B4-0764, 0776, 0777, 0782, 0784, 0785, 0800, 0806, 0817, 0819, 0825 and 0831/96

Resolution on the situation in East Timor and the violation of human rights in Indonesia

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in East Timor and the violation of human rights in Indonesia,

A. having regard to the illegal occupation of East Timor by Indonesia,

B. whereas Indonesian military repression against the population of East Timor is continuing and has been stepped up over recent days, particularly against young people,

C. deeply concerned at the incidents which occurred in Baukau between 9 and 11 June 1996 in the wake of the profanation of a Catholic religious image, involving protests by several hundred young Timorese which were repressed by the Indonesian security forces, with at least two of the young demonstrators being killed, large numbers wounded and several dozen being arrested,

D. whereas the Indonesian government continues to ignore all calls from the international community urging it to respect human rights and the right of self-determination of the people of East Timor,

E. having regard to the developments following the approach made by the Portuguese Prime Minister to the President of Indonesia during the Euro- Asian summit in Bangkok,

F. having regard to the forthcoming meeting between the Indonesian and Portuguese Foreign Ministers to be organized by the UN Secretary-General,

G. having regard to the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Imanuel Suares from East Timor on 7 June by the police in Jakarta,

H. whereas hundreds of political prisoners are still being detained in Indonesia and in East Timor,

I. whereas the tension in Indonesia has been increasing, as demonstrated by the incidents which have ocurred in Irian Jaya (Western Papua), where young people clashed with soldiers, and by the army's brutal invasion of the university campus in Ujung Padang in order to stop a student demonstration (protesting against a 150% increase in bus fares) which resulted in the death of six young people,

J. whereas the Indonesian authorities accused the former member of parliament Mr Sri-Bintang Pamungkas of being the instigator of demonstrations in Germany,

K. whereas this accusation was subsequently replaced by another alleging that Mr Sri-Bintang Pamungkas had insulted the President of Indonesia during a lecture he gave at the Technical University of Berlin on 9 April 1995, which led to his being sentenced to 34 months' imprisonment on 8 May 1996,

1. Condemns once more the Indonesian military repression of the people of East Timor and expresses its solidarity with the victims and their families;

2. Deplores the provocative acts perpetrated against freedom of religion;

3. Reaffirms its solidarity with the people of East Timor in their fight for self-determination, and its condemnation of the illegal occupation of East Timor;

4. Calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Xanana Gusmão;

5. Reaffirms its support for the UN-sponsored negotiations now underway aimed at resolving the problems on the basis of respect for human rights and the right to self-determination;

6. Calls on the Indonesian Government to respond to the initiative of the Portuguese Government;

7. Reiterates its demand to the Member States of the European Union to halt all military assistance and all arms sales to Indonesia;

8. Recalls the decision in its resolution of 21 November 1991 on the massacre in East Timor ((OJ C 326, 16.12.1991, p. 182.)) to send a delegation on a fact-finding mission to East Timor and insists that the Indonesian authorities should refrain from trying to prevent this visit;

9. Demands that the Indonesian authorities drop the charge against Mr Sri- Bintang Pamungkas, withdraw the sentence and rehabilitate him;

10. Calls on the Indonesian Government to guarantee the exercise of free and fair trials in the future;

11. Urges the Indonesian authorities to stop violating the rights of peaceful critics and activists and to guarantee all individuals, including independent journalists, their right to freedom of speech and association as expressed in international declarations on human rights and in the Indonesian Constitution;

12. Calls on the Commission to report on the situation in East Timor and on the violation of human rights in Indonesia and to take all the necessary steps in order to do so;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States, the Indonesian Government, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.