TAPOL press release

CONFRONTING INDONESIAN MILITARY POWER

24 May 2002 - A disturbing picture of a resurgent Indonesian military, which has turned soldiers into an arrogant, power crazy and greedy ruling elite emerges from the lead article - 'The military and the arrogance of power' - in the new TAPOL Bulletin. Selected articles are now available online at www.tapol.gn.apc.org/bulletin166-7.htm. 

The outburst of retired General Wiranto at the East Timor trials in Jakarta - blaming the destruction of East Timor in September 1999 on the UN, not the barbaric acts of his own men - 'says it all', says TAPOL. 

An initial analysis of the trials - 'Jakarta trials unlikely to provide justice for East Timor' - concludes that they are a denial of justice, designed to protect military officers from an international tribunal. TAPOL argues that the case for such a tribunal is overwhelming and urges the international community not to betray the East Timorese again by sanctioning the trials and allowing the truth to remain suppressed forever.

The military’s brutality and commitment to the unitary state of Indonesia is most evident in Aceh and West Papua. Following a visit to Aceh in February, TAPOL co-editor, Liem Soei Liong describes the devastating effects of military operations in ‘Visit to a war zone’. A police ban on a conflict resolution seminar organised by the Aceh Civil Society Task 
Force is the subject of a further piece.

The root cause of violations in West Papua is the fraudulent Act of Free Choice in 1969. ‘West Papua campaign launched at UN’ gives details of an international campaign launched in New York to persuade Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to review the UN’s conduct at the time. In a separate article TAPOL describes West Papuan anger at official efforts to cover up the
motives for the killing of independence leader, Theys Eluay in November 2001.

The Bulletin includes other articles on Aceh, West Papua, Maluku, Henry Kissinger's complicity in the invasion of East Timor, brutalities against peasant activists, threats to NGOs at the recent UN Commission on Human Rights session and an obituary of Indonesia’s first rights activist, Poncke Princen.

A hard copy of the complete Bulletin can be obtained from TAPOL, 
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8HW, UK; email:
tapol@gn.apc.org; tel + 44 208 771 2904.

Annual subscriptions can be taken out at the rates of £18 individual, £9 concession, or £25 institution. Payments can also be made in Euros, Aus$, US$ and Can$.

Standing orders and donations are also gratefully received.

ENDS