The second All Inclusive East Timorese Dialogue, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations concluded in Austria last week. Following are excerpts from a statement issued by the National Council for Maubere Resistance on March 26.
The meeting brought together a total of 14 exiled representatives of the East Timorese resistance and 15 East Timorese living under Indonesian rule in the illegally occupied territory. The East Timorese participants, restricted by the terms of reference imposed on the UN not to talk about the legal status of the territory, were nonetheless able to discuss the current situation and exchange views on how the hardships presently faced by the people may be resolved and future improvements be sought.
A statement signed by all the participants was produced at the end of the four-day meeting. The main points include concern at the unsatisfactory current human rights situation, with special reference to the plight of East Timorese women; a request for Portugal government support for the setting up of an East Timor Cultural Centre in Dili; and a request for Portuguese financial and technical inputs to the East Timor University.
A statement of concern at excessive levels of Indonesian military presence in the territory, and the dismantling of extrajudicial coercive institutions created by the Indonesian military was discussed at length but could not be included in the final text.
Participants from both inside East Timor and in exile regretted the absence of Bishop Carlos Filipe Belo, who played an important conciliatory role at the first meeting in June 1995. The Bishop was ordered not to take part in this meeting by the Papal Nuncio in Jakarta, as a result of the Vatican yielding to strong Indonesian government pressure. However, Dili Diocesan Vicar-General Father Jose Antonio da Costa ably represented the East Timor Church.
Intimidating pressures by Indonesia on the participants resident in East Timor were evident. Firstly, there was the absence of Mr Guilherme Goncalves, who had strongly spoken against Indonesian excesses in East Timor at the previous meeting.
Ms Ines Almeida, a representative of the women of East Timor, stressed the special hardships faced by women under the military occupation and the urgent need to change the unacceptable situation.
CNRM's Special Representative, Mr Jose Ramos-Horta, was able to play a central conciliatory role throughout the meeting, being a key factor for its success.