OXFAM, in common I am sure with many of your readers, are deeply concerned about the violence being suffered by the people of East Timor. We have been working there for over four years and we are still, as I write, trying to sustain our relief work in neighbouring West Timor (where both refugees and aid workers are also facing mounting violence).

There is a desperate need to deliver emergency relief to the people still suffering in East Timor. We have already sent supplies to Darwin in Australia, but we are unable to enter East Timor until a peace-keeping force is in place.

Oxfam welcomes the Indonesian Government's decision to permit a peace-keeping force, but we are asking the British Government to keep up the pressure.

Under international law Indonesia is obliged to provide protection to refugees and to safeguard the delivery of aid, but, at the moment, the civilians of East Timor appear to have no protection whatsoever. We also welcome the European Union decision to ban all arms exports to Indonesia for four months (although we have been calling since 1997 for a permanent arms export ban).

Right now Oxfam's concern is for the welfare of the people of East Timor. In the longer term we hope that - after the appalling suffering in East Timor - the arguments of our Cut Conflict Campaign (call us on 0161 861 9731 for more information) will receive better attention from the world's governments. We believe that international humanitarian laws should be strengthened, and we are campaigning (along with many other organisations) for tougher 'curbs' on the arms trade in Britain, the EU and around the world.

Angus Cleary

Oxfam North West Campaigner

Wilbraham Road

Manchester

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