Hayley Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
DILI, East Timor — More than 90 human rights groups have called upon the United Nations to hold Indonesia accountable for war crimes committed during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.
The letter was addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, and was signed by more than 30 academics in addition to human rights organizations. In the letter, the joint groups asked the UN to “fulfill its long standing commitment to see that justice is done for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in East Timor during Indonesia’s two and a half decade occupation.”
The groups came together to draft the letter just as the bilateral Commission on Truth and Friendship was compiling its report on Indonesia and East Timor. As to the report’s contents, the joint letter said that the issue of war crimes against East Timor cannot be solved with one report.
“The right to know (the truth) and the right to justice are inalienable, and are a bulwark against the culture of impunity represented by [Indonesia’s] Ad Hoc Court and the CTF.”
To read the joint letter, click here
For more information, please see:
The Westender, Brisbane — International Coalition Urges UN to Be Active for Justice for East Timorese — 05 June 2008
Radio New Zealand International — Calls for justice for East Timor — 03 June 2008
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SAIPAN, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands –- The Governor of the Northern Marianas Islands has announced he will suspend the board of the Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) in order to avoid financial ruin.
The CPA has been in financial trouble for some time. According to Charles Reyes, spokesman for the Governor’s office, the collapse of the garment industry is largely to blame. The CPA had come close to defaulting on a $20 million airport revenue bond. The suspension was anticipated after Governor Benigno R. Fitial announced last month that the executive branch would assume control of CPA in order to avoid a technical default on the 1998 indenture on its airport bonds.
By the Governor’s request, all members of the CPA board resigned.
“We were technically already in default. However the trustee Bank of Guam didn’t actually technically declare a technical default. However they were about to,” Mr. Reyes said.
Before the CPA’s autonomy is restored, the Governor must select new appointees for the CPA board, subject to the Senate’s confirmation. While Mr. Reyes insists the Governor’s use of emergency powers was necessary, some still question the validity of the suspension.
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International — CNMI governor suspends Ports Authority board — 04 June 2008
