From gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz Wed May 8 23:01:00 2002 From: gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (gattwd) Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 23:01:00 +0900 (JST) Subject: [asia-apec 1860] The Garden of Eden Message-ID: <200205081401.g48E0xa04119@mail.ra3.so-net.ne.jp> From tpl at cheerful.com Thu May 9 17:32:23 2002 From: tpl at cheerful.com (tpl) Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 16:32:23 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 1861] (no title) Message-ID: <102093314401@sisa.i-manila.com.ph> From fbp at igc.org Tue May 14 05:03:14 2002 From: fbp at igc.org (John M. Miller) Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 16:03:14 -0400 Subject: [asia-apec 1862] Call justice for for the women of East Timor Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020513155429.02b59680@pop.igc.org> For Immediate Release May 13, 2002 Contact: Diane Farsetta, 608-663-5431 John M. Miller, 718-5967668; mobile: 917-690-4391 Women Worldwide Call For an International Tribunal For East Timor Officials, Scholars And Activists Say Justice For Crimes Against Timorese Women Needed Now Women from across the world said today that an international tribunal was the only way to hold accountable those most responsible for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor. More than 125 women from 14 countries and 22 U.S. states signed the statement, which was released by the East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) less than a week before East Timor becomes the first new nation of the millennium. ?The Indonesian [ad hoc Human Rights] court will not adequately address cases of gender violence and the systematic targeting of women and children, among other serious crimes,? asserts the statement, which is signed by such well-known women as activist Gloria Steinem; actor Susan Sarandon and playwright Eve Ensler; Judith Shapiro, President of Barnard College; authors Naomi Klein and Susan Brownmiller; Jessica Neuwirth, President of Equality Now; Eleanor Smeal of Feminist Majority; author and organizer Vandana Shiva of India; and human rights defender Sister Dianna Ortiz. Three members of Congress, Representatives Tammy Baldwin (WI), Barbara Lee (CA) and Cynthia McKinney (GA), also signed. ?This strong showing of international women?s solidarity recognizes the suffering of East Timorese women during the Indonesian military occupation, while paying tribute to the long tradition of women working for justice and peace,? said ETAN field organizer Diane Farsetta. ?The wide range of signatories, including members of Congress, authors, actors and activists demonstrates the strong consensus on this important issue.? The statement was initiated by women?s groups in East Timor and begins by quoting REDE, the East Timorese Women?s Network: ?Of all the victims of Indonesian military violence the greatest suffering was borne by women, who up to this time, have not met with the justice they hoped for.? In 1975, the Indonesian military illegally invaded and occupied East Timor; more than one-third of East Timor?s population was killed. Women were specifically targeted by the Indonesian military with rape, kidnapping and torture, as well as forced ?marriage? and sterilization. In 1999, over 98 percent of eligible East Timorese voted overwhelmingly for independence in a UN-organized referendum. After the results were announced, the Indonesian military and its militias carried out a brutal scorched-earth campaign in retaliation, killing at least 2,000 people, raping hundreds of women and girls, displacing some 600,000 people, and destroying more than 75 percent of the country?s infrastructure. An international peacekeeping force finally restored stability a month later, and the UN has administered the territory since then. On May 20, East Timor becomes fully independent. Investigations by the UN and the Indonesian government?s own human rights commission found the Indonesian military responsible for 1999?s atrocities. UN commissions and High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson have called for an international human rights tribunal to be established for East Timor. Seeking to avoid international action, the Indonesian government promised to hold its own trials. Its ad hoc Human Rights Court on East Timor began hearing cases last March. However, Indonesian and international human rights groups have sharply criticized the court. The International Crisis Group recently reported that the process is so problematic it may ?trivialize the concept of crimes against humanity in Indonesia.? The women?s statement released today by ETAN recalls the advance made ?last year by the decision of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia classify[ing] rape as a crime against humanity,? and adds, ?atrocities committed against the people of East Timor deserve no less attention.? ?The release of the statement soon after Mother?s Day and just one week before East Timor?s independence is very fitting,? added Farsetta. ?We hope this strong stand taken by women around the world will be heeded by the Security Council and world governments. The mothers of East Timor deserve the peace only justice can give them, and the international community has an obligation to welcome the birth of the world?s newest country with a renewed commitment to justice.? The East Timor Action Network/U.S. is a nationwide grassroots human rights organization, which has worked for self-determination, human