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FW: UNAA statement





Working on behalf of the:
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)
Federation of Trade Unions, Burma (FTUB)
Australia Burma Council (ABC)

PO Box 2024, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620
Tel: (612) 6297 7734	Fax: (612) 6297 7773

-----Original Message-----
>From:	Ian Mathews [SMTP:imathews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent:	Tuesday, 7 September 1999 13:26
To:	imathews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject:	UNAA statement

The following statement was distributed in the Federal parliamentary press
gallery today, September 7, 1999

UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA   

September 7, 1999

Once again the United Nations organisation will be made the scapegoat for
abandoning the people of East Timor when, in fact, the blame should be
sheeted home to the UN's member-states. Once again, governments which
should have taken action against a UN member, Indonesia, will blame
inaction on the organisation they control.

The men and women who were sent to East Timor  in the name of the United
Nations, many of them Australians - UN employees, electoral officials,
unarmed police and military liaison officers - have fulfilled their roles
in every particular.

They, and the people of East Timor, have been let down by the timidity of
political leaders of UN member-states.

The latest moves include a UN political delegation to Jakarta; the
implausible prospect of Indonesia martial law being imposed on a
prospective independent state that has just voted to be rid of Indonesian
military rule; and a well-armed, uncontrolled militia supported by
Indonesian troops on the ground.

UN member-states - that is, governments of every member country, including
Australia - have it within their power to stop the killing. Just as
Indonesia, whose prime responsibility it is, has failed, so has every other
UN member failed so far in their duty to the East Timorese.

It is to the credit and dedication of UN employees, all those attached to
UNAMET, and to the many members of non-government organisations that the
East Timorese have a glimmer of hope. It is up to UN member-states,
especially Australia, not to betray that hope.
            
For more information: 
Harold Wilkinson (02)  6212 9090 or (02) 6251 5084 or
Ian Mathews, Editor UNity, (02) 62814025 Fax (02) 6285 2529
E-mail: imathews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx