

“The fate of real military reform and possibly the success of the democratic transition in Indonesia depends very much on the U.S. Congress’ willingness to insist on real reform, especially to push for genuine civilian control of the military and an end to TNI impunity,” he says. “Democrats must understand that an unreformed TNI, one that— supports and has helped create fundamentalist Islamic militias inside Indonesia, cannot be a credible partner in the so-called ‘war on terror.’ The U.S. Congress should heed the voices of human rights defenders in Indonesia and refuse to bankroll TNI criminality, abuses and impunity.”

Comissão da Verdade indonésia «promove a impunidade» acusam manifestantes

Notícias Lusófonas
26.09.2007

Uma coligação de organizações e cidadãos timorenses manifestou-se hoje contra a primeira audiência pública em Timor-Leste da Comissão da Verdade e Amizade (KKP) indonésia, considerando que o actual processo "promove a impunidade".

"Só estão a promover a impunidade e a promover generais indonésios que cometeram crimes contra a humanidade", declarou o responsável do Centro de Documentação da antiga Comissão de Acolhimento, Verdade e Reconciliação timorense (CAVR), José Caetano.

A KKP foi criada entre a Indonésia e Timor-Leste para analisar os acontecimentos violentos no território em 1999.

As audiências em Díli prolongam-se por três dias, nas antigas instalações da CAVR, na Comarca de Balide, uma antiga prisão colonial associada à repressão e à tortura.

José Caetano, funcionário do secretariado técnico pós-CAVR, e outros activistas timorenses ouvidos pela Lusa criticaram o facto de o primeiro-ministro, Xanana Gusmão, ter testemunhado perante a KKP à porta fechada, na segunda-feira.

José Caetano recordou que Xanana Gusmão testemunhou em público perante a CAVR, cujo mandato se estendeu de 2002 a 2005.

"Desta vez, se chamaram audiência ao seu testemunho, devia ter sido pública também. Em segundo lugar, não acredito que houvesse informação sensível que explicasse o segredo", acrescentou José Caetano.

"Deve ter sido um testemunho político", disse.

José Caetano salientou que, como membro da CAVR, ouviu "milhares de vozes das vítimas", ao longo de mais de oito mil entrevistas feitas pela Comissão timorense sobre os 24 anos de ocupação indonésia.

"Muita gente chorou neste local, que foi um sítio de tortura e sofrimento" e, por isso, José Caetano e outros activistas recusaram-se hoje a entrar na Comarca de Balide.

"Os líderes falharam com a Justiça e estão a brincar com as vítimas e com o passado", acusou também o documentarista da CAVR.

"Estão a mentir ao povo. Não reflectem sobre o passado nem sobre a História de Timor-Leste", denunciou.

"O povo contribuiu para a verdade. Os líderes não. Apenas vão para onde sopra o vento", declarou ainda José Caetano.

"Parece-me que é uma discriminação contra as vítimas" da violência, considerou Charles Scheiner, um dos responsáveis da organização timorense La'o Hamutuk.

"Xanana Gusmão escolheu testemunhar à porta fechada enquanto que as vítimas, que são as mais vulneráveis, falam sempre em público", comentou Charles Scheiner.

O responsável da La'o Hamutuk afirmou que "as audiências da KKP são completamente irrelevantes".

"A KKP não está a fazer nenhuma investigação nova, está só a usar investigações anteriores. Os testemunhos de Habibie (ex-Presidente indonésio) e Wiranto (ex-comandante das Forças Armadas Indonésias) e os outros, são mentiras. Como podem surgir revelações?", interroga Charles Scheiner.

José Caetano recordou que o relatório final da CAVR, "Chega!", entregue ao Parlamento em 2005, não teve seguimento na Justiça.

"Depois da independência, os timorenses esperavam ter Justiça. Não concordo com os líderes quando dizem que a independência é uma espécie de Justiça", disse.

"Nós precisamos de justiça, não de amnistia para os culpados na Indonésia ou em Timor-Leste", declarou José Caetano.

"Sem verdade e Justiça, não há amizade" entre os dois países, concluiu.

