UN Meets on Anniversary of Massacre
ETAN Urges UN and U.S. to Act for Justice for Timor-Leste
For Immediate Release
November 12, 2012 - The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) urged the United Nations, the U.S., and other governments to fulfill outstanding promises of justice for
the many victims of Indonesia's illegal invasion and occupation as the UN Security Council meets to wraps up the current
peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste,
The Security Council meets today on the 21st anniversary of one of the most notorious attacks on civilians during
Indonesia's brutal occupation. On November 12, 1991, Indonesian troops attacked a peaceful demonstration at the Santa
Cruz cemetery in Dili, Timor-Leste's capital. Hundreds were killed and injured and the final resting place of many of
the victims of the Santa Cruz massacre remain unknown.
"As the latest UN mission ends, promises of justice remain unfulfilled," said John M. Miller, National Coordinator of
ETAN. "The UN should state clearly that there can be no impunity for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed
during Indonesia's invasion and occupation of Timor-Leste from 1975-1999."
"The East Timorese people can not fully overcome their past until they know the fate of the bodies of their relatives
and friends," said Miller. "Impunity for decades of systematic Indonesian military and police atrocities prevents both
countries from consolidating the rule of law as they transition from military dictatorship do democracy."
ETAN continues to urge Congress and the Obama administration to respond to the recommendations of Timor-Leste's
Commission for Truth, Reception and Reconciliation, including its calls for an international tribunal to try
perpetrators of crimes against humanity during the Indonesian occupation, reparations from Indonesia and other countries
that supported the occupation, and restrictions on foreign assistance to the Indonesian military.
"The U.S. and others should press President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately release all information that can
help identify and locate those who were killed or disappeared during the occupation," said Miller.
"President Obama must restrict U.S. military assistance until the Indonesian generals and political leaders who
organized and directed numerous crimes during the 24-years of illegal occupation are credibly tried. Instead, the Obama
administration is plans to sell deadly Apache attack helicopters to the Indonesian military. "
President Obama is expected to meet Indonesia's President along with other ASEAN leaders at the East Asia Summit in
Cambodia next week. Officials credibly accused (and in some cases indicted) of crimes against humanity in Timor and
elsewhere continue to hold important positions as civilians or in the Indonesian military in West Papua and elsewhere.
"Without sustained pressure on the Indonesian government, U.S. government support for the rights of the East Timorese
will end at the Indonesian border," said Miller. "The U.S. needs to back up its talk of rights with actions."
During a joint media conference in Timor-Leste on September 6, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "we are standing with you as you work to build a
strong democracy with robust institutions, the rule of law, and protecting the rights of all of your citizens. Strong
democracies, we know from long practice, make more stable neighbors and capable partners, which is one of the reasons
why the United States is advancing democracy and human rights as a central pillar of our engagement throughout Asia."
Background
The UN is ending the UN Mission Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), but will remain engaged in the country
through its agencies.
On November 12, 1991, Indonesian troops opened fire on a memorial procession - turned into a peaceful pro-independence
demonstration - at the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. More than 270 mostly-young Timorese were
murdered. Unlike previous mass atrocities committed during Indonesia's 24-year occupation, the massacre was witnessed by
the NY-based Amy Goodman and Allan Nairn and other international journalists. Their first-hand reports, video and photographs were shown worldwide. The Santa
Cruz massacre galvanized international support for Timor-Leste and was the catalyst for U.S. congressional action to
stem the flow of U.S. weapons and other assistance for Indonesia's security forces.
During more than two decades of U.S.-backed occupation of Timor-Leste, Indonesian soldiers committed serious crimes with
impunity, taking as many as 184,000 Timorese lives and torturing, raping and displacing countless others. Timor-Leste
became independent in 2002.
Earlier this month, the Timorese organization La'o Hamutuk wrote to the Security Council "Acquiescence with impunity for serious crimes perpetrated by Indonesian actors against
Timor-Leste people between 1975 and 1999 betrays the global consensus 'to put an end to impunity' achieved in the Rome
Statute,10 besmirches the reputation of the United Nations, and imperils security and rule of law in Timor-Leste,
Indonesia and around the world."
In her May 2012 report, the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights wrote "[E]nding impunity is an essential prerequisite to
ensuring stability, peace and sustainability, and she reminded "the Government of Indonesia, the United Nations and the
international community of the role they must play in ensuring that the perpetrators of crimes during the Indonesian
occupation are brought to justice."
Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation researched and documented the nation's experiences during the occupation. The Commission's comprehensive 2,500-page
report recommended establishment of an international criminal tribunal and also advocated that countries (including the
U.S.) which backed the occupation and corporations which sold weapons to Indonesia during that period should pay
reparations to victims. The Commission urged the international community not to support Indonesia's military until it
was thoroughly reformed and respectful of human rights.
Indonesia has failed to provide information about the fate of the disappeared. This despite an agreement to create a
Commission for Disappeared Persons "to acquire information about the fate of disappeared people and cooperate to gather
data and provide information to their families."
ETAN was formed in 1991 reaction to the Santa Cruz massacre. The 20-year old U.S.-based organization advocates for
democracy, justice and human rights for Timor-Leste and Indonesia. For more information on the massacre see http://etan.org/timor/SntaCRUZ.htm. ETAN on the web: http://www.etan.org. Twitter: etan009
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see also
Human Rights & Justice page
on web at www.etan.org/news/2012/11scruz.htm
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