[asia-apec 1301] Fw: Please call for East Timor today

[Arno Mong Daastoel]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dr Alan Cheney 
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Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 9:15 AM
Subject: Please call for East Timor today


Very Urgent Action Alert
September 16, 1999

Phone Your Representative and Senators Immediately to Unblock Relief
Shipments to East Timor and to Support HR 2809 and S.1568


The situation of the refugees in East Timor is dire. According to the U.N.
Food and Agricultural Organization, about 200,000 East Timorese are at risk
of starvation if they do not immediately receive relief supplies. But the
Indonesian military (TNI) is not cooperating. The TNI is effectively
blocking Australian efforts to drop relief packages (see article below).

As part of your calls to your Congressional Representative and Senators to
garner support for HR 2809 and S.1568 (see the Urgent Action of September
15), urge Congress and the Senate to work to put immediate pressure on
Jakarta to stop the blocking of the relief airdrops.

The congressional switchboard number is 202-224-3121 or check
www.congress.gov or www.visi.com/juan/congress/ for additional contact information.
 
Apologies to non-U.S. recipients.  Please call your local East Timor action group and ask how you can help.

For more information, contact Karen Orenstein at 202-544-6911 or
etanko at igc.org.

=========================================

East Timor relief drops delayed by Indonesian military: PM

SYDNEY, Sept 16 (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard said aid
drops into East Timor were not likely to go ahead Thursday because the
safety of the planes could not be assured.

Howard told Channel Nine television Australia had yet to get an Indonesian
military guarantee they would not shoot down the planes carrying
much-needed aid.

He said difficulties were being experienced because there were no clear
lines of command in Indonesia.

"We had hoped today," Howard said. "The prospect of that, I was told a few
for more minutes ago, are not all that bright because we're still having
trouble getting certain assurances from the Indonesian military authorities.

"We can't take the risk of the planes being shot down because they're
needed for other things but we want to get the aid in as soon as possible.

"Now we're working on that over time. We've got the approval of the
Indonesian minister but we haven't got the approval of the Indonesian
military."

Australian troops will help deliver the aid once it arrives on the ground.

"Under the United Nations resolution, one of the tasks of the force is to
facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance," Howard said.

END