REFERENDUM  ON SELF-DETERMINATION 
CENTRAL TO A SOLUTION TO THE EAST TIMOR CONFLICT

The National Political Commission of the C.N.R.T. has followed with
concern the recent developments regarding the conflict in East Timor and
the future of the territory. In this regard the National Political
Commission states the following:

On the status of East Timor there should be no ambiguity or
misunderstandings that the Non-Self Governing Territory of East Timor was
invaded and occupied by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia in
1975 in violation of International Law and the UN Charter;

The right of the People of East Timor to self-determination and
independence has been internationally recognised through numerous UN
Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions.

No lasting solution to the 23-year-old conflict of East Timor can be
achieved without these central principles and facts being taken into
account. No solution will ever be valid and workable if it is not based on
the consent of the people of East Timor expressed through an
internationally supervised referendum on self-determination. It is not
enough for a solution to be "internationally acceptable". First and
foremost it has to be accepted by the people of East Timor.

Doomsday scenarios of 'civil war' serve to justify Indonesia's refusal to
accept a UN supervised referendum. If Indonesia does fear 'civil war' in
East Timor there are two easy solutions:

Disarm all groups; withdraw all weapons in the hands of the paramilitary
groups in exchange for cash or other incentives;

Station a UN Police force in East Timor; withdrawal of all Indonesian
troops.

Both Bishop D. Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, spiritual leader in East Timor,
and President Xanana Gusmão, Resistance leader, have suggested paths
towards a solution of the conflict in East Timor. Bishop Belo, quoted by
the Indonesian daily, Suara Pembaruan (July 18, 1998) stated that the only
way for a solution to be reached was a referendum to be held and added
that "the vast majority of East Timorese are in favour of
self-determination". President Xanana Gusmão, quoted by Antara (July
18,1998), Indonesia's information agency, called for a withdrawal of
Indonesian troops and the stationing of a UN force in East Timor as a
major contribution towards creating as atmosphere of mutual trust.

The National Political Commission will resist any attempt by any party to
impose a "fait accompli" on the people of East Timor that does not respect
the right of the East Timorese people to self-determination and
independence.

The people of East Timor and its leadership have shown for the past 23
years that no amount of terror, brute force and international conspiracy
will succeed in defeating their collective will to be free. The events of
the last few weeks, the street demonstrations in East Timor as well as in
Indonesia, have been marked by non-violence.

As the Economist noted, the "East Timorese protest peacefully and with
admirable discipline". Unlike Indonesia's violence against ethnic Chinese
in Java and Sumatra, the East Timorese who have been humiliated and seen
their land, homes and jobs taken over by the Indonesian migrants, have
opted for restraint towards these migrants.

However, in the last few weeks, the Indonesian military have fanned panic
amongst Indonesian migrants in East Timor in a deliberate attempt to
create a sense of vulnerability and insecurity and to put the blame on the
East Timorese for the exodus of Indonesians migrants.

It has been reported that tens of thousands of Indonesian settlers fearing
retribution by the East Timorese have fled the country in the last two
weeks.

In the last 23 years not a single Indonesian migrant has been harassed or
attacked by the Resistance forces. Though there were a few instances in
the past of communal violence involving East Timorese and Indonesian
merchants, these incidents were sparked by provocation and offensive
behaviour towards the religious beliefs of the East Timorese.

The East Timorese Resistance has repeatedly appealed for calm in East
Timor. President Xanana Gusmão renewed this appeal two days ago. And so
far, the East Timorese people have responded in an admirable way. However,
the response by the Indonesian security forces, including by its puppet,
unpopular and corrupt 'Governor', Abilio Osorio Soares, have been
irresponsible and can indeed create a situation where the East Timorese
would take to the streets by the tens of thousands.

Indonesia's refusal to allow UN Secretary General Personal Envoy,
Ambassador Jamsheed Marker, to travel freely to and in East Timor under
the pretext that his visit could spark violence is hypocritical to say the
least. There has never been one single occasion in the past when East
Timorese demonstrators, children, teenagers, women and men, engage in
violence. Violence always came from the barrel of the guns held by the
occupation forces. Indonesian military, often frustrated by the peaceful
nature of these demonstrations use hooligans to provoke
counter-demonstrations.

On the economic viability of East Timor, Indonesia and some of its
remaining supporters abroad continue to argue that an independent East
Timor is not a viable proposition because of the lack of resources.
However, the news about the oil beginning to flow this week from the Timor
Gap area, belittle this argument and expose the hypocrisy and the
patronising attitude of those who dismiss East Timor's right to be free
and independent on the basis of economic viability.

It would be amusing if it were not too tragic that a bankrupt Indonesia,
reduced from its once 'tiger economy' status to being a basket case at the
mercy of international donors, wants to continue to colonise East Timor.

Why should the East Timorese have to go through Jakarta to seek
international assistance? The East Timorese Resistance has developed in
the last 20 years one of the most impressive networks of friends around
the world ranging from private and public development agencies, ...