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12/7/2002 - Improving What Is by Curt Gabrielson

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler William F Foote Kitty Hempstone Pramila Jayapal Peter Bird Martin Ann Mische Dasa Obereigner Paul A Rahe Chandler Rosenberger Katherine Sreedhar Edmund Sutton Dirk J Vandewalle HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A CG Southeast Asia Curt Gabrielson science teacher Institute F ellow observing establishment education East Timor Improving What Is The following Fellow Curt Gabrielson report assembled Members Trustees Institute Cosmos Club Washington DC Saturday December My thanks Institute trustees opportunity carry brilliant fellowship Thanks Peter excellent editing advice Ellen making newsletters great print Brent continually filling account demand I truly three I East Timor exactly front material US press these So before I share insight ideas I gained East Timor I recent happenings there I current status various aspects East Timor reconstruction I reported years As East Timorese recover disaster Indonesian occupation East Timor Commission Reception Truth Reconciliation taken first steps Mod after various Truth Commissions other countries including South Africa Com mission seeks truth violent events nation This means receiving publishing testimonies East Timorese Curt Gabrielson walks The Commission community reconciliation component which those guilty minor crimes opportunity apologize community victims determined village whole Though Commission bylaws require serious crimes tried court criticize Commission attempting should carried national justice system While Commission budget million East Timor courts state chaos Serious Crimes Unit among others pitifully underfunded Another obvious criticism Co mmission receives majority those responsible violence East Timor since Indonesia Around East Timorese still haven returned West Timor since running there during military violence surrounding pendence President Xanana Gusmao traveled there several times implore return Among those still West Timor Jakarta militia members their families having justice East Timor The U N High Commission Refugees still programs those wanting return Indonesia currently conducting trials accused perpe trating violence East Timor To tried Out these found guilty sentenced Both East Timorese Every Indonesian military official tried acquitted This raised quite uproar East Timor though justice these trials True inter national criminal trials likely though East Timor elsewhere continue insist conducting trials realistic insure justice East Timor In terms economic justice East Timor Australia showing signs support The prime ministers Australia East Timor recently signed treaty dividing petroleum wealth lying Timor Sea island southern coast The being touted Australia generous gesture small northern neighbor percent revenues slated East Timor In truth percent Australia claims estimated value billion dollars today international bound aries honored percent wealth would East Timor Fortunately East Timor Parliament ratify treaty East Timorese civic groups Austra solidarity groups loudly protesting agreement historical relic Australia ollusion Indonesia during illegal occupation East Timor All while East Timor leaders delicately trying maintain economic relations Australia East Timor vulnerable small relatively country needs relations East Timor leaders visiting various countries Asia creating economic links luring foreign investment nation East Timor leaders entry ASEAN group country niche global economic terrain At development funds world newest nation signs evaporation Both Yayasan HAK East Timor premier human rights organization FOKUPERS group East Timor giving support advocacy women victims violence experienced severe funding crises months HAK forced close doors month before FOKUPERS difficult strategy planning eting decide forward funding It seems organizations East Timor funding focus beginning their funding other regions East Timor farmers constitute nation bracing possible crises The rains again making twice course three rainy seasons experienced Certain important crops until rains arrive planted When I visited farmer friend Silverio I fields clean fenced still empty We heard rumors hunger remote mountain villages springs never before Some rains East Timor continuous decline other regions Asia Africa Despite delay planting friends village Bukoli doing The community small grant construct community center another small radio station operat center Friends popular education group Dili East Timor capital working regularly people Bukoli organize activities classes community center The Bukoli serve model community organizing country Speaking models East Timor Nobel Prize winning bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo Rome discuss Vatican possibilities installing third bishop nation Cardinal Upon return announced longer fulfill bishop Dili Diocese Bishop Basilio Nacimento Baucau East Timor second largest called Belo temporarily until another qualified bishop found In Physics education heart teachers I trained trainers final training sessions while Pamela I Indonesia All accounts They process planning second level CG training sessions begin January More percent nation middle schools teachers participate these trainings These trainers taken teaching Physics National University doing The organization East Timor Physics Teachers recently begun received small grant Oxfam office space National Teacher Training Center And finally about East Timor fascinating language situation The national constitution ratified before independence earlier states there official languages Tetum Portuguese Yet great tension continues exist between those East Timorese nation speak Portuguese those Earlier recruitment carried potential primary school teachers teach Portuguese Currently first through fourth grades primary school being taught Portuguese medium According three years East Timor Portuguese fluent middle school teachers My colleagues middle school teachers their saying intention learning