As religious leaders and organizations from the United States of America,
we join the global call for the timely establishment of an international
tribunal for East Timor.
We remember the tragedies endured by the people of East Timor and have
heard their cries for justice. We agree that an international tribunal is
necessary to hold accountable those most responsible for the war crimes,
crimes against humanity and genocide committed throughout the 24 years of
brutal Indonesian military occupation.
The initial years of Indonesia's illegal occupation saw the deaths of more
than one-third of East Timor's pre-1975 population. The occupation ended in
1999 amid a wave of terror and violence unleashed upon civilians
countrywide. The Indonesian military committed countless atrocities in East
Timor, including torture, rape, forced sterilization, disappearance and
murder. Justice for such egregious crimes cannot be denied without serious
repercussions. Indeed, peace in East Timor and the rule-of-law in Indonesia
have already been seriously compromised.
During the occupation, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo was among the
courageous East Timorese who risked their lives to speak out against
violence and work for freedom. Bishop Belo was a messenger to the world,
who together with the Catholic Church protested countless human rights
abuses to the United Nations and called for self-determination for the
people of East Timor. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 in
recognition of his efforts.
The Catholic Church was both a source of strength for the East Timorese
people and a frequent target of Indonesian military violence during the
occupation. In October 1991, student activist Sebastiâo Gomes was killed
during a raid on the Motael Church in Dili. His funeral procession turned
into a peaceful protest, which the Indonesian military viciously repressed
in what became known as the Santa Cruz massacre. The largest massacre of
1999 occurred at the Ave Maria Church in Suai, where thousands of refugees
sought sanctuary. On September 6, Indonesian military and militia members
stormed the Suai churchyard, killing hundreds of people, including three
priests. On the same day in Dili, military and militias viciously attacked
Bishop Belo's residence, forcing him to flee his country. On September 25,
a Church group was attacked at Lautem Junction. Nine people were killed,
including two nuns and three priests, and their bodies dumped in a river.
Nearly two years after these attacks, Bishop Belo issued an eloquent call
for justice. "While we believe in and promote reconciliation, the people of
East Timor are crying out for justice against the perpetrators of
horrendous crimes committed during the Indonesian occupation. Without
justice, the brokenness continues," he said.
In January 2000, a UN commission concluded, "Ultimately the Indonesian Army
was responsible for the intimidation, terror, killings, and other acts of
violence," and recommended establishing an international tribunal for East
Timor. Instead, Indonesia was granted the opportunity to hold its own
trials. But the Indonesian court has proven to be a sham.
Last August, the Indonesian court acquitted all five defendants in the Suai
Church massacre case. Bishop Belo responded, "With the recent acquittals in
an Indonesian court of military and police officials charged with allowing
the mass slaughter of parishioners and priests at a church in the town of
Suai in September 1999, [justice] has not happened. The Security Council
must look for credible alternatives to achieve justice, and this should
include an international tribunal." Ian Martin, who headed the UN mission
in East Timor in 1999, called the Suai acquittals "particularly
disturbing," saying, "The evidence was very clear and very available." The
Protestant Church of East Timor has also called for the establishment of an
international tribunal.
As the Indonesian court announces its final verdicts, the U.S. and other
governments must not pretend the Indonesian judicial process is in any way
acceptable. We call on the U.S. Mission to the UN to actively work with its
Security Council colleagues to pass a resolution establishing an
international tribunal for East Timor. The world's powers must not again
turn a blind eye to East Timor's suffering.
The universality of human rights is at stake. If the international
community does not step up to prosecute the war crimes and crimes against
humanity committed against the people of East Timor and the institution of
the UN, tyrants need not fear international law. In order to work for world
peace, it is crucial that we insist on justice. Otherwise, atrocities will
multiply and more victims will be crying out for justice.
A complete list of signers can be found at
www.etan.org/action/action2/relig.htm.
