UN concerned over East Timor abuses
UN concerned over East Timor abuses
GENEVA (Agencies): The United Nations Human Rights Commission
expressed "deep concern" on Tuesday over allegations of human
rights violation in East Timor.
In a statement from the chairman of the 53-member body,
adopted by consensus, it also called on Indonesia to fully
investigate a November 1991 incident in which dozens of East
Timorese demonstrators were killed in clashes with Indonesian
troops.
The statement by the UN's main human rights body urged
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to continue his efforts
toward "achieving a just, comprehensive and internationally
acceptable solution to the question of the East Timor".
The United Nations still regards Portugal, East Timor's former
colonial power, as the administering power in the territory which
has integrated with Indonesia since 1976.
"The Commission continues to follow with deep concern the
reports on violations of human rights in East Timor," it said.
The statement recalled Indonesia's pledges to promote human
rights in East Timor and stressed the need to take further steps
toward their implementation, "including the early release of the
East Timorese detained or convicted and the further clarification
of the circumstances surrounding the Dili incident of 1991."
The Commission welcomed the visit last December to East Timor
by UN Human Rights Commissioner Jose Ayala Lasso. In his report
published in March, he cited allegations of "very grave
violations" of human rights there and called for improvement.
The commission also welcomed the declared intention of the
Indonesian government to invite a special rapporteur next year.
The statement expressed satisfaction at easier access by the
international media and humanitarian organizations to East Timor,
"which should contribute to the future presence of human rights
organizations."
But it added that it was necessary for the Indonesian
government to take further steps to implement and foster human
rights.
On Tuesday the commission adopted resolutions on human rights
situations in several countries, with the exceptions only of
Colombia and East Timor, which were covered only by chairman's
statements.