Portuguese They predict government muster human resources short years Still government Portugal lesser extent Brazil continue bolster Portuguese East Timor There followers among East Timorese elite But Father Trans Principal Baucau Catholic school I quoted early newsletter become anything bitter about government decision Portugese He recently great confidence East Timorese never learn Portuguese language continue separate elite masses From newsletters widely scattered topics I learned about different things East Timor I One thing underlines experience years insight I gained East Timorese history The US bound tightly East Timor history important understand I found history alive East Timorese those I Twenty years distant today East Timorese I think degree trauma East Timor recent history plays large ready remembrance The majority East Timorese experienced tragedy times under years Indonesian occupation Most prepared anxious remember through conclusions learn lessons It seems recalling terrible history natural healthy process Pamela I often pondered present East Timorese We listened conversations between East Timorese which topic firmly based events today tomorrow flashes suddenly vivid recounting Dates times easily together places people events solidify memories Did militia house September Where How hiding Did place Did military pursue Did armed resistance Where during massacre Did family members killed Many people their stories horror often spontaneously Last while saying goodbye friend turned conversation experiences years fighting resistance guerillas surrendering being jailed tortured released INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS finally forced Indonesian language survive occupation A friend US recently radio overcome grief stemming inability military terror unleashed East Timor He shared details later cried again A months weekend mountains visited friend family Not after arrived mother asked vehicle county police station where Indonesian military tortured She since terrible East Timorese police compound around Her still there water which forced naked shiver hours She showed hooked telephone dynamo given voltage shocks She thanked going wanted story everyone could So painful alive East Timorese Both former President Clinton former Secretary State Kissinger statements effect better East Timor forget focus fresh start For East Timorese bizarre surrealism advice Both psychologists sociologists would agree grieving healing reconciliation begin remembering together And political legal perspective remembering requires those responsible tragedies called question The recent history East Timor quite significant personally I alive memories corresponding times East Timor events On December twenty seven years today Indonesia invaded East Timor killing around initial onslaught Friends children atrocities children would lived Around percent weapons invasion supplied country My President Ford Secretary State Kissinger visiting Indonesia tacit approval invasion before carried They atrocities press small inevitable foreign problem East Timor exist family On invasion I years helped brother celebrate birthday I recall brother I happily sporting special white bicentennial family vacation By Indonesian driving East Timorese resistance mountains In Indonesian military controlled areas East Timor after having wiped original leadership East Timor called FALINTIL Part campaign intense bombardment immense Mount Matebian eastern East Timor On mountain thousands villagers FALINTIL fighters taken refuge dense forest plentiful caves A great bombardment I recen drove mountain escaped Matebian together Xanana small FALINTIL contingent My friend pointed drove along where Indonesian military strongholds where ragged slipped through where cached their meager supplies caves their eventual route escape Another friend years recalls running family mountain running surrendering Indonesian troops Though family harmed recalls another woman troops found alone field raped At I fifth grade budding young scientist proud American pleased candidate Ronald Reagan middle school election national I happy President Carter though I nothing about increasing factor US military equipment sales Indonesia East Timor still nonexistent On November Indonesian soldiers opened group peaceful demon strators Santa Cruz Cemetery Dili They killed people later hospital Pamela I people there whose friends family members killed Many those killed They CG changing repression suffering under trying reach At I final college choose among various promising paths after graduation I recently heard East Timor I recall writing article about US hypocrisy against Iraq I cited East Timor several examples where injustice human rights abuses taken place without US outrage rather US support However I about East Timor I where exactly The I finally learned story East Timor document In Cold Blood The included video footage Santa Cruz massacre foreign reporters captured smuggled I began write occasionally Congress people regarding US position East Timor still begin activism earnest Meanwhile East Timorese friends I today doing could risking death torture capitalize worldwide publicity Massacre brought Their entire focus strategize change East Timor By I together partner Pamela Sexton through finally volved seriously solidarity East Timor Pamela active East Timor since I worked support several trips there leading during independence referendum August I often story contact East Timor friends there But I I found already US faithfully supported brutal Indonesian military throughout occupation Most tried diplomatically excuse noting nation government quite different people It explain US democracy works extent means theory government follows people least majority people Further US something right given foreign policy instance various fairly methods employ change However US significant change until East Timorese suffered almost years Indonesian military violence At point I sometimes tempted apologize But feeling would constructive offering I tried explain pervasive ignorance about world exists