Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Apr 1992

Vol. 418 No. 5

Written Answers. - East Timor Developments.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he and the Government are concerned with recent developments in East Timor, and the brutal and violent reaction of the Indonesian Government; if he proposes to convey directly to the Indonesian Government the concern of the Irish people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

John Connor

Question:

56 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the indiscriminate shooting of hundreds of peaceful demonstrators in East Timor by the Indonesian army; if he has made, or intends to make, any protest about this violent military oppression; and if he will outline Ireland's foreign policy position on the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.

Nora Owen

Question:

97 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give a report on the condition in East Timor following the military massacre on 12 November 1991; and if the injustices in this small country have been discussed by the EC Council of Foreign Ministers.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

106 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the action, if any, the Irish Government propose to take within the context of European Political Co-Operation or unilaterally within the United Nations, on the question of the present situation in East Timor and the apparent repressive actions of the Indonesian Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Peter Barry

Question:

107 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has protested to the Indonesian Government over the massacres, in November 1991 of demonstrators in East Timor; if he will ask the European Council of Ministers to bring pressure to bear on the Indonesian Government to ensure that the East Timorese people are granted their independence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 56, 97, 106, 107 and 108 together.

On 12 November last in Dili, the capital of East Timor, members of the Indonesian armed forces carried out an unprovoked attack on a party of mourners. According to reports, over 50 people were killed and many more were wounded. On the following day EC Foreign Ministers issued a declaration strongly condemning the violence as being in clear contravention of the most fundamental human rights. On 3 December 1991, they called on the Indonesian authorities to respond to the serious concerns of the international community and for a thorough and credible investigation by impartial and independent experts.

Indonesia rejected the call for an international investigation. However, President Suharto did respond to the international outcry by establishing a national investigation commission into the incident at Dili. The commission submitted their summary report to the President at the end of December.

On 13 February the Twelve expressed encouragement at the prompt response which the summary report of the national investigation commission had elicited from the highest Indonesian authorities. They mentioned especially the investigation commission's criticism of the actions of the armed forces, the decision to dismiss the two senior commanders responsible for East Timor, and the decision to proceed with further investigations into the actions of the armed forces and into the fate of those unaccounted for.

One of the results of the report of the national investigation commission was the setting up of a military honour council to examine the role of the security forces in handling the incident at Dili. The military honour council reported in February. The Government notes with satisfaction the acceptance by the Indonesian armed forces of culpability, as well as formal responsibility, for the shootings of civilians in Dili.

The Secretary General of the United Nations sent a personal representative to Indonesia and East Timor in February to seek clarifications on the tragic events of 12 November. We look forward to hearing the results of his visit.

The human rights situation in East Timor was the subject of discussion at the 48th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights which took place recently in Geneva. Ireland played an active part within the Twelve in these discussions. A consensus statement by the Commission noted with serious concern the human rights situation in East Timor and strongly deplored the violent incident at Dili. The statement urged the government of Indonesia to improve the human rights situation in East Timor.

Portugal was designated by the United Nations some considerable time ago as the administering power in East Timor but they have been unable to exercise this role since the invasion and annexation of the territory by Indonesia in 1975-76. There have, however, been talks on the status of East Timor between Portugal and Indonesia under the auspices of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Ireland has supported these talks. We hope that they will resume at an early date and will lead to a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable settlement of the question of East Timor. Such a settlement should respect the principles of the UN Charter. It should also take into account the need to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms, and should respect the legitimate interests and aspirations of the people of East Timor.