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SRIM Statement
Dear journalist friends,
On November 12 1991 hundreds of East Timorese youths and students, aged in their teens, were shot by Indonesian troops after they had conducted a church service. Hundreds of them were killed. Their corpses were taken away in trucks, and it is still not known where they are buried. This incident clearly indicated to the international community that the problem of East Timor has not been resolved, despite what the Indonesian regime had always argued in international forums.
This new international focus on East Timor has not reduced the energy with which the Indonesian government has attempted to convince the world that East Timor is already fully integrated into Indonesia. But despite the number of banquets and meetings which have been held, the United Nations' determination to view East Timor as a region of conflict has not been undermined. At the same time, the Indonesian government has refused to conduct a referendum under United Nations' supervision, as suggested by Bishop Belo and the international community.
Four years after the Santa Cruz tragedy, clearly not much has changed in East Timor. Although the government has proclaimed East Timor 'open', people are still prevented from visiting there, as has just recently been the experience of HJC Princen [a long term human rights activists based in Jakarta], who was intending to fly to Dili to meet with Bishop Belo and the governor of East Timor, but was prevented from boarding his plane at the Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar, Bali, on the orders of the Udayana Regional Military Commander.
The people's unrest is mounting. The recent riots which have occurred in East Timor, including some ostensibly caused by inter-religious tensions, are merely the surface manifestations of the basic issue in East Timor: that the people's right to self determination has not been respected. And the only way to resolve the basic issue is to respect this right by holding a democratic referendum monitored by the UN. What is the meaning of the physical development which has occurred in East Timor if the people there live in fear? As Xanana always says, what the people of East Timor need is the recognition of their right to exist as a free nation.
In order to show support to the struggle of the East Timorese people, SPRIM will meet to light 'candles for peace' to commemorate four years of the Santa Cruz massacre. This will take place on Sunday November 12 1995, at 5 p.m. at the roundabout at the University of Indonesia, Jakarta (in front of the Faculty of Psychology).
This notice is an invitation to all those Indonesian people who are struggling against repression and who support the struggle of the East Timorese people. Let us join ranks and shout out the slogan:
Resistance is Change. Wilson - coordinator.
Four years ago, on November 12 1991, hundreds of East Timorese youths, mostly teenagers, gathered at a funeral service at the Santa Cruz cemetery. This service was held in order to pay last respects to an East Timorese youth who had been murdered by Indonesian soldiers two weeks earlier. But this service, which took place after a mass in the Santa Cruz church, was greeted by the gunfire of Indonesian military troops. About 180 youths were killed, and to this day it remains unclear where they are buried. This incident was a clear indication to the international community that the problem of East Timor has not been resolved.
This incident was also an important reminder that the East Timorese people's desire for self determination remains very strong. It revealed the great lie of the New Order regime in saying that the people of East Timor desire integration with Indonesia. Up to this day the East Timorese people continue their resistance -- the resistance of a people who yearn for freedom.
Now, four years after the Santa Cruz tragedy, in the face of continuing international pressure on the New Order regime, the repression of the East Timorese people is mounting. The regime has fanned a number of sensitive issues in East Timor, in order to spark riots there. In recent weeks, the regime has sought to set alight religious, racial and ethnic divisions in East Timor, in order to legitimise the return of military battalions there. All of this is nothing but a part of the regime's continuing attempts to crush the East Timorese people's right to exercise self-determination.
Based on these realities, we, the Indonesian People's Solidarity Struggle with the Maubere People, demand:
We end our statement with our greetings of struggle:That the Indonesian New Order regime immediately stops all military operations in East Timor, which have so clearly harmed the social, economic and political life of the people of East Timor. That the Indonesian New Order regime immediately withdraws all military forces, including police, from East Timor. That the Indonesian New Order regime immediately allows the formation of a provisional autonomous administration for the people of Maubere. That the right of the East Timorese people to self determination be respected as soon as possible by holding a referendum. That, in order to facilitate the above measures, the Indonesian government repeal the package of five laws on political life.
Jakarta, November 12 1995.
Indonesian People's Solidarity
Struggle with the Maubere People
Wilson - Coordinator.