rights and justice for East Timor for the past ten years. The full women?s statement and list of signatories can be found on ETAN?s website at www.etan.org/news/2002a/02women.htm. -30- ----------------------------------- Justice for East Timor Demands an International Tribunal A Statement from Women?s Studies Scholars, Women Leaders and Feminist Organizations ?An International Tribunal is the most pressing demand in the interests of justice. Of all the victims of Indonesian military violence the greatest suffering was borne by women, who up to this time, have not met with the justice they hoped for.? from a statement by the East Timorese Women?s Network, June 2001 We join with our East Timorese sisters in calling for an international tribunal for East Timor. We urge the United Nations Security Council to establish an international tribunal for East Timor without delay. The East Timorese people have waited far too long for the architects and perpetrators of the atrocities committed against them to be brought to justice. Over two years have passed since the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor called for an international human rights tribunal. During that time, it has become clear that only an international tribunal can hold accountable the high-ranking Indonesian military, police and government officials most responsible for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor. When Indonesia illegally invaded and occupied East Timor in 1975, it began a genocidal campaign that lasted nearly a quarter-century. During the first five years of the occupation, some 200,000 people one-third of the pre-invasion population were killed. The occupation specifically targeted women in several ways, including the following: * Rape and ?forced marriage? to military personnel were used to terrorize and control East Timorese women, to punish pro-independence families, and to reward Indonesian soldiers. A study of gender violence in 1999 by the Communication Forum for East Timorese Women (FOKUPERS) found many acts of rape were ?planned, organized, and sustained militia and soldiers conniving together to abduct women and share them like chattel; or, in some cases, forcibly taking women across the border into [Indonesian] West Timor where the women were raped daily and made to perform household chores.? Tragically, the women among the estimated 60,000 East Timorese still in Indonesian refugee camps remain vulnerable to sexual assault by militia and military members. * East Timorese women were forcibly sterilized by the Indonesian military under the guise of ?family planning?. It is estimated that tens of thousands of women were injected with contraceptives without their consent sometimes even without their knowledge and never with adequate follow-up care. * An unknown number of East Timorese children were kidnapped and raised in Indonesia as Indonesian citizens, a practice that continues today. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has confirmed 240 cases of East Timorese children being taken from their parents by militia in Indonesian refugee camps since 1999; according to the UN, as many as 2,000 children may be held captive currently. In the face of such suffering, it is truly reprehensible that the world community has knowingly placed its faith in an unacceptable alternative to an international tribunal the Indonesian ad hoc Human Rights Court for East Timor. Due to its many flaws, the Indonesian court will not adequately address cases of gender violence and the systematic targeting of women and children, among other serious crimes. International justice was significantly advanced last year by the decision of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to classify rape as a crime against humanity. But the world community cannot stop there. Atrocities committed against the people of East Timor deserve no less attention than those committed against peoples of other nations. An international tribunal for East Timor, with a mandate covering the entire Indonesian occupation, must be established now to redress the most heinous crimes committed against the women and men of East Timor. Otherwise, international justice will appear weak and conditional, rule of law will be undermined, and the people of the world?s newest nation will have good reason to lose faith in the world community. etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan John M. Miller Internet: john@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@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan From kevinyli at pacific.net.hk Thu May 16 13:52:29 2002 From: kevinyli at pacific.net.hk (Kevin Yuk-shing Li) Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 12:52:29 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 1863] What's New in RWESA.org (May 2002) Message-ID: <00a701c1fc95$7d5c1d40$33adb4ca@kevinli> Rivers Watch East and Southeast Asia (RWESA) What's New in RWESA.org (May 2002) Status Report of Planned Dams Released This report provides an overview of proposed dam projects in East and Southeast Asia and highlights funding sources and what companies are involved. An invaluable resource on proposed projects in the region! http://www.rwesa.org/intro_dr.html Network activities Preliminary Impact Assessment on Navigation Channel Improvement Project of the Lancang-Mekong River Released Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN), in cooperation with the local communities of Chiang Khong, conducts a joint study on the possible environmental and