The award of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize jointly to Bishop Carlos Belo and Jose Ramos-Horta for their efforts to bring a peaceful end to the conflict in East Timor has refocussed world attention on the 10-year conflict.
DAP calls on President Suharto of Indonesia to release all political detainees in East Timur and to pave the way for the restoration of democracy and a peaceful solution to the East Timur conflict, by entering into a dialogue either under United Nations or ASEAN auspices to resolve the issue based on the principle of the right to self-determination.
ASEAN should officially discuss the East Timur issue to consider how the other ASEAN nations could help to bring about a peaceful, diplomatic and democratic solution to the ten-year conflict in East Timur.
(12/10/96)