Sir, - Many congratulations to The Irish Times for its exemplary coverage of East Timor. To see this tiny country celebrate its first year of freedom was inspiring. That its people should have overcome such massive suffering and enormous adversity to claim their freedom with great dignity is a wonderful tribute to the human spirit.
However, I note from Conor O'Clery's worrying reports the re-emergence of militias which seem to be able to raid across the border from West Timor where they are being openly trained, armed and directed by the Indonesian military.
This shows that East Timor is not out of danger yet and that countries such as Ireland still have a role in helping to support this new and vulnerable nation through its first difficult years.
I also note in your reports that a recent Indonesian commission on the violence in East Timor last year named 19 suspects as responsible, including three generals, but failed to name the then commander, General Wiranto, and the militia leaders - an incredible omission. Given the endemic corruption in Indonesia's justice system (a legacy of the Suharto era) and the still powerful influence of the military and those with links to the ex-dictator, the likelihood of even this handful being tried is slim.
Surely it is time, as Mary Robinson has stated, that an international tribunal be established to try not only those responsible for last year's violence but for the killing of over 200,000 people - one-third of the population - since 1975. After all, the invasion and illegal annexation of this former Portuguese colony by Indonesia and the genocide that followed is an international matter that should be dealt with by an international court.
Yet another source of concern is that the several countries, not least the UK, are anxious to resume arms sales to the Indonesian military. This is a very disturbing sign. It shows what short-term aims and short-term memories many of those in power in our so called liberal democracies have. - Yours, etc.,
John Feigheary, SVD, City Quay, Dublin 2.