social impacts created by the Navigation Channel Improvement Project on the upper Mekong River... Mekong Watch Japan: Japanese ODA to Burma Premature The Baluchaung No 2 Hydropower Plant Rehabilitation Project, which Japan's Foreign Minister announced on the occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release, was actually approved BEFORE the release of Daw Suu... Thailand: Appeal letter to call on JBIC NOT to fund Sanyu's water resources study in Mekong tributaries This is a letter endorsed by 17 civic groups in Thailand, requesting not to fund a proposal submitted by Sanyu Consultants Inc., Japan to comprehensively study water resources along Mekong tributaries... Stop the Kelau Dam (SOS Selangor, Malaysia) SOS Selangor is firmly against the building of the Kelau dam. It is unnecessary and can only be built at high social, economic and environmental cost. News update Reef blasting project threatens livelihoods of villagers in upper Mekong River If the reefs and sand dunes were blasted and dredged away, as proposed under a state development project, the villagers of Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong would be adversely affected... Malaysia: Belaga rep links lack of info to Bakun fears The state assemblyperson for Belaga, Stanley Ajang, has blamed failure in keeping the Orang Ulu communities informed of remedial action being taken for their great anxiety over possible floodings in the Bakun hydro-electric dam site in Belaga, central Sarawak. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has urged the Sarawak government and the dam developer to grant them unhindered access to the project site. Taiwan: Water resources officials plan new reservoirs The Water Resource Agency is planning to build at least six new large reservoirs beginning in 2005. The agency's intention to build six new reservoirs, costing NT$13 billion, was criticized by Legislators on May 6 at the Legislative Yuan... Thailand: Swimming against the current? The findings of the first study into Pak Moon Dam which directly involved local people are soon to be released. Is it, like previous reports critical of the project, doomed to fall on deaf ears? Japan pledges money to Burma for Baluchaung rehabilitation Japan pledged to provide 628 million yen in grant aid to Myanmar this year to finance the restoration of the Baluchaung hydropower plant. An agreement on the aid package was signed in Yangon on May 10, a Japanese official said... Check it out! http://www.rwesa.org/ Please feel free to let me know if you want to publicise your river-related activities through RWESA web site. Executive Editor: Kevin Li From fbp at igc.org Thu May 16 20:13:17 2002 From: fbp at igc.org (John M. Miller) Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 07:13:17 -0400 Subject: [asia-apec 1864] As Clinton heads to E Timor, ETAN urges history not be forgotten Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020516071310.055db5e8@pop.igc.org> For Immediate Release Contact: John M. Miller, 718-5967668; mobile: 917-690-4391 Clinton Heads to East Timor for Independence Day ETAN Urges History Not Be Forgotten As Bill Clinton leads the U.S. delegation to East Timor's independence celebration, the East Timor Action Network (ETAN) urged that the history of U.S. support for Indonesia's military occupation of East Timor not be forgotten. On May 20, East Timor will become the first new nation of the millennium. "When former President Clinton, joined by his last ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, congratulates the East Timorese people on their hard-won victory, we must remember that as the most important supporter of Indonesia's illegal occupation, the U.S., owes the new country an enormous moral debt. We urge the Clinton delegation to acknowledge it," said John M. Miller, spokesperson for ETAN. "If President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger had not given the go ahead for Indonesia's invasion in 1975, tremendous suffering could have been avoided," added Miller. As detailed in declassified documents recently released by the National Security Archive, on December 6, 1975, then-U.S. President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger gave Indonesian dictator Suharto a green light to invade East Timor, which his military did the next day. The U.S. supplied 90 percent of the weapons used during the invasion. For the next twenty-three years, from Ford to Clinton, successive U.S. administrations consistently backed Indonesia's occupation, providing Jakarta diplomatic cover and billions of dollars in weaponry, military training, and economic assistance. More than 200,000 people -- one-third of the population -- were killed as a result. When video footage and photographs of a November 1991 massacre in Dili, the capital, were smuggled to the outside world by reporters who survived the bloodbath, international support for East Timor's independence grew dramatically. Following the massacre, the newly-formed East Timor Action Network successfully worked with members of Congress to block some weapons sales and military training to Jakarta. In the aftermath of East Timor's overwhelming vote for independence on August 30, 1999, the Indonesian military (TNI) and its militia proxies laid waste to the territory, killing at least 2,000 and forcibly displacing more than two-thirds of the population. Through intelligence intercepts and press reports, the Clinton administration was aware of Jakarta's plans to engage in such terror but failed to threaten a cut