Letter: Timor cover-up

Sir: Does cynicism about the Foreign Office's record on East Timor, as expressed by Roger Willott (letter, 30 April), help the East Timorese?

Not unless it leads to action. Perhaps Mr Willott will join me in congratulating Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett who, while in East Timor, demanded that the Indonesian military and police prevent the "militias" (which the Indonesian army control) from slaughtering their fellow East Timorese.

Just as important, it has been reported that one purpose of Mr Fatchett's visit to Indonesia and East Timor was to "demand" the truth about the murder in East Timor of the British newsmen Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters. It was the Australian and British government cover-ups over the murder of those newsmen, and four others, in East Timor in 1975 that allowed President Suharto to conclude that genocide had the West's blessing.

East Timor's nightmare must be ended. Ending it requires an end to the cover-up over the murder of the newsmen. Derek Fatchett appears to be the first British Minister, ever, to comprehend this simple truth - and to start acting on it.

HUGH DOWSON

Western Region Development Officer, United Nations Association UK

Bath