East Timor - church bells

7 September 1999

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use

CHURCHES ASKED TO TOLL BELLS FOR EAST TIMOR

Corso today called on the churches of inner Auckland to toll their bells during APEC, every hour on the hour for the people of East Timor.

"We decided to make this appeal to the churches as a way for ordinary New Zealand people to express their horror, sadness and shame at the Indonesian state sponsored terror that has been allowed to take over the territory of East Timor," the National Co-ordinator Suzanne Menzies-Culling said today.

We have been talking to people around Aotearoa for the last few days and they are at a loss to know how to make their feelings known to NZ's leaders and also to the other world leaders who will be in Auckland for APEC during the next week.

We are hoping that the churches will toll their bells throughout Thursday which is the day of the Foreign Ministers' meeting and also during the weekend when the APEC leaders meet in Auckland.

"Somehow, we must communicate with the world that we cannot tolerate the genocide and brutality that is happening in our own region. We have sees in East Timor how the churches are the protectors and often the voice of the people. It would be heartening if here in this country they could also be a voice for New Zealand people at this time, " Ms Menzies-Culling said.

For further information :

Suzanne Menzies-Culling (03) 477 3395 (w)

Link to main East Timor page

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