off of American economic and military aid as a preventative measure. It never issued a presidential statement warning of repercussions if Indonesia did not comply with obligations to ensure security for the U.N. ballot. A week into the TNI's scorched-earth campaign, Clinton belatedly cut military assistance and other aid to Indonesia. The Indonesian military quickly agreed to withdraw and allow in international peacekeepers. "Grassroots and congressional pressure did force the executive branch to make significant concessions on its Indonesia policy," said Miller. "The U.S. supported the 1999 referendum and since September 1999 Washington has provided significant assistance to East Timor's reconstruction, but such aid does not begin to compensate the East Timorese people for the suffering wrought by 24 years of U.S. support for Indonesian military occupation." "The U.S. government must declassify and release all relevant information needed to help the people of the U.S., Indonesia and East Timor understand what happened during the invasion and occupation," said Miller. "We urge Congress to investigate the U.S. role, in order to avoid repeating policies like those which caused such suffering in East Timor." For over a decade, the East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) has supported self-determination and human rights for East Timor It now works to support human dignity for the people of East Timor by advocating for democracy, sustainable development, social, legal, and economic justice and human rights, including women's rights. Spokespeople for ETAN are available for interviews (call 718-596-7668). For additional information see ETAN's web site (http://www.etan.org). etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan John M. Miller Internet: john@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@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan From fbp at igc.org Sat May 18 05:14:41 2002 From: fbp at igc.org (John M. Miller) Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 16:14:41 -0400 Subject: [asia-apec 1865] ETAN Congratulates the People of East Timor on Independence Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020517115505.04c55008@pop.igc.org> -Please feel free to distribute - Open Letter from ETAN to the People of East Timor on Independence The East Timor Action Network/U.S. congratulates the courageous people of East Timor on their independence. This is a great day. We applaud your achievement, won after great hardship and against overwhelming odds. Your victory against occupation by the fourth largest country backed by the world's most powerful nation gives hope and inspiration to all who work for genuine democracy, human rights and self-determination. We are proud to have supported your struggle over the last ten years. Your triumph in what many once considered a lost cause is a testament to your valor and your strength, your resiliency and your resistance. We pledge to continue to support you in your independence. We will work with you to achieve justice for past crimes and sustainable development for the future. We will work to make sure that all East Timorese refugees who wish to return home are able to do so. We will advocate for adequate levels of aid which suit your priorities and needs and ensure a healthy tomorrow for your children. We will oppose any imposition of onerous conditions on assistance and loans that will mortgage your future. We will oppose all U.S. support for the Indonesian military so as to support your security and so that others will not experience abuses at the hands of the military from which you are now free. We will continue to seek an accurate accounting of our own government's role in supporting Indonesia's invasion and occupation. We do this out of a sense of responsibility for our country's complicity and out of concern that no other people should suffer as you have because of the policies of our government. A luta continua! Viva Timor Lorosa'e! May 20, 2002 etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan John M. Miller Internet: john@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@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan From notoapec at clear.net.nz Sun May 19 15:55:46 2002 From: notoapec at clear.net.nz (notoapec) Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 18:55:46 +1200 (NZST) Subject: [asia-apec 1866] Website Message-ID: <0GWC00GO8J8XQY@smtp1.clear.net.nz> From fbp at igc.org Sun May 19 21:20:11 2002 From: fbp at igc.org (John M. Miller) Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 08:20:11 -0400 Subject: [asia-apec 1867] ETAN: U.S. Supporters of East Timor Celebrate Independence Nationwide Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020519081955.02a7e198@pop.igc.org> Contact: John M. Miller, 718-5967668; mobile: 917-690-4391 U.S. Supporters of East Timor Celebrate Independence Nationwide Watershed Victory Marked, Work Ahead Noted May 19 - Local chapters of East Timor Action Network (ETAN) are celebrating hard won freedom of East Timor, the first new nation of the 21st century. At midnight on May 20, East Timor's flag will be raised over Dili, East Timor's capital, to mark the new nation's independence. "Words can't express our joy at East Timor's independence," said John M. Miller, spokesperson for ETAN. "We are proud and to have supported the East Timorese people in their struggle for freedom." Local ETAN activities are planned in 18 cities in 13 states, including Berkeley, CA; Bloomington, IN; Green