The IUF today called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to organise the immediate deployment of an international peacekeeping force in East Timor. The UN, said IUF General Secretary Ron Oswald, must act swiftly to avert a bloodbath in the wake of last week's massive vote for independence from Indonesia. They simply cannot wait for the deliberations of yet another UN 'mission', or for the authorities in Indonesia to change course. Too many lives are at stake.
Press reports describe widescale civilian massacres and the forced deportation of thousands.
Oswald called the East Timor situation a crucial test both for the credibility of the United Nations and the tentative democratic opening in Indonesia. Australia and other states have volunteered to provide troops. There can be no excuse for delaying action this time. ACTU that it was launching a campaign for an end to the violence in East Timor by, among other measures, calling for bans to be placed on all Indonesian government and commercial interests in Australia and a withdrawal of all but essential services from Indonesian government and commercial interests. ACTU also called for a consumer boycott of Indonesian products and services and a halt to international financial assistance to the Indonesian government until peace is restored.