"É óbvio pelo seu mandato e pelo seu desempenho que a KKP não é um mecanismo credível para a procura de justiça nem sequer da verdade sobre os acontecimentos em Timor-Leste em 1999, muito menos entre 1975 e 1999", acusou, em Maio, uma coligação de mais de 30 organizações timorenses e internacionais.

"Desde a sua criação, a KKP tem muitos problemas, incluindo falta de legitimidade, ausência de qualquer método claro para análise de provas existentes sobre a violência de 1999, sérias deficiências nas audiências públicas, falta de transparência e clareza", acusou a carta aberta, assinada por várias das organizações que hoje se manifestaram na Comarca de Balide.

Sócrates leva Timor às Nações Unidas

TVI
2007-09-25 19:34
Assembleia-Geral da ONU

O presidente da UE diz ainda que a Europa está preparada para assumir responsabilidades no Kosovo.

José Sócrates, presidente em exercício da União Europeia (UE) frisou, esta terça-feira, que a União Europeia está preparada para assumir responsabilidades no Kosovo e pediu mais meios para as missões das Nações Unidas. Bruxelas quer ainda a erradicação da pobreza e a consolidação de Timor-Leste.

Discursando perante a 62ª Assembleia-Geral das Nações Unidas, na qualidade de presidente em exercício da UE, Sócrates abordou as principais questões da agenda da política externa europeia.

De acordo com a Agência Lusa, o Primeiro-ministro português referiu-se a prioridades da presidência, como a cimeira UE/África e o processo de autonomia do Kosovo.

Ao longo de 13 páginas, o chefe do Governo português defendeu o primado do Direito internacional, do multilateralismo e das Nações Unidas para a resolução das grandes questões globais, de carácter ambiental ou político.

Em relação à erradicação da pobreza, Sócrates manifestou apoio a missões das Nações Unidas e da União Africana em palcos como o Dafur, no Chade Oriental e no norte da República Centro Africana. Em relação ao diferendo no Kosovo, o presidente em exercício da UE preconizou uma solução «política abrangente, democrática e multi-étnica».

Sócrates deixou ainda mensagens em defesa de um tratado internacional contra a proliferação de armas e de uma convenção global contra o terrorismo.

O Primeiro-ministro pediu o apoio da comunidade internacional à consolidação de Timor-Leste enquanto Nação, «para que a paz não se confunda com o período entre duas guerras».

Dos Leitores

Comentário na sua mensagem "Dos Leitores":

Este comentário acima é profundamente violador da verdade dos factos. Rogério Lobato nunca em tempo algum tentou sair do país durante o processo judicial.

Quem escreveu só pode estar toldado pela impotência desumana de quem reflecte estar ressabiado.

Rogério Lobato só pecou por ser aquilo que sempre foi: impulsivo e ingénuo o quanto baste.

Rogério Lobato está doente, muito doente. Só quem tem mau fundo poderá acusar este cidadão timorense de pretender fugir à justiça. Aliás, Rogério Lobato poderia ter feito simplesmente aquilo que os protegidos de XG e RH fizeram: fugir da prisão. Hoje estaria em posição negocial? Não não estaria pois nunca serviu os interesses do seu compadre RH e jamais se ofereceu ao australianos.

Rogério poderia ter simplesmente ter feito o mesmo de Reinado e não o fez!

Poderia, Rogério Lobato, ter agido como Railós e Paulo Fátima Martins. Não o fez!

Rogério Lobato poderia tudo, mas não o quis! Hoje, depois de um golpe de Estado mal disfarçado, é dos poucos cidadãos exemplares de Timor-Leste. Já RH e XG não poderão dizer o mesmo.

Já agora, a actual ministra da Justiça, aquela que no estrangeiro se intitulava de presidente da Associação dos Advogados Timoresenses e da Ordem dos Advogados, foi uma das principais finaciadoras das bastas tentativas de criar instabilidade no país ao tenpo do primeiro governo constitucional.

Macau, através de célebres UDT's ali ainda residentes, e de outros bem abastados, tem a prova de como essa senhora, hoje ministra, ali pedia dinheiro para financiar manifestações em troca de "uma Nova Ordem" que traria benefícios a quem desse uma ajudinha financeira.

Em suma, ou em resumo: não há verdade que se esconda quando tem como capa a mentira!