WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1921/97 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Invasion of East Timor
Date: 1997-06-04
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: East Timor, European political cooperation, Indonesia, cruel and degrading treatment, human rights, imprisonment, military occupation, political prisoner, public international law, right to justice

10. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 45/123

However, the Commission is at present examining to what extent it would be advisable to take account, under
this scheme, of a very sharp drop in the turnover of a producer organization ascribable to a natural disaster.

2.
The Commission does not consider the request for an increase in the Community ceiling on financial aid
(fixed  at  2%  and  2.5%,  as  from  1999,  of  the  turnover  of  all  producer  organizations),  on  the  grounds  of  the
disasters which struck certain regions of the Community, to be justified. Indeed, in the Community fruit and
vegetable sector, the ups and downs in production in different regions largely cancel one another out, so that the
ceiling mentioned above ensures, on average, a fair level of aid for all Community producer organizations.

(98/C 45/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1921/97

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(4 June 1997)

Subject: Invasion of East Timor

What is the Commission(cid:146)s attitude towards the invasion of East Timor by Indonesia?

What is the Commission(cid:146)s attitude towards the imprisonment and torture of peaceful protesters in that country,
including Mr Jacinto Das Neves Raimundo Alves, a civil servant, who was one of 13 people tried and sentenced
for organizing a procession at the cemetery at Santa Cruz, Dili, on 12 November 1991?

For information, he was tried at Dili District Court in June 1993 and sentenced to 10 years in jail: He is currently
being detained in Semarang Prison.

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1997)

The Commission(cid:146)s general position with regard to the situation in East Timor is that laid down in the Union(cid:146)s
common position of 25 June 1996, calling on the Indonesian government to adopt effective measures leading to a
significant improvement in the situation in the Territory.

The position of the Commission and the Member States concerning more specifically respect for human rights
has also been expressed as regards the situation in East Timor. Numerous demarches have been made asking for
fair treatment and access to prisoners, and a just and equitable solution respecting the legitimate interests and
aspirations of the people of East Timor, which is internationally not recognized as being part of Indonesia. The
Commission has also given its full support to the tripartite negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations.

More  specifically  on  the  tragic  events  of  November  1991,  the  Community  and  its  Member  States  issued  a
declaration  on  3  December  1991  condemning  the  unjustifiable  actions  of  the  Indonesian  armed  forces  and
stressing the respect of human rights and democracy. Another Community declaration was issued on 13 February
1992, stressing the improvement of human rights in East Timor and calling for fair trials.

With  regard  to  the  individual  case  mentioned  by  the  Honourable  Member,  the  Commission  usually  uses  its
established channels of communication to express, together with Member States, concern over individual cases
of harsh and unjustified treatment.

The Commission has followed closely the recent events concerning the political process in Indonesia and will
continue to make all useful representations to the Indonesian government for the maintenance of fundamental
freedoms and human rights.