DATE=9/23/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR / HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254259
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nation's top human rights
official, Mary Robinson, has called for the
establishment of an international Commission of
Inquiry to prosecute those accused of human
rights violations in East Timor. In opening a
special session of the U-N Human Rights
Commission, Ms. Robinson denounced what she said
were massacres, forced deportations and
destruction of property after residents of East
Timor voted overwhelmingly in favor of
independence from Indonesia. Lisa Schlein in
Geneva reports this is only the fourth time that
the Commission has met in emergency session in
its 53-year history.
TEXT: Human rights Commissioner, Mary Robinson,
spoke about a total breakdown of law and order in
East Timor. She accused militia members of
terrorizing and murdering unarmed civilians,
burning houses and displacing large numbers of
people. She said the militia intimidated,
threatened and attacked international workers.
And that these acts frequently occurred in full
view of heavily-armed police or Indonesian
soldiers who either stood by and watched, or
actively joined in with militias.
Ms. Robinson said human rights abuses must not go
unpunished.
///ROBINSON ACT///
There is overwhelming evidence that East
Timor has seen a deliberate, vicious and
systematic campaign of gross violations of
human rights. An international commission
of inquiry into the violations must be
established so that those responsible are
brought to justice.
///END ACT///
Diplomats here say the European Union has drafted
a resolution calling on U-N Secretary-General
Kofi Annan to set up a commission to investigate
alleged atrocities in East Timor. The diplomats
say this could eventually lead to the creation of
an international war crimes tribunal.
Several Asian representatives tried to halt
debate at the Human Rights Commission through a
procedural maneuver. Denis Lepatan, Philippines
ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, spoke
on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations - ASEAN. He said the Government of
Indonesia was upholding its responsibility to
maintain security, law and order in the
territory.
///LEPATAN ACT///
We feel that the manner in which this
special (meeting) was convened leaves much
to be desired in terms of objectivity,
transparency and accountability. Indeed,
given the fast evolving situation on the
ground, it may prove to be counter
productive to the aims which it seeks to
serve.
///END ACT///
The Indonesian Ambassador (to the United Nations
in Geneva), Hassan Weraguda, agreed with his
colleague. He called the convening of this
meeting legally and procedurally defective.
///WERADUGA ACT///
Furthermore, my delegation would like to
register its strong reservations as to the
validity of this meeting and the manner in
which the process was handled. We very
much hope that the notion of impartiality,
transparency and objectivity as well as the
strict observance of the rules of procedure
will be upheld....and in the future.
///END ACT///
In spite of his critical statement, the
Indonesian ambassador added that his government
would cooperate with the United Nations in
dealing with the issue of East Timor. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/JP
23-Sep-1999 12:37 PM EDT (23-Sep-1999 1637 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
