28 September 1999
Texts: Amb. George Moose Statements on East Timor
(Backs fact-finding mission to document abuses E. Timor) (1430) The United States supported the call for the special session of the UN Human Rights Commission because of its deep concern over the human rights crisis in East Timor and the threats posed to the outcome of the UN-sponsored free and fair vote by the violence that swept East Timor since that vote, said Ambassador George Moose, the U.S. delegate to the special session. "Under such circumstances," Moose said in a statement to the session September 27, "the UN Human Rights Commission had no alternative but to respond forcefully in accordance with its mandate." From the beginning of the Special Session, Moose said the United States has called for a gathering the facts of events that have occurred in East Timor since January 1999, and reporting those facts to the international community. "Anything less would amount to an abdication by the UN Human Rights Commission of its responsibility and mandates to uphold international human rights standards." In a statement he made September 24, Moose asked the Government of Indonesia to cooperate with a fact-finding mission to document the abuses that have occurred in East Timor during that period. "For Indonesia to take its place as a prosperous, democratic and stable nation, it is necessary to determine and document the truth and to ensure accountability for abuses of human rights in East Timor," Moose said. Following are the texts of Moose's statements from September 27 and September 24: (begin September 27 text) STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR BY AMBASSADOR GEORGE E. MOOSE U.S. Delegate to the Special Session of the Commission on Human Rights Geneva Monday, September 27, 1999 As you know the United States supported the call for this Special Session of the Human Rights Commission, because of our deep concern over the human rights crisis in East Timor, and the threats posed to the outcome of the UN-sponsored free and fair vote in East Timor. Under such circumstances, the UN Human Rights Commission had no alternative but to respond forcefully in accordance with its mandate. From the beginning of the Special Session, it has been our consistent view that an appropriate international response requires a credible process for gathering the facts of events that have occurred since January 1999, and reporting those facts to the international community. Anything less would amount to an abdication by the UN Human Rights Commission of its responsibility and mandates to uphold international human rights standards. The fact that East Timor is on a path toward independence is yet another reason why this process requires a strong international dimension. It was the strong desire of the United States to achieve a consensus resolution on this issue. With more time, I believe it would have been possible to craft an approach acceptable to all parties, one that would have reflected a strong and credible role for the Indonesian Government, as well as its responsibility to address human rights concerns and to help bring peace and stability to the region -- while maintaining the essential international component of the response to the human rights crisis in East Timor. It is a fact of life in multilateral negotiations that we do not always achieve consensus. The resolution at hand is a case in point. However, the United States stands in support of the resolution because it demonstrates international concern for recent events in East Timor and provides for a credible and effective response. This important body can be satisfied with nothing less. Thank you. (end September 27 text) (begin September 24 text) STATEMENT REGARDING EVENTS IN EAST TIMOR BY AMBASSADOR GEORGE E. MOOSE U.S. Delegate to the Special Session of the Commission on Human Rights Geneva Friday September 24, 1999 The Government of the United States of America supported the call for this special session in response to the human rights crisis in East Timor and the threats posed to the outcome of the UN sponsored free and fair vote in East Timor. These threats have taken the form of violence against the East Timorese people, humanitarian groups, journalists and members of the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), and have jeopardized the prospects for peaceful democratic transition in East Timor. My government welcomes the High Commissioner's initiative in seeking this session. We urge the members of the Commission to use it to strongly encourage the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to pursue effective investigation of these abuses, as Indonesian officials have indicated they will do, and also to encourage the Government of Indonesia to hold perpetrators accountable, which we believe is strongly in Indonesia's own interests. We also strongly endorse efforts to initiate an international fact-finding process to examine violations of human rights and humanitarian law, as well as interference with UNAMET's mandate. The Government of the United States respects Indonesia's continued territorial integrity and sovereignty. We also recognize the unique history of East Timor. For that reason, the United States welcomed the sovereign and courageous decision taken by the Indonesian Government to allow the people of East Timor to determine their future status. The remarkable turnout of the East Timorese for the UN-administered consultation and their overwhelming vote for independence created a moment of hope worldwide. But the subsequent violence produced a massive humanitarian and human rights crisis, and blocked the United Nations from continuing its work. We welcome the steps taken by the Government of Indonesia to invite the international force for East Timor, as well as its cooperation to date with the INTERFET. We urge the Government of Indonesia to comply fully with all aspects of UN Security Resolution 1264 and to see that the results of the consultation in which the East Timorese population expressed its will, are respected. We fully expect the Government of Indonesia to respect its obligations under international law and the agreements it entered into authorizing the United Nations to undertake the consultation, as well as its obligations to enforce its own laws. We call upon Indonesia to protect the East Timorese who fled, or were forcibly removed to West Timor and to other parts of Indonesia. We call on the government to disband and disarm the militias that continue to threaten human life, and further urge the government to allow humanitarian organizations to have access to those in need in West Timor. We strongly urge the Government of Indonesia to take all steps to facilitate the safe and rapid return of East Timorese to their homes. Lastly, we call on the Government of Indonesia to cooperate in the return of UNAMET personnel and the resumption of their mission. Madam Chair: The violent events that have occurred in East Timor in recent weeks, and the evidence of serious violations of human rights require a systematic and credible investigation. Steps must be taken to establish what happened and to determine who was responsible. Only in this way can there be a process of accountability that will prevent the recurrence of such acts in the future. This is important for Indonesia, as it moves forward with its own democratic process. It is important for the people of East Timor, as they seek to heal the terrible wounds of the recent violence and attempt to create an environment favorable to peace and reconciliation. And it is important to send a clear signal to all parts of the world that gross violations of human rights will not be tolerated. Accordingly, my government supports the proposal made by the High Commissioner for the creation of an international panel or commission to establish the facts regarding the events in East Timor. We ask the Government of Indonesia to cooperate with a fact-finding mission to document the abuses that have occurred in East Timor during the period since the agreement was reached to hold the UN-administered consultation. We strongly encourage the participation in such an effort of members of Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission, appropriate Indonesian NGO's and distinguished jurists from the region. In this regard, we welcome the recent Indonesian decision to establish a national investigative mechanism, but we also believe that its work must be assisted and supported by a credible, international investigative mechanism. For Indonesia to take its place as a prosperous, democratic and stable nation, it is necessary to determine and document the truth and to ensure accountability for abuses of human rights in East Timor. We welcome this body's actions to promote these goals. (end September 24 text)
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