Background ¦ Your reaction

The Background:

There are growing calls for international intervention in East Timor to prevent further bloodshed and chaos. The security situation is deteriorating and members of the UN local staff have been killed.

The UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, says there will be an urgent need for an armed United Nations presence. A UN spokesman in Dili has said that the response by the Indonesian police to the bands of marauding militia has been "totally inadequate".

However, British and American officials believe the responsibility for restoring order lies with the Indonesians.

If the UN were to send in a security force it could take weeks to deploy. Australia, as a neighbour of East Timor, has said it could have troops on the ground very quickly.

Should the international community step in? If so who should be deployed and would they require the backing of the Indonesian government? Do we have a moral obligation to ensure the result of the referendum is enforced and peace is restored to the territory or should it be left to Jakarta?

Background ¦ Your reaction

Your Reaction:

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No matter how many billions of dollars Indonesia may have spent in Timor Lorosae, that doesn't give them the right to butcher people. In case you haven't noticed there is no way to compare people to dollar bills. Besides if they invested so much money it's because they expected something in return ... maybe the oil in Timor Sea?
Any way it is pointless at this stage to argue who is more or less guilty (it is never late to turn wrong into right). What 's necessary is to act fast and strong because quite frankly I don't think that Timorese in a moment like this give a dam to who is guilty or not. They know they are innocent.
Jorge Fafiães, Portugal

The Indonesian government has committed too many atrocities against its minorities. The latest happenings in East Timor against the defenceless population and the United Nations representatives should not go unpunished. The UN should immediately initiate actions to apply sanctions including the cut-off of any financial aid.
Raymond, Malaysia

The International War Crimes Tribunal should begin prosecuting the Indonesian president and his military commanders for their crimes against East Timorese. This might convince them to slow down their current genocide. We are all watching the Tribunal's to see if it is going to deal fairly with a situation that is worse than Kosovo.
R. Shehada, Egypt

Absolute shock. That's what I feel inside. What are the UN doing ??? Where's USA ? This is not Kosovo, Kuwait or Bosnia, it's much, much worse than that!! People are dying and missing everyday ! Help them! I don't understand this, if the international community never recognised East Timor as part of the Indonesian territory, why are they now asking for Indonesia permission for a military force in East Timor? One final word for USA is: How many American dollars is a Timorese life worth?
Claudio Santos, Portugal

The question is not "is it time?", but rather "who should intervene?". Portugal was responsible for the security of East Timor in 1975 and failed to act when Java invaded. Since 1975 Australia has given moral support to Java, trained its thugs in the art of murdering women and children, and encouraged exports to Java in order to line the pockets of the Australian rural voter.
Now its time for Portugal and Australia to atone for their cowardice and greed and rescue the East Timorese from the murderous Javanese. Every shed drop of Australian and Portuguese blood will repay our blood-debt to the East Timorese.
Chris Colenso-Dunne, Australia

Inaction and lack of foresight by the West is absolutely sickening.
Neville Thompson, Australia

East Timor, or let me say, Timor Loro Sae, is the last chance to prove our selves we are decent human beings...Tomorrow everybody will dress white, here in Portugal, as a sign for peace in east Timor. Please help Timor! This is an opportunity for Europe prove that doesn't need US at all.
Let's join European countries, plus Australia, New Zealand, Brasil, Philippines and other and free the Timorese!
Henrique Alves, Portugal

Reading through the list of comments I am reminded that the East Timorese dying on the streets of Dili are people just like these. Their lives being snuffed out. Political leaders make excuses for inaction. Can they not see that if the Indonesian army gets away with this, then those who value democracy throughout Indonesia will be crushed? For humanitarian reasons we must go in, but if we do not go in then we may have to do so in the future. Appeasement never works in the long run. No one in the world is safe when there is a single army in the world carrying out genocide. If the UN can do nothing we should give up on it, and start again from scratch.
Ed Manning, UK

I've lived here for 12 years and have a Indonesian family. It is time that 'the world' educated this country in the meaning of accepted norms. My major concern, however, is that if a western force is sent in ,charges of colonialism will result in physical assaults on those of us of Caucasian origin. Local countries who espouse 'Asian' values would be more acceptable.
Terry Collins, Indonesia

As an Indonesian I am truly appalled and ashamed of what our military is doing in East Timor. I must apologize for many of my countrymen if they seem apathetic or towards the situation; we have long lived in fear and disinformation. The violence and pillaging must stop. The international community needs to act, and act now. Be warned, however, that the way in which intervention is undertaken may antagonize the nationalists and do nothing but worsen the situation.
Ari Tamat, Indonesia

