Dublin Labour MEP, Bernie Malone, has urged Dick Spring, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the European Commission, to raise Human Rights abuses in East Timor by Indonesia at the forthcoming EU-ASEAN Summit in Singapore this Thursday, 13 February.

"According to information supplied to me by the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign, the Human Rights situation in East Timor is steadily worsening. Contrary to beliefs that awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to two Timorese would inprove the situation, I am informed that the Indonesian Government is in fact exercising retributions on the local population since Bishop Belo returned to his native country", Mrs Malone point out.

"Indonesia, which has been illegally occupying East Timor since 1975, must be firmly confronted on this issue and must be made aware of the absolute opposition in Europe to its actions."

"I am urging Dick Spring who as a recent President of the General Affairs Council, is a still a member of the Council "Troika", to ensure that this matter is raised with the Indonesian authorities. I am also making the same request to the European Commissioners, Mr. Manuel Marin, and Sir Leon Brittan.

"As a new member of the European Parliament's ASEAN delegation, I will be also raising this issue at the next meeting of delegation at the next Plenary Session in Strasbourg."