by Eric S. Piotrowski, Sep 17, 1999

Allan Nairn may be charged in West Timor

The situation in East Timor remains extremely grave. An estimated three-quarters of the population has been forcibly displaced by the Indonesian military and their militias. People in the mountains and in refugee camps in West Timor are at great risk from starvation, dehydration, and disease. Others are being transported to unknown destinations throughout Indonesia. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization has estimated that at least 7,000 East Timorese have already been killed since the referendum. Almost no foreigners are in East Timor to witness what is happening! The first air drop, consisting of rice and blankets, occurred this morning. Much more needs to be done. The number of air drops must be increased expeditiously. Aid agencies must be given full access to the refugees in East and West Timor, as well as to those on the islands in Indonesia where many East Timorese have been forcibly transported, and long-term aid and development programs must begin.

Journalist and long-time East Timor activist Allan Nairn was arrested in Dili on September 14, where he was one of very few journalists still left in East Timor. He may be charged with engaging in unauthorized activities and overstaying his two-month visa. If convicted, Allan could face a maximum of 10 years in prison. Immigration officials have been interrogating him at an immigration facility in Kupang, West Timor. Hostility in Kupang is soaring. It is likely that a U.S. citizen like Allan will be in great danger if he is not moved immediately. No matter where he is, Allan must have a consular escort.

S. 1568 looks very strong in the Senate, but cosponsors are still urgently needed for that bill and HR 2809. This binding legislation would "lock-in" the temporary bans on military assistance to Indonesia. HR 2809 and S.1568 stipulate conditions which must be met before the U.S. can resume military assistance (training, government transfers, and commercial sales) and financial assistance to Indonesia as announced by President Clinton last week. These conditions include a safe and secure environment in East Timor, the complete withdrawal of Indonesian armed forces, full humanitarian assistance, and the return of refugees.

Please make the following calls:

=> CALL your Representative and Senators. Urge them to call President Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan directly about the humanitarian crisis in East Timor and the urgent need for air drops, open access to aid/relief organizations, and long-term aid and development projects. Request that they call the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia and the State Department immediately concerning Allan Nairn. Also request that your representative cosponsor HR 2809 and your senators cosponsor S. 1568 if they have not already done so. The congressional switchboard number is 202-224-3121 or check www.congress.gov for additional contact information.

=> CALL U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke. Demand that the number of air drops be increased expeditiously. Aid agencies must be given full access to refugees and long-term aid and development programs must begin. His number is 212-415-4000.

=> CALL the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta directly. They should exert maximum pressure to secure Nairn's immediate release and deportation. Demand that a consular agent escort him out of West Timor. If he remains under detention, Indonesia should at least transfer him to Jakarta, where he will be safer. The number in Jakarta is 011-62-21-344-2211 (011-62-21-386-2259 fax).

=> CALL President Clinton about all of the above. The White House comment line is 202-456-1414.

For more information, contact Karen at ETAN's Washington DC office at 202-544-6911 or etanko@igc.org. You can also check our website at http://www.etan.org

Support the International Federation for East Timor's Observer Project
Phone: 831-728-4190 Fax: 831-761-1401

Eric S. Piotrowski
IFET-OP U.S. Interim Coordinator
altin@atlantic.net