November 99

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

The Continuing Agony of East Timor

After the August 30 referendum, when the East Timorese people voted overwhelmingly for independence from Indonesia, hundreds of thousands of East Timorese were brutally murdered or driven from their homes by Indonesian military and paramilitary forces. Many were forced to go to West Timor; the UN mission reports that 100,000 have been relocated to other parts of Indonesia.The humanitarian and security situations remain severe, despite the fact that an international force is in place and the Indonesian legislature has recognized the results of the referendum. A firm US policy based on the rights of the Timorese people rather than US economic and geopolitical interests in Indonesia could have prevented this humanitarian disaster. The scale of the crisis and the nature of US involvement in this situation demand that we respond.

Action #1: Pick up your phone.Tell your representatives that you feel strongly about the humanitarian crisis in East Timor and support the struggle for independence. Two bills are under discussion in Congress. In the Senate, S.1568 suspends economic assistance until the results of the August 30, 1999 referendum vote in East Timor have been implemented. In the House, HR. 2895--the East Timor Self-Determination Act--would support independence for East Timor and ìlock inî the sanctions imposed on Indonesia.

The Congressional switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. Ask to speak with the legislative aide for foreign policy. Tell your congressperson that these sanctions must remain in place until:

• The refugees in West Timor have been voluntarily repatriated to East Timor;
• The free flow of humanitarian aid and the security of the internally displaced in East Timor have been guaranteed;
• The Indonesian armed forces have fully and verifiably withdrawn, including the Special Forces Kopassus;
• The militias have been fully disarmed and disbanded;
• The UN transitional authority has been allowed to fulfill its mission to facilitate self-determination for East Timor.
  

For how to contact your representatives, please go to www.visi.com/juan/congress. If you do not know your representative's name, you can visit www.congress.org and enter your address and zip code. If the office has not already co-sponsored the East Timor Self-Determination Act, ask the aide to obtain a copy of HR.2895 (for the House of Representatives) from Rep. Patrick Kennedy or S.1568 (for the Senate) from Sen. Russell Feingold. Emphasize that you will call back to learn the legislator's decision.

Action #2: Agitate, demonstrate, and educate. Write to your legislators and local media. Remember that powerful US and international institutions bear much of the responsibility for the tragedy of East Timor. Read the alternative progressive media to learn more about how militarism and corporate greed can work to block grassroots democracy and peace and justice (both at home and abroad). Talk to friends, neighbors, and community organizations. Get involved with ETAN, Mobilization for Survival, Grassroots International, the American Friends Service Committee, or your campus peace and justice group. When US leaders facilitate oppression abroad, we need to raise the social costs of their actions at home.

Action #3: Give generously to help rebuild East Timor. Grassroots International has identified several organizations that need immediate assistance. Call 800-348-8881 for the Act Now for East Timor campaign. More information: 617/524-1400, or visit: www.grassrootsonline.org

Action #4: Make the ETAN connection. For the best source of news on upcoming demonstrations and actions in the United States--ETAN, the East Timor Action Network, a solidarity organization dedicated to changing US foreign policy and raising public awareness to support self-determination for East Timor: John M. Miller, ETAN, 48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA;718/596-7668; <etan-outreach@igc.org> www.etan.org

--Mark Salzer, for ETAN