THE EU has publicly committed itself to improving human rights in East Timor as part of a drive for a fair and lawful solution of the problem of the former Portuguese colony, illegally occupied since 1975 by Indonesian forces.
The EU has pledged "effective measures" and "all appropriate action" including aid for those nongovernmental organisations which seek to help the East Timorese.
The publication last week of the EU's common position, previously blocked by a British government unwilling to support criticism of the Indonesian regime of Gen Suharto, is important for Ireland during its Presidency of the EU. And the approach adopted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, the current president of the EU Council of Ministers, will be carefully monitored.
The EU's powerful rebuff to Gen Subarto comes with the presentation by the Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, in Canberra last week of an official report by his government on the killings of five journalists in East Timor at the time of the Indonesian invasion in 1975.
The document, prepared by Mr Tom Sherman, formerly head of the National Crime Authority, concludes that the five men, Roger East, Greg Shackleton and Tony Stewart (all Australian), Gary Cunningham, a New Zealander, and Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters (British), were killed by Indonesian action.
All but East were killed in the Timorese village of Balibo, close to the frontier with Indonesia, early on October 16th.
Various of the journalists' corpses, says Mr Sherman, were dressed in military uniform and photographed beside machine guns.
All four seem to have been incinerated later that day.
Roger East appears to have been summarily executed by an unidentified Indonesian soldier" the next day in Dili, the East Timorese capital.
All five were attempting to report the Indonesian offensive which, according to Amnesty International has over the years claimed some 200,000 lives.
Despite Indonesia's continued flouting of UN Security Council resolutions demanding its evacuation of East Timor, Western governments are increasing their effort to sell arms to Gen Suharto.
ON Monday Glyn Davies, speaking in Washington for the US State Department, defended his country's decision to sell F16 warplanes to Gen Suharto. He said. "This is a sale that's been looked at from the standpoint of US interests, and we've decided to pursue it."
The same day in Jakarta, the British Defence Secretary, Mr Michael Portillo, met Gene Suharto and said. "We are very, keen obviously, to be able to supply equipment to the Indonesian armed forces."
"We have also for instance, brought here the Super Lynx helicopter, which we hope will be of "interest to Indonesia." The Lynx helicopter is on display at the current Indonesia Air Show 96.
The Indonesian air force says negotiations are under way to buy bout 20 more British made Hawk warplanes. Indonesia bought 24 Hawks in 1993.
Meanwhile in Liverpool, July 22nd has been set as the date for "the start of the trial of four women Lotta Kronlid, Andrea Wilson, Joanna Wilson and Angie Zelter who face charges connected with the extensive damaging by hammer blows at the British Aerospace works at Warton in January of a Hawk bound for the Indonesian air force.
The women are being held in prison near Warrington.