Do the international community really think the Indonesian Government are going to honour the poll results. I don't think so. The United States should not be selfish and act tough only when their interests are threatened. As the self-proclaimed leader of the free world, it should apply , through the IMF and World Bank, economic pressure on the Indonesia Government by withholding promised financial aids which they sorely need to repair their battered economy. This is the only way to force the Indonesia Government to honour the referendum results.
Peter Tio, Malaysia

I lived for 2 years in West Java and saw how police and military terrorised poor villagers in their own country I shudder to think of the treatment of the Timorese. In the name of humanity we must act quickly
Lois, Brit in USA

We definitely have to go there and help those people... They don't let press there, they don't want us to see what's happening, and even worse, what is going to happen, this is one the reason we have to go "immediately"... Genocide is too close... We have to GO!!!!
Javier Alvarez Rivadulla, Spain

The West has spent years arming the Indonesian government. This government, plainly, does not have the support of people in broad areas of its territory such as East Timor, Aceh and others. Perhaps, instead of selling arms to despots who can only rule through repression, the West should redress the balance by giving the arms to people who are being governed against their will. Worries about preserving Indonesia's integrity miss the point. This appalling state has no integrity to preserve. The Australians and New Zealanders have supported us in our struggles in the past, we should support them now.
Steve Coxon, UK

It's time to intervene. They have voted for FREEDOM not for a NEW GENOCIDE. Please support these suffering people.
Rui Gordo, Portugal

International community, especially the UN, are covering themselves with shame, humiliation and blood. They gave an entire nation the opportunity of expressing their ambition for freedom, and are now abandoning them to their terrible fate. One way or the other it's the Indonesian who are promoting this genocide, and everybody is still waiting for their permission to stop... them! As of the USA, as usual, we get more of the same: "We care about human rights and go there if it's easy, clean and in our interest, we'll let them die if we don't gain votes, oil or power." What about economic sanctions, do we need Indonesian permission too?
Pedro C. Monteiro, Portugal

This is my only way to express my total sadness to what became the stupidity of what we call the world politicians!! So much diplomacy while thousands of humans are being slaughtered!! Please do something!
Ricardo Moreira da Costa, Portugal

I'm a Portuguese teenager and I see Timor people as my brothers. My brothers deserve be independent from Indonesian power and Indonesian killers
Luís Oliveira, Portugal

As an Indonesian though I have lived abroad for some years, I recognise the hypocrisy of the Indonesian Military. One would have to realise that Indonesia is one of the west capitalist's crony and I don't think the USA or Britain or even UN would dare intervene in Indonesia. The stake is too high. The market is too big. The maximum the west will do is talking tough, slogan which has no meaning I am ashamed of being Indonesian but not mush surprised of this situation. People live has become a game that politicians play. How low a living society can ever be. Down with Clinton and Blair. You are a living proof that there would never be a peace when we have this government behave like a mafia.
Hendra Indra, Indonesia

It is now clear that the international community made a disastrous mistake in allowing the Indonesian army to continue to be responsible for security in E.Timor during the transition to independence. Too much faith was placed in the hands of a military which has repeatedly shown itself to be unmatched in its brutality and repression. What we are seeing now is another genocide unfolding in the days and weeks ahead. Unfortunately, short of a Kosovo style solution to go in to E.Timor against the wishes of the Indonesian government, there seems to be no way to stop the killing. There is no will for this kind of action in the international community. It should be made clear to the Indonesian government, though, that those responsible for this atrocity will be one day be held responsible.
Robert Russo, Canada

I feel for the poor souls being butchered by a brutal and tyrannical regime. However, I ask all the people writing in, if they think that a UN Force should invade Indonesia, are their countries going to put up competent military forces. Most of the Europeans are unable due to gross and wilful negligence of their Armed Forces to project any power beyond their borders. The only two that can are Britain and France and both can only put limited forces in the pool. By the UN what you are saying is the United States. Sorry, we are already busy with Kosovo, keeping the peace in Korea, keeping an eye on Iraq, and China. We have cut our forces by 40% and have increased our commitments by 300%. For all who thought the peace divided could be spent, you now see that the world is still a dangerous place. The people of East Timor need to take up arms to defend themselves and fight for their independence. It is not the responsibility of the USA to fight everyone's battles. The best we can do is put economic and diplomatic pressure on Indonesia. With their bad economy that might well do it. But there is no sentiment or capability militarily to do anything. The UN is incapable because none of its members except the USA is militarily capable of projecting power on the scale that's needed. The resources are stretched to thin and you can blame all the people that wanted the peace divided. The only alternative is a massive rearmament by the European Powers and the USA, to replay the days of the White Man's Burden. Neo-colonialism is not going to happen, the Third World better learn to take up arms to defend their rights!
Tim S., USA

