You either believe in freedom
or you don't
We believe
In 1975, just ten days after gaining its independence from Portugal,
the southeast Asian island of East Timor was invaded by neighbouring
Indonesia. As soon as the Indonesian soldiers arrived, they began
slaughtering the inhabitants. Since then, 250,000 people, over a
third of the population, have lost their lives.
For reasons best known to itself, the Canadian government supported
Indonesia at the United Nations and in the marketplace. Fifteen
years later, the Indonesian army continues to occupy East Timor.
We think the Canadian government should end its support.
The Canadian government says East Timor will never be free. It says
that after fifteen years, the people and the land belong to Indonesia.
We believe people belong to themselves and the land belongs to those
who live on it.
For a long time, people believed that Eastern Europe would never
be free. The Canadian government adopted the same attitude to Romanian
dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu as it does to the generals who rule Indonesia.
But times change.
We ask all Canadians to join us in telling the Canadian government
to:
- Support the call of Bishop Belo of East Timor for a referendum
on the country's future.
- Ban the sale of military equipment to Indonesia
- Condemn the Indonesian transmigration and assimilation programmes
aimed at destroying the indigenous Timorese culture.
- Speak out for human rights by joining the European Community and
the majority of the United Nations in calling for a free East Timor
- Provide humanitarian aid to East Timorese refugees and fight for
the free access of the International Red Cross and other non-governmental
organizations.
We want to get this open letter signed by as many prominent Canadians
citizens and groups and possible and publish it in spring of 1991
in newspapers. Can you help with endorsements and the cost of publishing
the open letter?
East Timor Alert Network, P.O. Box 354, Ladysmith British Columbia
VOR 2E0 (604)245-3068.
Published in the Connexions Digest #53 - January 1991.
(CX4167)
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