In remembrance, © UNHCR/A.KellnerToday I want to remember the 11th anniversary of the death of Carlos Caceres, who I met in Prague in 1995-6.
Carlos worked for the UNHCR and was stationed in Atambua, West Timor where he was brutally murdered by militia/paramilitary when they attacked the UN base on 6 September. Carlos and others were killed, two of whom also worked for UNHCR,(read more by following links in box to reports at them time. The attack was brutal and Carlos sent out a plea for help, writing in an email, “We sit here like bait, unarmed”. At the time, it was noted as the worst single security incident in the history of the agency.
So what happened?
In January 2001, three of the men involved were charged with sentences of between 16-20 months, the latter sentence was given to Julius Naisama, the self-confessed murderer of Carlos, see photo.
Timor murder trial, the suspects are thought to be linked to the militiasThese “token” sentences were condemned as “''wholly unacceptable'' by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, and described by the Department of State as acts that ''call into question Indonesia's commitment to the principle of criminal accountability'';” Jun 2001. The slayings provoked an international outcry and sparked the exodus of international aid workers from West Timor, leaving about one hundred thousand East Timorese refugees in the hands of Indonesian authorities and local aid workers.”
Carlos’s father, Gregorio, said at the time: "One of the questions I have for the United Nations - and I spoke to them yesterday and today - I asked: He knew he was in danger and he told me he was going to be evacuated. What happened?"
"The United Nations had evacuated its workers two weeks earlier and only sent them back after the Indonesian government promised its soldiers would ensure their safety. "There's always, for us, the dilemma of striking the right balance between helping the people in need and putting our own staff at risk," Janowski said. "In Atambua on Wednesday this balance was upset and we suffered the worst incident in UNHCR's history. The UNHCR had received warning of possible trouble and was assured by Indonesian security forces that agency staff would be protected. But witnesses said Indonesian troops stood by during the attack.”
The following year, UNHCR staff marked the second anniversary of West Timor, Guinea murders.
And now eleven years later, what has been learned or done to ensure this doesn't happen again? Can more pressure be put on the Indonesian govt regarding the light sentences at least people should be aware of this? And what changes have taken place by the UN to safeguard relief workers and those working with refugees as a result of this shocking incident?
I watched the film Balibo two nights ago on the five Australian journalists who were killed reporting on the impending Dili massacre in 1975. The depiction of the militias hunting down the journalists was brutal. I write this post and will continue to write a post every year as long as I can. In all the talk of agencies, senates and organisations, one can overlook the fact the very human side.
Carlos was a dear friend and is sorely missed.
Carlos’s father, Gregorio, said at the time: "One of the questions I have for the United Nations - and I spoke to them yesterday and today - I asked: He knew he was in danger and he told me he was going to be evacuated. What happened?"
"The United Nations had evacuated its workers two weeks earlier and only sent them back after the Indonesian government promised its soldiers would ensure their safety. "There's always, for us, the dilemma of striking the right balance between helping the people in need and putting our own staff at risk," Janowski said. "In Atambua on Wednesday this balance was upset and we suffered the worst incident in UNHCR's history. The UNHCR had received warning of possible trouble and was assured by Indonesian security forces that agency staff would be protected. But witnesses said Indonesian troops stood by during the attack.”
The following year, UNHCR staff marked the second anniversary of West Timor, Guinea murders.
And now eleven years later, what has been learned or done to ensure this doesn't happen again? Can more pressure be put on the Indonesian govt regarding the light sentences at least people should be aware of this? And what changes have taken place by the UN to safeguard relief workers and those working with refugees as a result of this shocking incident?
I watched the film Balibo two nights ago on the five Australian journalists who were killed reporting on the impending Dili massacre in 1975. The depiction of the militias hunting down the journalists was brutal. I write this post and will continue to write a post every year as long as I can. In all the talk of agencies, senates and organisations, one can overlook the fact the very human side.
Carlos was a dear friend and is sorely missed.