The regional governments need to understand that in exceptional conditions as we have in East Timor time is not on anybody's side. Each day wasted in making firm decisions is blood on everybody's hands. Employing UN troops does not mean losing face but putting a face on protecting humanity.
john kompa, Singapore

I feel that the International Community should step in now before it is too late. It seems that more is being said than done by the UN. Is it because there are no interests for some of the countries to be involved? Has the UN changed its principles to only implement peace where certain member countries has its interest in? I am sure if it this was happening to a place where the US has a lot of its interests, something would have been done in no time. Lets not use double standard to solve this problems, lets act rather than talk. I think anyone can do that.
Chainan Chaisompong, Thailand

I cannot believe that we will all helplessly witness the death of a nation, of an entire people, live, on TV. How will we ever forget? Is this some kind of sadistic "Truman Show"? This will be the second edition of what almost happened to American Indians and of what did happen to many tribes in north America. The last of the Timoreses is bound to disappear. Why will nobody stop it!? Today, Portugal stopped for 3 minutes to show the world that we are not at all indifferent. Tomorrow, the Portuguese will be wearing white as a symbol of peace and of mourn. I invite you to join in this protest and this cry. Lets show those in powered by us how we feel and how we cannot "go quietly into the night, we cannot give in without a fight..."
N. Guimaraes, Spain

I may be a little naive, but shouldn't Portugal be taking unilateral action at this time to protect its ex-colony? It seems they have abandoned East Timor again.
Clive Maxwell-Yates, UK

After driving out of East Timor the press, the embassies, the red cross and other organizations personnel; after attacking Nobel peace prize Bishop Belo, now the Indonesian Army has really succeeded: the UN mission is getting out of Timor. If things are this bad when there still is some independent information coming from E. Timor, we can expect nothing less than total terror to the Timorese when the UN leaves the territory. Remember what happened in Rwanda, in Cambodia, in Bosnia, in Kosovo: that is what's expecting East Timor if an International Peacekeeping Force isn't sent there RIGHT NOW. Please act now.
Carlos Moço, Portugal

I think that the problem in East Timor is a very serious one. They didn't ask to be a part of Indonesia: they were brutally invaded. They have been tortured and oppressed for years. Now, that they finally had a chance to choose freedom and for that freedom (or independence, as you prefer) to be recognised internationally, the militia men (supported by the Indonesian military) are doing whatever they can to put an end to the Timorese people for good. Why should the UN, the USA, the UK and all the countries who have some power in what concerns world peace and pacification stand aside of this outrage, this disrespect of human rights? Are human rights just something we say there must have but in which you don't really believe in? I think people should be ashamed to see that their governments are just closing their eyes to this. And this also goes to any other part of the world with similar problems. Countries that are not important economically (no oil, no gold, no nothing) just some innocent people who are being murdered every day.
Helena Gerardo, Portugal

Yes And to freeze IMF funds and international aid to Timor. And for God's sake stop selling UK planes to Indonesia and Australia stop training Indonesian troops ! People act now. Boy the Indonesian embassies, your Defence Forces and Indonesian goods and services. Pressure the US to send in a troop contingent to East Timor.
Kristin Bouckaert, Australia, to my shame

Is the problem that, the people who need help are not Europeans or North Americans?
Chopa Manda, Namibia

It´s time to intervene in East Timor. After all, Timorese people are just struggling for the most basic right: the right to live. Can the so-called "international community" deny them that simple right?!
Rui Brás, Portugal

Please press to stop the massacre
Silvia Cerutti, Uruguay

We have sat by and watched for 25 years since Indonesia invaded in 1975. The people there are dying under our noses, we have placated Indonesia for too long. Every moment lost in diplomacy means more deaths and terror. We have to stop it.
Gabrielle Russell, Australia

Thank you for your coverage of events in East Timor, courageous and straight to the point, the best I have seen in all TV stations so far.
Santos, Belgium

The East Timorese people were offered a choice. They believed the offer was well meant. They trusted the UN. If the UN fails will we all, witnesses of this genocide, have any reason to believe and support the UN and all other international organizations designed to defend Human Rights?
Ines Figueiredo, Portugal

