An Indonesian court has upheld the appeals of the last four military and police officers charged with crimes in the carnage that occured in East Timor in 1999. The trials have been widely condemned as a sham and an attempt by the Indonesian government to deflect international criticism through delays and legal process. The results of the sham trials are that all Indonesian military and police officers (16) have not been deemed responsible for the terror in East Timor in 1999. The only people convicted are two ethnic Timorese, who though involved were by no means the masterminds. The Indonesian military destroyed East Timor systematically, with the loss of life put at at least 1000. The Indonesian state and military however has walked away without consequence.

Of terrifying concern is the fact that a number of those who oversaw operations in East Timor have been appointed to other conflict areas including Papua and Aceh. East Timor has attempted justice but Indonesia has refussed to hand over the suspects in its military who remain at large and still serving. Sadly, the international community is looking ever more likely to again look the other way. Both the US and Australia are seeking to renew military ties despite the sham trials and despite ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua and Aceh.

For the sake of truth, the world cannot allow such impunity to go unaddressed. At the very least those in the military must be removed from their positions and the truth about their involvement put on the public record. An international war crimes tribunal or truth commision must refute the historical lies that Indonesia is attempting to perpetuate and hold perpetrators responsible.

Please take action!

The East Timor Action Network reported that:
"Last month, 78 members of Congress wrote UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urging him to appoint a commission of experts to evaluate existing justice processes and "to carefully consider recommending an international tribunal on East Timor if it finds that current processes have not achieved justice.” This month 65 members of the House of Representatives urged U.S. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to reconsider resumption of the Bilateral Defense Dialogue (BDD) with Indonesia, because its military “has successfully evaded accountability for its well-documented crimes against humanity and war crimes in East Timor.” "

Action is happening. Please add your voice.

A massive campaign is needed to pressure the world into taking action. Please consider one or more of the following:

1. Write to Kofi Annan at the UN demanding further action be taken to achieve truth and justice.
Kofi Annan
Secretary General United Nations
United Nations Plaza,
New York, NY 10017, United States of America

2. Email the Human rights Commission: 1503@ hchr@unog.ch

3. Email the US ambassador to the UN:  usa@un.int
Demand he pressure the US to cease all military contact with Indonesia and
demand an international tribunal.

4. Email the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard and demand that he drop
all plans to train the Indonesian military. Go to www.pm.gov.au
and lodge your complaint that he is supporting a military responsible for
terror.

5. Write to the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner:
Louise Arbour
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneve 10
Switzerland

For background information please visit:  http://www.etan.org/news/2004/08appeal.htm
The author is not connected to the above group.