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GUEST: John Miller, National Coordinator of the East Timor-Indonesia Action Network

The United Nations recently, in conjuction with the World Bank and other agencies, released a report on East Timor with recommendations on fighting corruption, developing a code of ethics for public officials and on ensuring transparency in government. On July 1st, Mari Alkatiri stepped down as prime minister in the wake of deadly unrest sparked by the dismissal of about 600 soldiers who deserted complaining of discrimination. Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta was sworn in to replace him last month. Meanwhile, a former senior Foreign Minister in Indonesia admitted recently allowing the Indonesian militias to destroy the 1999 independence referendum. He said, “We never really had the heart and will to rein in on the militia, at our own cost, and at the end that is what burned Timor in the end, and that is what ruined the whole peace process.”

East Timor-Indonesia Action Network’s Action Alert on a UN Mission can be found at: http://etan.org/action/2006/06alert.htm

For more information, visit www.etan.org.