Bay, WI; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; New York City; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; Stony Brook, NY; Tempe, AZ; and Washington, DC. A full schedule of events can be found at http://etan.org/news/calendar.htm. In addition, the city councils of Madison, Berkeley and San Francisco will consider resolutions congratulating the new nation and its people next week. Both houses of the U.S. Congress are also considering resolutions strongly supporting the new nation. The resolutions are sponsored by Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and Russell Feingold (D-WI) in the Senate (S.Con.Res 109) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) in the House of Representatives. "We applaud your achievement, won after great hardship and against overwhelming odds. Your victory against occupation by the fourth largest country backed by the world's most powerful nation gives hope and inspiration to all who work for genuine democracy, human rights and self-determination," ETAN said in an independence day statement to the East Timorese people. The network pledged continued support for the new nation. The full statement can be found at http://www.etan.org/news/2002a/05congrats.htm. In its statement, ETAN dedicated itself to achieving justice for past crimes, the return of all refugees currently in Indonesia who wish to do so, adequate levels of assistance to the new nation; and continued restrictions on U.S. support for the Indonesian military "so that others will not experience abuses at the hands of the military from which [East Timor is] now free." ETAN also said it "will continue to seek an accurate accounting of our own government's role in supporting Indonesia's invasion and occupation." In 1975, when Indonesia illegally invaded East Timor 90% of the weapons used came from the U.S. One-third of the population more than 200,000 people - were killed. In 1999, the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly for independence in a UN-organized referendum. The Indonesian military then ransacked the country, agreeing to withdraw after the U.S. cut off all military assistance and other aid. East Timor's independence follows two and a half years of UN administration. For over a decade, the East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) has supported self-determination and human rights for East Timor. It continues to work in support human dignity for the people of East Timor by advocating for democracy, sustainable development, social, legal, and economic justice and human rights, including women's rights. Members of ETAN in the U.S. as well as in East Timor are available for interviews. (Call 718-596-7668.) For additional information see ETAN's web site http://www.etan.org. -30- etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan John M. Miller Internet: john@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@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan From gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz Sun May 19 21:35:38 2002 From: gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (gattwd) Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 21:35:38 +0900 (JST) Subject: [asia-apec 1868] óê¿áÁ½è Message-ID: <200205191235.g4JCZba10369@mail.ra3.so-net.ne.jp> From tpl at cheerful.com Mon May 20 16:31:00 2002 From: tpl at cheerful.com (tpl) Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 15:31:00 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 1869] Please try again Message-ID: <102187986001@sisa.i-manila.com.ph> From panap at panap.po.my Mon May 20 22:43:31 2002 From: panap at panap.po.my (panap) Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 21:43:31 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 1870] A very new website Message-ID: <200205202142846.SM01040@Taljlkuof> From gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz Tue May 21 00:30:58 2002 From: gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (gattwd) Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 00:30:58 +0900 (JST) Subject: [asia-apec 1871] A IE 6.0 patch Message-ID: <200205201530.g4KFUwa22528@mail.ra3.so-net.ne.jp> From fbp at igc.org Wed May 22 09:13:28 2002 From: fbp at igc.org (John M. Miller) Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 20:13:28 -0400 Subject: [asia-apec 1872] House Resolution Supports Independent East Timor Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020521201137.024931d0@pop.igc.org> Contact: Karen Orenstein, 202-544-6911 John M. Miller, 718-5967668; mobile: 917-690-4391 For Immediate Release U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Congratulates East Timor Endorses and Continued Restriction on U.S.