For Immediate Release
October 11, 1996
Contact:
Joe Szwaja (206) 633-2836, 281-6363 (day) (ETAN/Seattle)
John M. Miller (718)788-6071 (ETAN national media co-ordinator)
At the same time, ETAN/Seattle announces the October 20 visit to Seattle of Carmel Budiarjo, one of the world's leading experts on human rights in East Timor and in Indonesia. More information on Ms. Budiarjo's visit follows.
In a statement, ETAN said: "The East Timor Action Network applauds the Nobel Committee's decision to recognize the struggle of the East Timorese by awarding the Peace Prize to Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and Jose Ramos Horta, Special Representative of the National Council of Maubere Resistance. Defying harassment and threats from the Indonesian military, Bishop Belo has been an outspoken proponent of the rights of the East Timorese.
Since before Indonesia's invasion of his homeland, Ramos-Horta has eloquently represented the East Timorese aspirations for self-determination and human rights. ETAN was honored to host a speaking tour by Ramos-Horta this past June.
"This prize brings much-needed attention to Indonesia's illegal occupation of East Timor and is an acknowledgment of the determination and sacrifice of the East Timorese people in the face of Indonesia's genocide.
"The Peace Prize inspires all of us outside East Timor to redouble our efforts in support of self-determination for the East Timorese.
"As Americans, we call on the U.S. government to press Indonesia to support the human and political rights of the East Timorese people. We especially urge the U.S. government to support the East Timorese call for a U.N.-supervised referendum to determine the political status of East Timor.
"Ending all arms sales -- including the proposed sale of F-16 jet fighters -- to the repressive Indonesian military would send the strongest possible message that its illegal occupation of East Timor must end." Over 200,000 people, one-third of the population, have been killed since Indonesia invaded East Timor on December 7, 1975. Although often incorrectly portrayed as a religious conflict, the East Timorese are struggling for the right to determine their own political future. The U.N. refuses to recognize Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor, a former Portuguese colony.
ETAN/Seattle welcomes the October 20 visit of Carmel Budiardjo, founder of London's TAPOL - the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign. Budiardjo was jailed without trial for three years by the government of General Suharto. In 1995, she won the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize, "for holding the Indonesian government accountable for its actions and upholding the universality of fundamental human rights." In Seattle, Ms. Budiarjo will read from her newly published book, Surviving Indonesia's Gulag, at Elliot Bay Books (First Ave South and S. Main), at 3 pm on Sunday, October 20. A press conference and reception will follow at the Center for Wooden Boats, 1010 Valley St. on South Lake Union, at 5:30 pm. The reception is co-sponsored by Amnesty International/Seattle.
ETAN/US was founded in November 1991, following the massacre of over 271 peaceful demonstrators in Dili, East Timor. ETAN/US supports genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of East Timor in accordance with the UN Charter and General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. ETAN/US currently has a dozen local chapters, including Seattle.