EAST TIMOR (No. 2)

Early day motion 774, tabled 29 June 1999 by Ann Clwyd (Labour). Signed by 91 members.

That this House notes with concern that the UN Secretary General has been forced to postpone the ballot on East Timor's future status, on 8th August, because the security conditions are not conducive to a free and fair ballot; is extremely disturbed that violence and intimidation by paramilitaries backed by the Indonesian military continue unabated and that at least 45,000 East Timorese have been internally displaced due to paramilitary activities and confined in concentration camp-like conditions; believes it is essential that responsibility for security is taken away from the Indonesian security forces, who are not neutral; is further concerned that certain political groups do not enjoy the freedom to organise and conduct peaceful activities and regrets the continued detention under house arrest of the independence leader, Xanana Gusmao, which seriously impedes the pro-independence campaign; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to press for the disarming of all militia groups so that a UN peace-keeping force can ensure that the ballot is conducted in a fair and peaceful way; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to sever all links with the Indonesian military, including arms sales and training of military personnel; further calls for the UN to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the internally displaced people and that conditions are made safe for them to return home, to register and to vote free from intimidation; and further calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Xanana Gusmao and all other East Timorese political prisoners to enable them to play a full part in the consultative process.

Signatures by party: Labour 52, Liberal Democrat 29, Labour/Co-operative 6, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.