WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1921/97 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Invasion of East Timor
10. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 45/123 However, the Commission is at present examining to what extent it would be advisable to take account, under this scheme, of a very sharp drop in the turnover of a producer organization ascribable to a natural disaster. 2. The Commission does not consider the request for an increase in the Community ceiling on financial aid (fixed at 2% and 2. 5%, as from 1999, of the turnover of all producer organizations), on the grounds of the disasters which struck certain regions of the Community, to be justified. Indeed, in the Community fruit and vegetable sector, the ups and downs in production in different regions largely cancel one another out, so that the ceiling mentioned above ensures, on average, a fair level of aid for all Community producer organizations. (98/C 45/157) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1921/97 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (4 June 1997) Subject: Invasion of East Timor What is the Commissionís attitude towards the invasion of East Timor by Indonesia? What is the Commissionís attitude towards the imprisonment and torture of peaceful protesters in that country, including Mr Jacinto Das Neves Raimundo Alves, a civil servant, who was one of 13 people tried and sentenced for organizing a procession at the cemetery at Santa Cruz, Dili, on 12 November 1991? For information, he was tried at Dili District Court in June 1993 and sentenced to 10 years in jail: He is currently being detained in Semarang Prison. Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (8 July 1997) The Commissionís general position with regard to the situation in East Timor is that laid down in the Unionís common position of 25 June 1996, calling on the Indonesian government to adopt effective measures leading to a significant improvement in the situation in the Territory. The position of the Commission and the Member States concerning more specifically respect for human rights has also been expressed as regards the situation in East Timor. Numerous demarches have been made asking for fair treatment and access to prisoners, and a just and equitable solution respecting the legitimate interests and aspirations of the people of East Timor, which is internationally not recognized as being part of Indonesia. The Commission has also given its full support to the tripartite negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. More specifically on the tragic events of November 1991, the Community and its Member States issued a declaration on 3 December 1991 condemning the unjustifiable actions of the Indonesian armed forces and stressing the respect of human rights and democracy. Another Community declaration was issued on 13 February 1992, stressing the improvement of human rights in East Timor and calling for fair trials. With regard to the individual case mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission usually uses its established channels of communication to express, together with Member States, concern over individual cases of harsh and unjustified treatment. The Commission has followed closely the recent events concerning the political process in Indonesia and will continue to make all useful representations to the Indonesian government for the maintenance of fundamental freedoms and human rights