-Indonesia Military Ties, Pledges Continued Support for New Nation, Expresses Concern about Lack of Justice May 21, 2002 -- The House of Representatives today unanimously passed a resolution (House Concurrent Resolution 405, see text below) congratulating the people of East Timor on their independence and welcoming the new nation as an "equal partner" in the community of nations. "Congressional support has been key to East Timor achieving this week's independence. We are pleased that Congress remains committed to supporting the new nation," said Karen Orenstein, Washington Coordinator of the East Timor Action Network (ETAN). The resolution calls for maintaining "a level of United States assistance for East Timor commensurate with the challenges this new nation faces after independence." The House also urged the Bush administration "to ensure that those officials responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes against the East Timorese people are held accountable and that the Indonesian Government fully cooperates with the East Timorese judicial system." The House expressed its commitment to "maintaining appropriate restrictions and prohibitions in law on military assistance, training relations, and technical support to the Indonesian Armed Forces." Military ties between the U.S. and Indonesia were suspended in 1999 as Indonesian troops and their militia proxies were leveling East Timor following its overwhelming vote for independence. The resolution highlights the need for repatriation of East Timorese refugees, especially those held in militia-controlled refugee camps in Indonesian West Timor, and calls on the administration to press Indonesia to disarm and disband the militia and ensure security along the border. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Tom Lantos (D-CA) delivered speeches on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of the resolution. Smith said it "addresses the serious challenges" East Timor faces, including, "development of a stable economy, holding accountable those who carried out crimes against humanity and genocide during Indonesia's reign of terror, and caring for those many victims who still suffer tremendously from the scars of war and poverty." Smith added that he "will be pressing my friends on the Appropriations Committees for a higher level of funding" than requested by the Bush administration for FY 2003. Rep. Lantos said, "Standing up for human rights and democracy in East Timor was the right and moral course of action.And as a result of the bravery of the East Timorese people and concerted international pressure, we stand here today welcoming East Timor as the first new nation of the 21st Century." Kennedy told the House that, "After decades of tremendous suffering under military occupation, we need to give generously to East Timor to ensure that children are guaranteed a quality education, adequate health care and shelter, and that other needs for a decent standard of living are met." Representative Jim McGovern said, "The international community, along with East Timor, must also find a way to bring to justice those accountable for the campaign of violence leading up to and following the 1999 referendum." In addition to Smith, Kennedy, McGovern, and Lantos, Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Barney Frank (D-MA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Jose Serrano (D-NY) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) co-sponsored the resolution. Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and Russell Feingold (D-WI) have introduced a similar resolution in the Senate, S.Con.Res. 109. For over a decade, the East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) has supported self-determination and human rights for East Timor. It continues to work in support human dignity for the people of East Timor by advocating for democracy, sustainable development, social, legal, and economic justice and human rights, including women's rights. More information can be found at www.etan.org. -30- ----------------- 107TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 405 Concurrent resolution commemorating the independence of East Timor and commending the President for promptly establishing diplomatic relations with East Timor.'' IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 14, 2002 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. WOLF, Mr. FRANK, and Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Commemorating the independence of East Timor and expressing the sense of Congress that the President should establish diplomatic relations with East Timor. Whereas on May 20, 2002, East Timor became the first new country of the millennium; Whereas the perseverance and strength of the East Timorese people in the face of daunting challenges has inspired the people of the United States and around the world; Whereas in 1974 Portugal acknowledged the right of its colonies, including East Timor, to self-determination, including independence; Whereas East Timor has been under United Nations administration since October 1999 during which time international peacekeeping forces, supplemented by forces of the United States Group for East Timor (USGET), have worked to stabilize East Timor and provide for its national security; Whereas the people of East Timor exercised their long-sought right of self-determination on August 30, 1999, when 98.6 percent of the eligible population voted, and 78.5 percent chose independence in a United Nations-administered popular consultation despite systematic terror and intimidation by the Indonesian military and its militia; Whereas the East Timorese people again demonstrated their strong commitment to democracy when 91.3 percent of eligible voters peacefully participated in East Timor's first democratic, multiparty election for a Constituent Assembly on August 30, 2001, and when 86.3 percent of those eligible participated in the first presidential election on April 14, 2002; Whereas East Timor adopted a constitution in March 2002; Whereas East Timor is emerging from over 400 years of colonial domination and a 24-year period of occupation by the Indonesian military; Whereas, as the people of East Timor move proudly toward independence, many still struggle to recover from the scars of the military occupation and the 1999 scorched earth campaign