From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: SFU Univ told to cancel Indonesia project
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 00:45:31 GMT

/** reg.easttimor: 353.0 **/
** Topic: Univ told to cancel Indo project **
** Written  5:54 pm  Sep  3, 1992 by web:etantor in cdp:reg.easttimor **
Editorial in The Peak (Student newspaper at Simon Fraser University,
Burnaby, BC). July 9, 1992.
Comment: Simon Fraser University has just established a committee to look
into its aid to Indonesia project, following the lead of Guelph University.
We will be providing more information on this shortly.
 
SFU CANNOT IGNORE EAST TIMOR
 
How can a university as a supporter of intellectual and personal freedom
continue to be involved with the government of Indonesia, a notorious
abuser of human rights? Since the occupation of east timor by Indonesia it
has been reported that over 200,000 people have been killed under a
miltary government. Thousands of others have been tortured, relocated,
kidnapped and terrorized.
 
On Monday the Senate passed a detailed but muddled policy that human rights
be a consideration in the acceptance or renewal of international contacts
at SFU. "It is the university's responsibility to determine to the best of
its abilities that the activities it engages in contrinute to the dignity
and well-being of its foreign partners and do not act as instruments of
abuse." Sounds good. But the policy also says the human rights violations
must also be sensitive to a country's culture (section 5.5 of the polcy).
Does this mean it's okay for the miltary to murder innocent civilans
because it's part of a country's culture?
 
Anotehr guideline says that individuals in abusive regimes must not be
further penalized by being denied access to international assistance. This
means that international assistance can not be used as sanctions. But
Canada has done and continues to use sanctions in South Africa and they at
least played a helpful role in forcing South Africa along the long anbd
slow path of dismantling apartheid. SFU's policy does not allow for its
assistance to be used as a sanction against a brutal and repressive
regime.
 
The new Senate Committee on International Activities must be vigilant
in its investigation of SFU's international activities. It must ensure the
good name of SFU not be associated with human rights abuse. The Indonesia
project must be reviewed and a new contract not signed.
 
Indonesia, through CIDA, has a five year twenty million dollar contract
with SFU. The Eastern Indonesia University Development Project is supposed
to assist the Government of Indonesia in its development program by
aplying Canadian capabilities to the upgrading of selected universities in
eastern Indonesia. Despite Canadian expertise the East Timor Alert Network
claims "studetns are often too frightened to attend classes in East Timor
because the schools and the universities are swarming with Indonesian
military intelligence. After 4 pm many young Timorese leave their homes,
they sleep in a different place every night to avoid kidnapping by the
military."
 
The government of Indonesia illegally occupies East timor. In November of
1991 over 100 people were murdered and foreign journalists were shot
(sic) by Indonesian soldiers at a peaceful protest at Dili, the capital
of East Timor. If SFU renews its participation in Indonesia it is
providing legitimacy to a repressive and dictatorial regime. As an
institution promoting freedom of thought and justive SFU must not invlove
itself in repression and injustice.
** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive