NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/8475

Text File | 1992-11-17 | 7.8 KB | 171 lines

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Path: sparky!uunet!gumby!wupost!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!rich
From: JOSE ANTONIO BASTO <[e-mail]>
Subject: E. Timor: The Cover Up of an Invasion
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Hello Everybody:

As promised, I start today the posting of a series of transcripts of personal
interventions at a Seminar about E. Timor done at my University back in
Portugal, in 1990.

I would like to introduce Prof. A. Barbedo de Magalha~es, the organizer of
the Seminar (and many other events about E. Timor), since 1975 ...

I did is undergraduate study in Mechanical Eng at Porto University, and is
Master and PhD in Materials, at Gent University, Belgium.

He was persecuted by the fascist regime, and did sign several documents from
intellectuals condemning the colonialist policy of Salazar, what did cost him
his entrance for academic career.

He did serve his military service at Timor, and, as many Portuguese before
him, he developed a very strong relationship with that island and its people.
HE WAS THERE DURING 75, so he actually knows about what happened there..

Prof. A. Barbedo de Magalha~es was my Professor, and get I my first
appreciation of the E. Timor situation trough his efforts to build awareness
of the problem . He still is very active in raising the issue in Portugal,
and elsewhere.

I will try in the future to bring to this forum more recent
material.

Jose' Basto
[e-mail]

++++++++++++ /   +++++++++++++++++++ / ++++++++++++++++


PART-II

2nd SEMINAR ON EAST TIMOR, PORTO UNIVERSITY



"EAST-TIMOR, LAND OF HOPE"


I -     EAST TIMOR, THE MEDIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE


I.1 -   To avoid letting the world know about their crimes the
Indonesians did not hesitate to murder five Australian journalists.(*)

__________
(*)     Introduction to theme written by the coordinator of this Seminar, A.
Barbedo de Magalha~es, Professor of Engineering, Porto University, Portugal.
----------


        Back in October 1975 two Australian television teams were filming
the fall of Balibo', Portuguese East Timor, to Indonesian troops supported
by Timorese refugees. Those images would wipe any doubts on the
participation of the Indonesian regular army in the attack, and would deny
Indonesia's propaganda that only Timorese refugees grouped under "MAC
{Anti-Communist Movement}" and Indonesian volunteers were trying to
regain control of Timor.

        At Maliana, few kilometers before Balibo', a Portuguese television
crew from RTP led by journalist Adelino Gomes witnesses the attack where
heavy artillery, fire bombs and automatic machine guns were used, trying
to film the landing of an helicopter moments after the combat.

        The day before Adelino Gomes had talked to his Australian
counterparts from Melbourne's Channel 7 and Sydney's Channel 9. On the
yellow walls of the house where they were staying the word Australia was
written and the Australian flag drawn. One of them, Greg Shackleton had told
him: "This is for the Indonesians: if they come to Balibo' they will know
that there are some foreigners and they won't kill us. It's our embassy."

        Less than 24 hours later, by the dawn of 16 October 1975, the
Indonesians started attacking Balibo' with the support from some Timorese
members of MAC. Both Indonesian and Australian authorities knew the
journalists were there. Just a few days before, some TV programs had
broadcast their messages saying they were on the way to Balibo' because it
was an area predicted to be attacked by the Indonesians, trying to oust it
from FRETILIN's control. One of the journalists before being killed managed
to say that he was Australian, but Indonesia's objective was to eliminate any
inconvenient witnesses, so all five TV crew members were consciously and
coldly murdered. Besides journalist Greg Shackleton, the others were Tony
Stewart [sound engineer], Jan Cunningham and Brian Peters [cameramen]
and another journalist, Malcolm Peters.

        The Indonesian generals responsible for this operation [Col. Dading
Kalbuardi and Major Yunus Yusuf] were promoted soon thereafter. The
official photographer of this operation was quickly decorated by General
Suharto.

        Although the Australian government was embarrassed with the
impact of the event on public opinion, it conducted a questionable and
inconclusive public enquiry.

        Meanwhile in East Timor, other Australian journalists, including
Roger East, got statements that leave no doubts on the intervention of the
Indonesian Armed Forces in this crime.

        Indonesia was unable to gain any substantial territorial control after
their border skirmishes and about a month and half later, by early
December, an invasion is imminent, thus forcing the Australian authorities
to advise all Australian citizens to abandon the territory.

        Most members from humanitarian organizations and journalists left
Timor, but Roger East decided to stay even after the International Red Cross
decided to evacuate to Atau'ro Island on December 6, 1975.

        On December 7, roughly one hour after the invasion, Roger East was
still able to send via the Telecommunications Center of Radio Marconi, in
Dili, a message to Australian Associated Press [AAP] and Reuters in
Australia. Shortly thereafter he was captured by Indonesian troops, who
forcefully took him to the Dili harbor area where he was killed as were
hundreds of Timorese. The collusion between the Australian government and
the Indonesians was such that not even a protest was raised on the murder of
this Australian journalist and Australian citizen.

        For 13 years [December 1975 - December 1988] the Indonesians
impose an almost total news blackout to East Timor. Very few foreign
journalists are allowed into East Timor. Whenever authorized their visits
are closely monitored and their freedom of movements is minimal.
Independent journalists report on the generalized fear in a decimated
population, traumatized by war and famine and all other atrocities
committed by the occupying forces.

         Some exceptions to this rule came from journalists who had made
agreements with the Indonesian authorities that their reports would show the
occupying forces in a favorable light. Even in such cases all they were only
allowed to see certain cities, asphalt roads, new hospitals and schools,
that the Indonesian try to show as if to make forget the genocide of the East
Timorese people. Contacts with the population and the bush are very limited
or impossible to make. The International Red Cross was allowed a temporary
visit to the territory in March, 24, 1979 under harsh restrictions and
limitations. For more than three years their presence had been forbidden.

        In one of its first reports, back in 1979, the Red Cross states that
the humanitarian situation in East Timor is worse than in Biafra during the
secession war, and asks for a mercy campaign of medical and food support to
avoid the death of tens of thousand of Timorese.

        When East Timor was "opened" in January 1989, as widely
announced by the Indonesians, many independent journalists and
humanitarian organizations were still denied a visa to enter the territory.
Some other journalists admit how well received their requests were, of
being invited for dinner by diplomatic members who were willing to give
them all their support if their reports would be seen as favorable to
Indonesia, but who were later refused their visas when they did not intend
to play the Indonesian game.

(END OF INTRODUCTION).
--
Jose' Barros BASTO; Address:11,Duh Dr Apt 222; BETHLEHEM, PA 18015-3732
Phone :[phone]; Office:[phone];  FAX:[phone]   U.S.A.