The International Tribunal must provide appropriate witness protection mechanisms. The Consultation was declared free and fair by independent international and Indonesian observers and resulted in a clear cut decision for independence by the majority of the East Timorese people and the prospect of lasting peace. An international peacekeeping force must be deployed in East Timor with the utmost urgency to restore law and order and avert a greater humanitarian catastrophe. It must be deployed without delay, be accompanied by a phased withdrawal of Indonesian troops, and have a mandate to disarm and arrest militia members and Indonesian soldiers responsible for acts of violence. East Timor is on the brink of humanitarian calamity as a result of systematic terror, mass displacement of the population, widespread destruction of infrastructure and the forced closure of local and international aid agencies in East Timor.
Many thousands face starvation.
Action must be taken immediately to secure humanitarian access to both East Timor and West Timor and cannot wait for the arrival of the international peacekeeping force. Immediate access should also be given to agencies with a protection mandate to protect internally displaced persons in East Timor and refugees in West Timor and other parts of Indonesia against further terror and further displacement. The media must also be given immediate, free and full access to East and West Timor to report on the situation.