9ICRS and East Timor

[Ove Hoegh-Guldberg]

The question to me is not whether I will topple a government, but, should I
be supportive of a regime that has encouraged and condoned the recent
violent suppression of human rights and democracy in East Timor.  This
aside, I feel that the active refusal to interact with Indonesia across a
wide array of fronts will have a dramatic effect.  One only has to look to
the effect of similar actions on South Africa for an example.

<My statement is not intended as an insult to my many Indonesian friends
colleagues who do not support the inhumane actions of the militias and the
Indonesian military.  I feel very sorry for their very difficult position
within this frightening context.>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> [mailto:owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov]On Behalf Of Joel C. Creed
> Sent: Friday, 17 September 1999 12:03
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: 9ICRS and East Timor
>
>
> Coral-List,
> I don't agree with Lida Pet-Soede who seems to think that international
> pressure won't affect the Indonesian government. Maybe it won't, but if it
> won't for human rights I suspect that coral reefs have even less chance. I
> also think that Lida missed the point when stating "...now Indonesia is
> going through rough times..." - what about East Timor? I'm glad that the
> Council of the International Society for Reef Studies is considering the
> matter carefully and look forward to receiving their deliberations in due
> course.
>
> Best wishes,
> *********************************************************
> Dr Joel C. Creed
> IBRAG-DBAV Setor de Ecologia,
> Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - UERJ,
> Rua Sao Francisco Xavier 524,
> PHLC Sala 220, CEP 20559-900,
> Rio de Janeiro, R.J., BRAZIL.
>
> Work Tel. 55 21 587 7328/7614
>
> (Tel/Fax home) 55 21 493 2475
> jcreed at openlink.com.br
> Visit my homepage http://home.openlink.com.br/jcreed/
>