B4-0383, 0395, 0397, 0405, 0413 and 0415/99

Resolution on the situation in Indonesia and East Timor

The European Parliament,

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

A. whereas on 7 June 1999 elections are due to take place throughout Indonesia for the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, the Indonesian Parliament,

B. appalled by the massacre in Liquica, East Timor, when armed members of the pro-integration paramilitary troops attacked Catholic worshippers in a church, murdering at least 25 people and leaving many more wounded,

C. horrified also at the subsequent attack on the motorcade escorting the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Bishop Ximenes Belo of Dili,

D. whereas the criminal operations of the paramilitary groups, who are being aided and abetted by the Indonesian police and army, have considerably aggravated the serious tension already existing in East Timor,

E. whereas these incidents are occurring at a time when the UN-sponsored negotiations between Portugal and Indonesia on the future of East Timor are about to enter a critical phase and are already being bandied about as a pretext for Indonesia to alter the points previously agreed at the negotiations,

F. concerned about serious indications that parts of the party in government, Golkar, together with the Indonesian armed forces, are instigating upheavals in order to prevent a peaceful solution,

G. whereas President Habibie has given to understand that if the people of East Timor were to reject autonomy for the territory, independence could be granted,

H. whereas Indonesian security forces have repeatedly responded to demonstrations and riots with excessive and lethal force,

I. whereas the number of Indonesian soldiers stationed in East Timor has risen since the beginning of the year and whereas the Indonesian authorities have set up paramilitary militias and distributed weapons to certain groups within the population,

J. whereas the pro-integration civilian population in East Timor is increasingly taking up arms,

K. whereas there has been no significant improvement in the human rights situation in Indonesia, despite reform promises made by President Habibie when he took office in May 1998,

1. Condemns the violence and repression which continue to spread in Indonesia and particularly in East Timor;

2. Expresses its deep concern about the continuing violence in the Moluccan Archipelago, where the latent climate of violence is still growing, after the past violent riots which killed over 250 people;

3. Roundly condemns the massacre perpetrated by pro-integration paramilitary groups in collusion with the Indonesian police and army, which killed dozens of defenceless civilians, and extends its deepest sympathy to the families of the Liquica massacre victims, many of whom do not know what has happened to the bodies of their relatives;

4. Calls on the Indonesian authorities immediately to halt military and logistical support to the paramilitary groups, to disarm and disband these militias, and to drastically cut back their military presence on East Timorese territory;

5. Notes that Indonesia has reportedly agreed to UN calls for an impartial investigation into the Liquica massacre, and insists that such an investigation is carried out;

6. Calls upon the Indonesian Government to restore the rule of law, stop human rights abuses, and promote the peaceful coexistence of people of different religions and ethnic groups;

7. Calls on the Indonesian authorities to show the utmost restraint when dealing with demonstrators and to ensure that members of the Indonesian armed forces and paramilitary groups who commit human rights violations are brought to justice;

8. Maintains that Portugal and Indonesia have to continue their negotiations under UN auspices and that representatives of the Timorese resistance movement must also be directly involved; hopes that the events referred to above will not be used as a reason to break off, postpone, or suspend the negotiations;

9. Calls on the Indonesian authorities to do their utmost to ensure that the people of East Timor will be able to exercise their right of self-determination in peace; and calls on the United Nations at this stage to organise a mission with a view to preparing for, overseeing, and safeguarding the ballot that will offer a choice between autonomy and independence of the territory;

10. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Xanana Gusmão (who remains a key figure on account of his moderation and constructive role in promoting reconciliation among the Timorese) and all other political detainees, of Timorese extraction or otherwise, who must not, under any circumstances, be confused with prisoners being held for breaking the law;

11. Reiterates its support for the struggle of the Timorese people to win the right of self-determination and independence;

12. Urges the Indonesian Government to ensure that its promise regarding the organisation of free, fair, and democratic elections is fulfilled;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States, the Government of Indonesia, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Committee on Decolonisation, ASEAN, the Nobel Peace Prize winners, José Ramos Horta and Carlos Ximenes Belo, and the leader of the Timorese resistance movement, Xanana Gusmão.