East Timor is seldom in the news now, 15 months after the majority voted for independence from Indonesia. But a district unit of United Methodist Women (UMW) in California is still actively working on behalf of the people of this newly independent territory, currently under United Nations administration.

"We are greatly concerned about what is happening there," said Mary Ann King, vice-president of the Bay View District UMW in California. King was responsible for collecting the district UMW's mission donations of clothing and of 150 school kits. The school kits are made up of pencils, paper, crayons, scissors, erasers, pencil sharpeners, and school bags; the total amount of supplies being worth around $2000. The children's clothes donated are new and have a value of around $1800. Half of these goods will be sent to the Igreja Protestante iha Timor Lorosae (IPTL), the Protestant church in East Timor, while the other half will be sent to a mission program in Africa.

On September 30, the Bay View District UMW took on an advocate role, urging US Representative Ellen Tauscher to support the passage of the East Timor Repatriation and Security Act (H.R. 4357) and contacting the office of Senator Diane Feinstein to enlist her support for the Senate version of the bill (S. 2621).

In encouraging Tauscher to co-sponsor the bill in the House of Representatives, the UMW members expressed their concern for the safety of the East Timorese refugees remaining in the Indonesian province of West Timor. They also conveyed alarm over the apparent inability of the Indonesian government to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers serving the refugees--citing as an example the brutal killing of three UN workers (including one American) in Atambua, West Timor, on September 6. The killing led to the suspension of UN humanitarian work there.

H.R. 4357 provided for the continued prohibition of US military relations with and assistance to the armed forces of Indonesia until certain conditions in East Timor had been met. The bill also required that East Timorese refugees be allowed to return home and that Indonesia prevent incursion of the militias into East Timor. This bill did not get out of committee, but many of its restrictions were spelled out in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2001, which was passed by both Houses of Congress on October 25. The Appropriations Act made military assistance to Indonesia dependent on substantial progress by that country in prosecuting the militias and members of the Indonesian armed forces who were responsible for the killings and violent destruction in East Timor after the independence ballot on August 30, 1999. It also provided $25 million to support East Timor's transition to self-government.

Meanwhile, a UN Security Council delegation has just completed a fact-finding visit to East Timor and West Timor. Headed by the Namibian ambassador to the United Nations, Martin Andjaba, the mission was mandated by a Security Council resolution. The purpose of this resolution was to assess Indonesia's progress in three areas: the disarming and disbanding of the militias, the safe repatriation of refugees, and the stopping of cross-border infiltration of militias into East Timor. The resolution, drawn up after the killing of the three UN workers in September, also mandated that those responsible for these murders be brought to justice.

The mission was likewise mandated to monitor the progress of the UN's administration of the territory and to report its findings to the Security Council. On November 14, Andjaba told a press conference that, in his team's assessment, East Timor is ready for independence despite its many problems.

Both the UN resolution and the recent congressional action to restrict military assistance to Indonesia are in accord with the resolution on East Timor passed at the 2000 United Methodist General Conference in May. That resolution emphasized that "the termination of United States and multilateral assistance to Indonesia (including government-to-government and commercial arms sales) must be comprehensive and continuing in order to achieve effective results."

In addition, the General Conference resolution urged United Methodists to support emergency assistance, direct relief efforts, and related projects on East Timor. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has earmarked $84,000 for East Timor, according to Kristin Sachen, executive secretary for emergency response international. Sachen said that the money will be used to purchase educational equipment and supplies, motorcycles for pastors, and some tractors. It will also provide small business loans for entrepreneurs. The funding will be channeled through the Protestant Church of East Timor.

United Methodists and others who wish to support UMCOR's effort may make monetary donations to UMCOR Advance #240225-1, East Timor, either by giving the donation to a local United Methodist Church treasurer or by mailing it to: The Advance, General Board of Global Ministries, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1400, New York, NY 10115. Those seeking to receive updates and participate in advocacy on behalf of East Timor may contact the Rev. John Chamberlin, pastor of First St. John's United Methodist Church and executive director of East Timor Religious Outreach (ETRO); E-mail: easttim@jps.net.

November 17, 2000