US This despite enormous funded media Peter saying Institute sends fellows change report He fellow wants change until after fellowship I found complicated For instance within months arrival East Timor I confident I could offer something value science teachers there I figured would interested seeing different method teaching based observation simple experi ments When I found chance teachers I jumped I began working change East Timor Then months fellowship local education leader asked write lessons I teaching create manual teachers throughout nation I I could possibly change students East Timor learn Physics I change quite success At I still learning about East Timor There plenty things nation I enough about change I admire philosophy Institute critical citizens world superpower learn about reality other places world This brings motto Mrs Henry sixth grade teacher Don ignorant She would frequently scold INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS opportunity learn But ignorance doesn necessarily years resident research I believe responsibility change better As I consider East Timor history I points where intellectuals US including myself opportunity action change tragic situation there Furthermore US sales Indonesian military effectively large actions US intellectuals satisfied together change East Timor example As Pamela I found recent through Aceh West Papua there plenty people world today desperate change because miserable conducive being humans planet Not infrequently involves nation supporting injustice suffering places We especially sensitive human ecological effects nation military corporations We should always ready admit often these effects unhealthy changed It choice We power possess US intellectuals gether people power support their efforts improve their lives Or power exclusively elevate position amass comfortable wealth engage pleasant academic discussion about without acknowledging privileged perspective taking action change I believe Institute would Improving What Is integral greater fellowship experience Peter endless fascinating stories former fellows trustees other Institute relations believe great indeed securely focused changing better Peter spent visit trying exactly I would doing completion fellow He wanted action influential change I change I opportunities everywhere Last student talking about plans He happy learned thanked everything But I wrong before I given colleagues everything I He East Timor greatly lacking technical knowledge build strong nation He I taught riments I He smiling serious He determined change needs support I inspired forthright determination walked thinking about whether I couldn continue supporting Pamela I continually educated inspired East Timorese As build their nation connection We intend continue working East Timorese distance We intend actions policies government people East Timor world CG INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Fellows their Activities Martha Farmelo April ARGENTINA A Georgetown graduate major psychology minor Spanish Master Public Affairs Woodrow Wilson School Princeton Martha Institute Suzanne Ecke McColl Fellow studying ender issues Argentina Married Argentine economist mother small focusing genders which immensely important Italo Latino machismo Martha involved Latin America professional having worked Catholic Relief Services Inter American Development Bank Costa Rica Human Rights Watch Ecuador Inter American Foundation El Salvador Uruguay UN World Conference Women Beijing Curt Gabrielson December EAST TIMOR With Missouri background MIT degree physics Curt spending years East Timor watching nation create education system ashes Indonesian system Since finishing MIT Curt focused delivering inexpensive culturally relevant hands science education minority income students Based Teacher Institute Exploratorium San Francisco worked youth teachers Beijing Tibet Mexican agricultural Watsonville California Andrew Rice May UGANDA A former staff writer New York Observer reporter Philadelphia Inquirer Washington Bureau Newsday Andrew spending years Uganda watching waiting reporting possibility anticipated African Renaissance might begin administration President Yoweri Museveni Andrew B A Government Georgetown minor Theology after having spent semester Charles University Prague where served intern Velvet magazine later traveled experienced wrote about conflict Balkans Matthew Z Wheeler October SOUTHEAST ASIA A former research assistant Rand Corporation specializing South Southeast Asia Matt spend years looking proposals plans realities regional integration disintegration along Mekong River China Vietnam With B A liberal Sarah Lawrence M A Harvard East Asian studies Blakemore Fellowship Thai language studies Matt short conflicts Burma Thailand Laos Cambodia account lives writes learns about region James G Workman January Southern Africa A policy strategist national restoration initiatives Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt Jamie ICWA Donors Fellow looking southern African nations South Africa Botswana Mozambique Zambia maybe Zimbabwe through their utilization conservation fresh water supplies A Yale graduate History spent junior Oxford Jamie journalism fellowship Poynter Institute Media Studies wrote New Republic Washington Business Journal before years Babbitt Since served Senior Advisor Worl Commission Dams Cape Town South Africa INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows quired report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis assessment interna tional events issues Author Gabrielson Curt Title ICWA Letters South Asia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia The Americas Europe Russia Mideast North Africa Sub Saharan Africa ICWA Letters ISSN lished Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operat foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone E Mail ICWA valley Fax Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Publications Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The formation contained publication reproduced without writer permission