World Health Organization and US officials accused of oppression in East Timor
East Timor (2000)
Dr. Robert Walley of MaterCare
International visited East Timor earlier this year to assess maternal
health needs in the wake of the Indonesian withdrawal and UN intervention in
the country. He spoke with physicians (there were only 23 in the country,
and no native specialists) and two bishops, as well as representatives from
the government-in-waiting (CNRT committee) and UN organizations. The conduct
of the latter caused him some concern, reported in a letter to Catholic
Insight magazine in October, 2000.
I met with officials at WHO and CNRT, the latter
headed by US officials, and was struck by how aggressive they were in
imposing their views and their values on the people. The Timorese doctors I
met felt themselves oppressed, and expressed concern about the secretive
nature of the activities of WHO and the CNRT committee. They asked for help
in developing a separate Catholic system which would provide care in
accordance with the values of the Timorese people.1
Notes
1. "Urgent letter from Dr. Robert Walley for help".
Catholic Insight,
October, 2000, Vol. VIII, No. 8, p. 4. (Reproduced with permission.)