By Gareth W.R. Smith
CANBERRA — Gareth Evans, speaking of the November 1991 Dili killings, described them as "horribly aberrant behaviour ... rather than a deliberate, centrally directed act of state policy". However, the experience of Indonesian violence toward Sean Kenan and myself here directly refutes such apologies.
We decided to purchase tickets in Rotary's Open Embassy Day on Sunday, June 12, and enter the Indonesian embassy to make a public statement against Indonesian genocide and occupation of East Timor.
As part of an audience of about 70 people, we watched an Indonesian propaganda film in English which stated, "In 1975 the East Timorese expressed the wish to be part of Indonesia". No mention of military invasion, five butchered Australian journalists, at least 200,000 East Timorese dead and a continuing history of terror and torture.
To convey the facts, we climbed ornamental columns which provided an excellent vantage point. We spread a banner reading "Indonesia: A Police State" and shouted to a large crowd outside the embassy, where supporters were busy with street theatre and leaflet distribution.
Embassy staff verbally abused us; one staff member, claiming to work for the Indonesian military, drew a commando-style dagger and screamed he would kill us. He was restrained by his embarrassed colleagues but returned later with a pile of rocks to throw at us. He had to be restrained again. He continued to urge the Australian Federal Police to shoot us.
We conveyed a running commentary of this which was clearly picked up by Channel 9 news. Throughout, we were harangued by embassy staff that we were in Indonesia now. Precisely: had our action taken place in Indonesia, we might well have been summarily executed.
An Indonesian official ordered the AFP to remove us quickly, "or else we get them down!" The AFP, visibly worried, advised us that if we didn't obey they might not be able to guarantee our safety.
We would like to know from the federal government how the safety of Australian tourists can be guaranteed in Indonesia. Any Australian wearing a T-shirt or an Amnesty International badge, or even exercising a free speech in Indonesia, might find themselves on the wrong end of a dagger. The Department of Foreign Affairs should issue immediate warnings to the public in the light of this incident.
In spite of my pledge to comply with AFP requests, they proceeded to rough me up at the feet of the Indonesians when I climbed down. No doubt the sight of my bloodied face and the sound of my screaming as the police wrenched my thumbs and twisted my arms were just what the Indonesians wanted.
Gareth Evans will perhaps attempt to explain away the violence of these diplomatic staff, witnessed by about 30 AFP and Australian Protective Services personnel, as "horribly aberrant behaviour". Habitual excusing of unacceptable conduct in this way makes it the norm and not the exception. This is the testimony of 18 years of East Timorese suffering and the reason for our action.