[asia-apec 1853] ETAN calls for a debt free East Timor

[John M. Miller]

For Immediate Release

Contact:
John M. Miller, 718-5967668; mobile: 917-690-4391
Karen Orenstein, 202-544-6911

East Timor Action Network to Bush: "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is"
Calls for a Debt-Free East Timor

March 21, 2002 - The East Timor Action Network (ETAN) today urged President 
Bush to "put your money where your mouth is" by supporting a debt-free 
start for East Timor. The world's newest nation gains independence on May 
20, and its government projects a gap in its national budget during its 
first three years before expected natural gas and oil revenues begin to 
flow in.

The call came as President George W. Bush's spoke before the United 
Nations' International Conference on Financing for Development in 
Monterrey, Mexico. ETAN urged donor nations, including the U.S., and 
international institutions to fund the gap through grants rather than loans 
and free of crippling conditions.

"The Bush administration and other governments have stated their commitment 
to eradicating global poverty, and the U.S. advocates that a large portion 
of international assistance to poor countries should come in the form of 
grants. We are telling President Bush to "put your money where your mouth 
is" and help East Timor embark on its new nationhood free of debt," said 
Karen Orenstein, Washington Coordinator for ETAN.

"The endless cycle of debt and cuts in social spending to which so many 
poor nations are condemned must not be repeated for East Timor. Grants for 
East Timor must be given without the strings of structural adjustment 
programs that further impoverish those who are already poor," continued 
Orenstein.

East Timor expects a $154-$184 million shortfall in the government's 
recurrent and development budget over the first three years of 
independence. East Timorese government officials and civil society have 
repeatedly stated that the government should not mortgage its future by 
incurring debt.

Centuries of Portuguese colonial rule and 24 years of brutal Indonesian 
occupation have left East Timor one of the poorest countries in the world.

"East Timor is literally rebuilding itself from ashes. The Indonesian 
military exited East Timor in 1999 by destroying 75% of the country's 
infrastructure." stated Orenstein. "The money East Timor needs is a mere 
drop in the bucket in international terms."

"East Timor has a government committed to alleviating poverty. The United 
States and other industrialized countries should seize the opportunity to 
put their stated principles into action," said John M. Miller, Media and 
Outreach Coordinator for ETAN. "Otherwise, they will be doomed to repeat 
failed policies and practices, and it will be the East Timorese people who 
suffer."

"Governments like the U.S. actively aided Indonesia's genocidal occupation 
of East Timor with weapons, military training and political support. The 
least they should do is provide East Timor with a chance at financial and 
economic independence," added Miller.

Gathered at the International Conference on Financing for Development are 
dozens of heads of governments and states and hundreds of finance, trade, 
foreign and other ministers. The conference is discussing ways to better 
finance established development goals, including halving the number of 
people who live in extreme poverty, lack access to safe drinking water and 
suffer from hunger; reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters; and 
assuring universal primary education by 2015.

According to international agencies, East Timor's annual per capita gross 
national product is just $340, life expectancy is 48 years and the infant 
mortality rate is 135 per 1000 live births. At 890 per 100,000 live births, 
the maternal mortality rate is twice that of other countries in Southeast 
Asia or the Western Pacific according to the World Health Organization.

The East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) supports human dignity for the 
people of East Timor by advocating for democracy, sustainable development, 
and justice and human rights, including women's rights. ETAN has 26 local 
chapters throughout the U.S. For additional information see ETAN's web site 
(http://www.etan.org).

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http://www.etan.org/news/2002a/03debt.htm



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John M. Miller         Internet: john at etan.org

Media & Outreach Coordinator
East Timor Action Network: 10 Years for Self-Determination & Justice

48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile phone: (917)690-4391
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Support ETAN, make a secure financial contribution: 
http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm

Send a blank e-mail message to info at etan.org to find out
how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet
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