WRITTEN QUESTION P-2895/00 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Reappearance of the?militias' in East Timor and the new EU policy for Indonesia.
Date: 2000-09-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: East Timor, Indonesia, cooperation policy, foreign policy, international relations, paramilitary force

C 81 E/220

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-1997/00 (1).

(1) See p. 128.

(2001/C 81 E/286)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2895/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(6 September 2000)

Subject: Reappearance of the?militias(cid:146) in East Timor and the new EU policy for Indonesia

In recent weeks tensions have risen in East Timor, and incidents have occurred claiming fresh victims.
At the origin of this lies the renewed activity of the so-called (cid:145)militias(cid:146). It has been confirmed that East
Timor has been infiltrated by trained and armed elements originating in neighbouring West Timor.
According to UN sources, there appear to be (cid:145)over 100(cid:146) such armed infiltrators; other independent sources
suggest the number may be nearer 300. Evidence on the basis of those agents who have been detected
suggests that these people are (cid:145)former members of the Indonesian armed forces(cid:146) using material and
equipment of those forces.

Media reports have publicised these circumstances and the deep concern which they are generating,
affecting life and security in the territory and jeopardising the lives and safety of both native Timorese and
the civilian and military personnel of the UN and various humanitarian organisations.

The reactivation of these (cid:145)militias(cid:146) has only been possible thanks to the collaboration and training with
which they are still being provided in West Timor by influential elements in Indonesian society which are
hostile to peace and freedom for the Timorese and continue to enjoy unlimited freedom of movement
under the Indonesian regime, which itself remains subject to numerous factors of uncertainty. For a year
now reports have been accumulating of the wide freedom of movement enjoyed by the armed (cid:145)militias(cid:146) in
the displaced people(cid:146)s camps in East Timor and of the coercion which they are imposing on many of those
who fled to those camps in the wake of last year(cid:146)s brutal wave of military and paramilitary violence. These
phenomena have met with indifference or, at best, only minimal attention at official level internationally.

Even if today(cid:146)s circumstances are very different from those of a year ago, these developments have
reopened an old and unfortunate question, namely that of de facto duplicity on the part of Indonesia. One
may even ask whether the EU(cid:146)s launching of a (cid:145)new policy(cid:146) towards Indonesia was not in fact premature,
given that the Indonesian government has not been in a position to guarantee a correct attitude on the
part of all the authorities in the country (cid:129) including the (cid:145)de facto authorities(cid:146) (cid:129) towards the nation and
people of East Timor, and has not effectively prevented or punished, throughout its territory and especially
in West Timor, all actions carried out or planned against that nation and people.

Is the Commission aware of this grave resurgence of the (cid:145)militia crisis(cid:146), and is it taking a firm stand on the
matter with the Indonesian authorities? What guarantees has it obtained from the Indonesian authorities,
and how effective does it believe these to be in the light of the facts? Is the Commission considering taking
action if necessary to suspend the arrangements for closer cooperation launched by it in the meantime
under the (cid:145)new policy(cid:146) towards Indonesia?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 September 2000)

The Commission is aware of the situation referred to by the Honourable Member, in particular the actions
of the paramilitary units in the border region of East Timor.

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/221

that
There can be no doubt
intervention, since it clearly holds political responsibility.

the problem can only be resolved by the Indonesian government(cid:146)s

The Commission will pass on its grave concern to the Indonesian authorities.

The Commission does not believe that reconsidering Community policy on Indonesia and suspending
co-operation would be constructive or encourage reform there.

(2001/C 81 E/287)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898/00

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Ownership structure of the company Energie AG

The Land of Upper Austria owns 100 % of the electricity supply undertaking Energie AG. The liberalisation
of the electricity market is forcing electricity suppliers to form larger units in order to cut costs and
increase market penetration and thereby retain customers.

The Parliament of Upper Austria has therefore decided to sell 25,1 % of the undertaking Energie AG. At the
same time, it was decided to exclude suppliers who produce energy using nuclear power from submitting a
bid. As a consequence, only Austrian electricity undertakings are able to submit bids for the 25,1 % share,
with electricity undertakings in the remaining EU states being excluded from the procedure.

Does such a procedure comply with European law, and are contracts concluded under such conditions
valid under EU law?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-2182/00 (1).

That answer is still valid.

(1) See p. 168.

(2001/C 81 E/288)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2958/00

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Mr Stubbe(cid:146)s inquiry into hamsters in the frontier region of Heerlen and Aachen

The discussion about the establishment of a cross-border industrial site in the German-Dutch frontier
region near Aachen and Heerlen has been dominated for some time by the possibility of damage to the
natural habitat of
the European hamster. Following a complaint by the German Naturschutzbund
(nature conservation organisation) the Commission has arranged for an expert, Mr Stubbe, to conduct a
survey.