Thank you for being one of the 60,000+ people calling for the prosecutions of Witness K and Bernard Collaery to be dropped.

The developments in the last few years have been deeply troubling. Fifty-four hearings have been held for one or both men so far. Witness K pleaded guilty and on 18 June 2021 he was given a three-month suspended sentence, although the magistrate said that he was motivated by a sense of justice. While he was not given a jail term, he now has a criminal conviction recorded against him.

The result of Bernard Collaery’s appeal against excessive secrecy in the case is expected soon. He faces two years’ jail.

The charges must be dropped!

The petition will end on 30 November 2021. The Timor Sea Justice Forum will deliver it to its addressees on Friday 17 December. 

Why this date? It’s the 80th anniversary of the entry of Australian soldiers into Portuguese Timor in 1941, followed by the Japanese on 19th February 1942. The Timorese people chose to support the Australians, and over 40,000 of them died violently as a direct result of befriending our men.  

And what has Australia done since? We supported the 1975 Indonesian invasion and 24-year occupation of East Timor until the very end.

In 2004 we spied on the Timorese to get a better financial deal for ourselves in Timor Sea negotiations. We tried to swindle them.

Can you think of other people who may sign the petition?  Do feel free to refer it to contacts overseas. This is not a parliamentary petition, so anyone can sign.

Thank you, every single one of you.

Sister Susan Connelly, 
and the Timor Sea Justice Forum