For Immediate Release

May 3, 1997

Leading East Timor resistance activist to visit Seattle May 10-12

On Saturday, May 10 and Monday, May 12, Seattlites will have a rare opportunity to hear first-hand about the struggle of the people of East Timor to resist Indonesia's 22-year illegal and genocidal occupation of their homeland. Constancio Pinto fled East Timor in 1992, after Indonesian troops open fired on an independence demonstration he organized, killing nearly 300. Mr. Pinto is currently completing a degree in International Relations at Brown University, and is the National Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM) representative to both the United States and the United Nations. He frequently testifies before UN committees in his latter capacity.

On Saturday, May 10 at the Elliot Bay Book Company at 4:30 pm, will read from his new book, East Timor's Unfinished Struggle: Inside the Timorese Resistance (South End Press, 1997). On Monday, May 12 at 12 pm, Mr. Pinto will give a public talk entitled the "East Timor Conflict and the Role of Southeast Asian Countries" in Smith 102, University of Washington campus. The talk will be followed by a discussion and brown-bag lunch. Craig Johnson, a Seattle resident who made a harrowing visit to East Timor last February, will be present on Monday and available for comment.

Mr. Pinto's visit comes on the heels of last December's award of the Nobel Peace Prize to two East Timorese leaders, Jose Ramos-Horta and Bishop Belo, with both of whom Mr. Pinto is closely associated.

As a result of the Nobel awards, the U.S. is beginning to shift its foreign policy in favor of self-determination in East Timor. Just last Wednesday (April 30) in Washington, DC, the House International Relations Committee passed HR 1132, the Indonesia Military Assistance Accountability Act. The act bans the transfer of arms which "can commonly be used in the direct violation of human rights" in East Timor as well some "assistance... relating to international military education and training."

Introduced by Patrick Kennedy, the bill is an important step toward a full ban on weapons sales to Indonesia, and sends a strong statement to the Suharto regime that the U.S. Congress is no longer willing to support its violence and repression in Indonesia or its occupation of East Timor. A floor vote on the entire Authorization Bill should take place by late May or early June.

Interviews can be arranged with Mr. Pinto and Mr. Johnson on Monday, May 12.

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