Whenever and wherever human rights are violated and injustice prevails, citizens of the rest of the world have a moral obligation to act. If we don't, their blood is on our hands and we in the West cannot expect help form others in the future if our so called peace is ever shattered.
Michayla Williams, UK

Yes, UN had to intervene sooner or later, because Indonesia do not have the political will to stop this barbaric genocide of its own people. Indonesia had a long history of political hypocrisy, we have not forgotten Indonesia confrontation towards Malaysia. They must be made to pay for their folly!
Donald Ong, Malaysia

It is more then time to intervene otherwise there won't be anybody left to save. We have to do something about, we can just watch people being killed like this!
Clara Donald, UK

The international community is testing it's own credibility to face the hope given by the vote to the suffering E.Timor people...
Donato Macedo, Portugal (Madeira island)

Today, UNAMET will evacuate their staff from Dili. UNAMET is the last fortress of hope left in East Timor. There are over 2.500 refugees inside UNAMET, 500 of those are children, half of them under 5 years old, 3 were born in there in the last 5 days. As UNAMET evacuates their staff from Dili today we can only guess what will happen to those people, left behind to the slaughter by the hands of mad, ruthless Indonesian military, fulfilling their genocide planned months ago. The UN, as the hand of the international community, should have the decency to send in a military peace keeping force today to prevent more killings instead of evacuate. The UN, and the international community are much responsible for the situation for having been informed of the Indonesian military plan B and ignoring it and they - we - have still a chance for redemption by intervening today in force.
Carlos Ramos, Portugal

I think U.N is very responsible for East Timor condition now. and outside Indonesian country don't know about east Timor and where is the Portugal responsible to this cases. And why, when Portugal leave from east Timor the world said that Portugal is hero although Portugal in this cases I said as looser. And what happen with my country now 23 years try to develop East Timor, how many billion dollar has been put for this island and how about Portugal how many billion dollar has been taken by them since they as colonializm in my country. I hope the correspondence should be realistic and objective for this cases don't you push my country and my country more important than east timor.
Ir. Moedjiarto, indonesia

Mr. Presidents of the Security Council Don't you have a heart?? It's innocent people and innocent children that are dying... Where are the human rights??!!
Sandra Fernandes, Portugal

UNAMET is leaving East Timor tomorrow. Is United Nations joking with Timorese people? The UN "allowed" and helped preparing the referendum, giving them the possibility to choose. They did and started believing that something was going to change. And now UN is going to leave them alone again with the Indonesian killers...
Clara, Portugal

Can the world sleep in peace while Timor is under this second genocide? I can´t! What about you? These people are heroes. Under the pressure of the killing militias supported by the Indonesian army they vote for the independence. They have trusted in the promise of the United Nations that they will protect them. But in the end they leave them in the hands of the murderers. What are we all waiting for? Why we hesitate to create and send as soon as possible multinational force to stop the killings in Timor? For how long we will continue to watch on the TV the extermination of such an heroic people? Why we are still calling ourselves as members of the «civilized» world? Please act, now! Stop the killing in Timor.
Jaime Fidalgo Cardoso, Portugal

Since the UN supervised referendum, in which 78.5% of voters demanded for independence from Indonesia, pro-Indonesia armed groups of thugs have been on a rampage of killing and destruction throughout the territory. The Indonesia Army and Police are accomplices in these actions, as it is clear from the international news coverage. The International Community, if it does not intervene, will also be an accomplice in this genocide that is taking place right under our eyes. East Timor is not part of Indonesia. No country recognized it and there are a lot of YN resolutions calling for the resolution of the conflict since 1975. An international peacekeeping force is the only solution to stop this crime against humanity before it is too late.
Carlos H. Antunes, Portugal

Without a doubt, the situation in East Timor will only get worse from here. Unfortunately, the United Nations does not have the "peacemaking" capacity to resolve this situation...only a "peacekeeping" authority. The current state of affairs in East Timor illustrates with painful detail the weakness of our current international system and the need to have international security forces to ensure global stability. The UN needs to have the flexibility of a reactionary force to intervene in matters like this. I believe it is time for the UN to revise its mission and set a precedent for the rest of the world by intervening in East Timor.
Daniel P. deGracia II, United States of America

What´s happening in Timor is a shame for all humanity. The complicity of western leaders is appalling. If Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Chirac, etc, do nothing soon, they ought to be tried for crimes against humanity.
Alexandre Machado, Portugal

East Timor: Time to Intervene?

Final Votes:

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