Statement by Ambassador Goncalo de Santa Clara Gomes
Head of the Delegation of Portugal
Commission on Human Rights
53rd Session, Agenda Item 7, Geneva, 13 March 1997
Mr. Chairman,
I will begin by congratulating you and the members of the bureau on your election. I am sure that the Commission on Human Rights will have a successful session and achieve further results in the promotion of human rights in the world.
Portugal, in its capacity as administering power of the non-self-governing territory of East Timor, even though deprived by force from the exercise of that power, has called the attention of the Commission, over the years, to the unjust denial of the East Timorese people's right to self-determination since December 1975.
We were frustrated with the fact that, up to now, no firm progress has taken place in this matter. It is true, and we welcome it, that a dialogue between the governments of Indonesia and Portugal has been taking place under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. It is also true that, in a very discreet and limited way, another dialogue, this one among some representative East Timorese, has also taken place and we do what we can to foster it. It is true that the awareness of the world to the plight of the East Timorese has been growing in our public opinions - the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo and to Mr. Jose Ramos Horta is a proof of that, and we are certainly encouraged by that fact. It is again true that governments all over the world have become more assertive in the defense of the basic rights of the East Timorese, as shown by the approval by the European Union of a common position in this matter, in June 1996, position with which a number of Central and Eastern European countries decided to associate themselves, and by other moves by other governments in other countries.
And yet, Mr. Chairman, we have to regret that the will and the courage to take decisive steps in this matter has been lacking and that the non-compliance with the right to self-determination has also brought with it, as a sad consequence, the lack of respect for other fundamental human rights, to which Portugal will call the attention of this Commission later on.
In the face of it, the international community should persevere in its efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable settlement to the Question of East Timor, with full respect for the legitimate rights of its people.
This Commission, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, can help and encourage the search for a solution. Other difficult situations in all parts of the world have, against even greater odds, found the way to meet the aspirations of the peoples in the respect of International Law and human rights when approached with good will, a spirit of dialogue and an acceptance of the basic realities of our times. So I will ask the members of this Commission to keep on encouraging the ongoing dialogue between the interested countries and among the East Timorese that the Secretary-General wants to promote with greater intensity. In this way, the Commission will fulfill its responsibility to promote and defend human rights.