André Heitz, General Secretary
Three points as title? There are no words to express the feelings of anger and disgust at such an unconscionable and barbaric act: the lynching of Samson Aregahegn, Carlos Caceres and Pero Simundza on 6 September 2000 at Atambua, West Timor (Indonesia). These three points are also a symbol: they mark the end of three lives, odiously taken away. Three lives which were dedicated to saving and supporting others.
These indescribable sentiments, shared by everyone, were heightened by added information which came very fast. The last - terrifying and moving - message from Carlos: "We are waiting for the enemy, we sit here like bait, unarmed, waiting for the wave." The quarrelsome militia had come from far away, and nothing was done to stop them; the Indonesian army was in place, and it did not move. And then this warning - just as horrifying - from Kamel Deriche, who wrote on 23 August 2000 that the staff of UNHCR working in West Timor were threatened and insulted daily, confronted with more than just intimidation - with direct physical and criminal attack; and that the "troublemakers" (a euphemism) were acting with total impunity.
Horrible questions that we need to ask. FICSA will put them to the decision-makers, not so much to identify culprits, define accusations and demand sanctions, but to demand that the action plans and measures in place be re-defined. The decision-makers will have to do more than uttering words.
The tragedy of Atambua was covered by the press. Think about it, three deaths (one an American which automatically attracted the attention of that large News chain that will remain unnamed), three bodies covered in petrol and burned! Forgive me, cynicism is an expression of my rage. Mr. Kofi Annan also asked for a minute of silence at the Millennium Summit. That also was an event, silence at the General Assembly! And televisions showed images. Thereafter, the Heads of States and Governments, gathered together in the most prestigious assembly that history has ever known, did what they had to do: to follow each other to the podium to deliver, in five minutes, their conventional speeches. Not one of them - even the President of Indonesia - deviated from his/her text to evoke the tragedy. Routine.
Carlos has left us: "While waiting for the militia to do what they have to do, I will draft the agenda for the meeting tomorrow on Kupang. The aim of the meeting: to examine how we are going to continue this operation. I have to go now. I hear screaming outside." Also routine, but a routine worthy of pride. While the other...
My daily route takes me past UNHCR. I saw, on the evening of 8 September (the 7th was a holiday in Geneva), a guard, whose face showed great sadness, straightening out the flag that had been at half-mast and had gotten tangled around the pole. Doubt made me turn around and pass through the organizations' neighbourhood. The flags at the other organizations floated proudly at the summit of their poles. I found that shocking.
Mobilization doesn't just happen. Thus it was only on 21 September that there was there a worldwide demonstration. On that day we cried over the death of Mensah Kpognon, Head of the UNHCR Office in Macenta (Guinea), and we could express only the deepest concern after the kidnapping of Laurence Djeya, of the UNHCR Office in Danane (Ivory Coast). For those who lack memory, and without going back too far in time, let us recall that these events followed the murder of two FAO staff in Baghdad, Yusuf Abdilleh and Marewan Mohammed Hassan, on 28 June 2000; the killing in Afghanistan on 5 August 2000 of 12 victims, seven of whom were staff of the (United Nations) Organization for Mine Clearing and Afghan Rehabilitation.
We wanted the demonstration to show unity. We also launched a joint petition. The text - considered too weak and too "politically correct" - earned us a protest message which gave rise to a small exchange. I would like to share with you the following sentence: "We, as Safeguard Inspectors [of the Atomic Energy Agency], also travel to almost everywhere in the world. We, as well as all others working in framework of the United Nations, would like to have the feeling that every effort is made to inform all governments that such barbaric actions will not be tolerated and that the consequences will be dramatic." Security is the business of all international civil servants.
We also received a message that is so short that we can print it here in its entirety: "Thank you André." Mona, you shared an apartment in Burundi with Saskia von Meijenfeldt of WFP; and Saskia was shot at point blank range on 12 October 1999 by uncontrolled elements; you told me horrible things about the organization of security in this country; and you returned there to contribute to improving its economy and, above all, to the eradication of misery and hunger. Your message however was too personal; you should have written: "Thank you to all who devote themselves to the cause of staff. Thank you to all who signed the petition."
Your message is also a resounding call to action.
We are pleased to share with you the Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Federation of United Nations Staff Associations/Unions in Uruguay.
FAPNUU was founded on 12 June 1990 as a response to the need for a common forum for the support and integration of the staff of the United Nations Agencies in Uruguay. The Federation comprises the following Staff Associations/Unions: CEPAL (Comisión Economica para America Latina y el Caraibe), CINTERFOR/ILO (Centro Interamericano de Investigación y Documentación sobre Formación Profesional), FAO, PAHO/WHO, UNDP and UNESCO.
These 10 years of existence have only strengthened the staff's commitment to continue the hard work required to fulfil the main objectives of the Federation:
FICSA extends its congratulations to FAPNUU, which was one of the first Federations of United Nations Staff Associations (FUNSA).