that resulted in displacement which, according to the United Nations and other independent reports, exceeded 500,000 in number and widespread death, rape, and other mistreatment of women, family separation, and large refugee populations and the destruction of 70 percent of the country's infrastructure; Whereas efforts are ongoing by East Timorese officials and others to seek justice for the crimes against humanity and war crimes that have been perpetrated in recent years, efforts which include the work of the United Nations Serious Crimes Investigation Unit and the East Timorese Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation to document and assess responsibility for these crimes; Whereas recommendations by the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Security Council to investigate and prosecute senior Indonesian military and civilian officials for their roles in promoting the 1999 anti-independence violence in East Timor have not yet been fully implemented; Whereas, although the people of East Timor are working toward a plan for vigorous economic growth and development, the Government of East Timor faces a substantial shortfall in its recurrent and development budgets over the first 3 years of independence, and is seeking to fill the gap in full with grants from donor countries; Whereas a large percentage of the population of East Timor lives below the poverty line with inadequate access to health care and education, the unemployment rate in East Timor is estimated at 80 percent, and the life expectancy in East Timor is only 57 years; and Whereas Nobel Peace Laureate Carlos Ximenes Belo, Roman Catholic Bishop of Dili, East Timor, has appealed to the international community and the United States for increased economic and development assistance for the fledgling nation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 1 concurring), That (1) Congress (A) congratulates and honors the courageous people of East Timor and their leaders; (B) welcomes East Timor into the community of nations as a sovereign state and looks forward to working with East Timor as an equal partner; (C) supports United Nations and international efforts to support reconstruction and development in East Timor, and United Nations and international peacekeeping forces to safeguard East Timor's security; (D) remains committed to working toward a debt-free start to East Timor and just, sustainable, and secure development programs as well as adequate resources for the judicial system for East Timor for the foreseeable future beyond independence; (E) expresses continued concern over deplorable humanitarian conditions and an environment of intimidation among the East Timorese refugees living in West Timor; (F) strongly supports prompt, safe, voluntary repatriation and reintegration of East Timorese refugees, in particular those East Timorese still held in militia-controlled refugee camps in West Timor, especially reunification of East Timorese children separated from their parents through coercion or force; (G) expresses a commitment to maintaining appropriate restrictions and prohibitions in law on military assistance, training relations, and technical support to the Indonesian Armed Forces; (H) acknowledges that a United Nations International Commission of Inquiry found in January 2000 that justice is ''fundamental for the future social and political stability of East Timor'', and remains deeply concerned about the lack of justice in the region; and (I) commends the President for immediately extending to East Timor diplomatic relations afforded to other sovereign nations, including the establishment of an embassy in East Timor; and (2) it is the sense of Congress that the President and the Secretary of State should (A) maintain a level of United States assistance for East Timor commensurate with the challenges this new nation faces after independence; (B) work to fund in a generous and responsible way East Timor's financing gap in its recurrent and development budgets, and coordinate with other donors to ensure the budget gap is addressed; (C) focus bilateral assistance for East Timor on the areas of employment creation, job training, rural reconstruction, microenterprise, environmental protection, health care, education, refugee resettlement, reconciliation and conflict resolution, and strengthening the role of women in society; (D) strongly urge the Indonesian Government to step up efforts to disarm and disband all militia, hold them accountable to the rule of law, ensure stability along the border, and promptly reunite East Timorese children separated from their parents through coercion or force; and (E) review thoroughly information from the East Timorese Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation and use all diplomatic resources at their disposal to ensure that those officials responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes against the East Timorese people are held accountable and that the Indonesian Government fully cooperates with the East Timorese judicial system. etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan John M. Miller Internet: john@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@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan From gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz Mon May 27 21:22:20 2002 From: gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (gattwd) Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 21:22:20 +0900 (JST) Subject: [asia-apec 1873] Hello,eager to see you