From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: EAST TIMOR: Optimism over U.N. condemnation of Indonesia
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 08:23:14 GMT

/** reg.easttimor: 350.0 **/
** Topic: ips: UNHRC condemns Indonesia on ET **
** Written  8:28 pm  Aug 31, 1992 by cscheiner in cdp:reg.easttimor **
From: Charles Scheiner <cscheiner>
Subject: ips: UNHRC condemns Indonesia on ET

/* Written 12:24 am  Aug 31, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "EAST TIMOR: Optimism over U.N. cond" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: EAST TIMOR: Optimism over U.N. condemnation of Indonesia

lisbon, aug 28 (ips) -- the united nations human rights
commission's condemnation of indonesia's repression in east timor,
''is a shame for a country that aims to take a leadership position
in the third world,'' said a timorese activist friday.

''it is the first time that an absolute majority supported a
condemnation of indonesia for the violation of human rights in
timor,'' said jose ramos-horta, spokesperson for opponents of
jakarta's illegal occupation of the country.

ramos-horta said that as indonesia was preparing to host and lead
the summit of non-aligned nations, to be held sep 1-5, the u.n.
vote was ''a serious diplomatic setback'' for jakarta.

the resolution was approved 13 votes in favour, six against and
with four abstentions, and also condemns jakarta for ''continuing
to shut east timor off from the eyes of international observers.''

as a u.n. member indonesia is now obliged to release political
prisoners condemned for non-violent acts under the so-called 'anti-
subversive law', and to help families of those still missing after
the nov. 12, 1991 massacre of an estimated 150 pro-independence
demonstrators in the timorese capital of dili.

according to human rights monitors amnesty international and asia
watch, 210,000 out of a total population of 650,000 were killed in
the first 15 years after indonesia's occupation in 1975.

ramos-horta was sceptical about whether indonesia would honour
the points in the resolution, ''especially acknowledging the
disappearances of people whom we know are buried in mass graves.''
he added that the indonesians claim the missing have returned to
their homes, ''but their families have yet to see them.''

the unhrc vote was confidential, but ramos-horta claimed that
morocco, china, egypt, nigeria and tunisia, were among those
countries that voted against the censure motion. all of them, he
noted, were countries ''familiar with human rights violations''.

the resolution requires u.n. secretary-general, boutros boutros-
ghali, to release a report by his special envoy to timor, so far
kept ''under lock and key'' until now, said ramos-horta.

it also urges boutros-ghali to gather all reports released on
timor by governments and non-governmental organisations (ngos) so
far, for discussion at the february meeting of the commission.

until that time ngos and humanitarian organisations must have
free entry into eastern timor, said ramos-horta, pointing out that
''indonesia agreed to this in march but has not yet honoured the
compromise.'' (end/ips/trd/hr/md/da/mv/rj/92)

** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **
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