Message-ID: <200205271222.g4RCMJa09679@mail.ra3.so-net.ne.jp> From notoapec at clear.net.nz Tue May 28 17:11:48 2002 From: notoapec at clear.net.nz (notoapec) Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 20:11:48 +1200 (NZST) Subject: [asia-apec 1874] A very excite game Message-ID: <200205280811.g4S8BmR50148@mail.visp.co.nz> From fbp at igc.org Wed May 29 04:21:06 2002 From: fbp at igc.org (John M. Miller) Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 15:21:06 -0400 Subject: [asia-apec 1875] Stop Congressional Support for Indonesian Military Today Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020528151446.032a19d0@pop.igc.org> Stop Congressional Support for Lethal Indonesian Military This Week Make 3 Phone Calls This Week Immediately after returning from this week's Memorial Day recess, Congress will finish the FY02 Supplemental Appropriations bill and begin work on the FY03 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. Using the "war on terrorism" as a justification, the Bush administration is working hard to make sure that both bills contain substantial military assistance for Indonesia and few or no restrictions on military aid. Contact your Representative and Senators this week. Tell them that U.S. military training and weapons are not solutions to Indonesia's problems. Such assistance will only worsen Indonesia's deteriorating human rights situation, set back democratic reform, and provide a U.S. seal of approval to an Indonesian military that continues to attack and terrorize civilians and strongly resists accountability for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor. Fax or Phone your Representative and Senators. Tell them to use their voice and vote in Congress to make sure that: * The Supplemental Appropriations bill does not contain any military assistance for Indonesia. The Indonesian military should not receive a U.S. seal of approval while it continues to evade accountability for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor and terrorize civilians throughout Indonesia. * Restrictions on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) are renewed in the fiscal year 2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. Indonesia has not met any of the reasonable conditions required to lift the restrictions, and the Indonesian government and military should not be rewarded with military assistance at least until they do so. Phone calls and faxes are generally more effective than email. The congressional switchboard number is 202-224-3121 (ask for the office of your Senators or Representative), or check http://www.congress.org on the Internet for fax or e-mail information. BACKGROUND The U.S. Navy is conducting a joint military training exercise with the Indonesian Navy in Surabaya and East Java from May 27 to June 2. This annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise is justified as a humanitarian exercise. In 1999, a similar exercise took place just prior to East Timor's independence referendum. Soon after, the Indonesian Navy was assisting in the looting and destruction of East Timor. Participating U.S. ships were soon backing up the international peacekeeping operation. Just prior to this year's independence ceremonies in East Timor, the Indonesian Navy sailed several heavily-armed warships into the Dili harbor in violation of clear agreements with the United Nations and the East Timorese government. This audacious display signaled that the Indonesian military not only refuses to fully recognize East Timor's independence, but can not be trusted to live up to its agreements. In the fall of 1999, the U.S. Congress cut off IMET and FMF for Indonesia until it meets certain conditions pertaining to East Timor, including the return to East Timor of refugees and accountability for human rights violations in East Timor and Indonesia. In 2002 further conditions were added pertaining to Indonesian military reform; UN and other international organization access to West Timor, Aceh, West Papua, and Maluku; and the release of political detainees. Conditions on these restrictions, known as the "Leahy Conditions," must be renewed annually in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. The Bush administration and their friends in Congress are trying to remove these restrictions from the FY03 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. For more information, see April 10 action alert entitled, ""Just Say No" To New Military Assistance For Indonesia," (http://etan.org/action/action2/05alert.htm) on www.etan.org. Please let us know the results of your calls and faxes. Send results to John M. Miller, john@etan.org, 718-596-7668 (tel.). JOIN ETAN's DC LOBBY DAYS Come to Washington for ETAN's Lobby Days. The Lobby Days this year - June 9 to 11 - is taking place at the crucial time immediately before full-scale work on the annual Foreign Operations Appropriations bill begins in the House and Senate. The timing couldn't be better. It is this bill that contains restrictions on military assistance for Indonesia, as well as provisions for economic assistance for East Timor. see http://etan.org/news/2002a/05ldays.htm Please contact Stefanie Collins or Karen Orenstein in ETAN's Washington office to let us know you are coming and for more information, 202-544-6911, princessleiaorgana21@yahoo.com. etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan John M. Miller Internet: john@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@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan