Sir, - The East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign fully supports the sentiment that former foreign minister, Mr David Andrews, be appointed Ireland's first ambassador to East Timor (Quidnunc, February 26th)
What is not generally known is that his interest in East Timor was there long before our campaign came into existence. I well recall Deputy Michael D. Higgins making this point on RTE's "Questions and Answers" some years ago.
Mr Andrews played a crucial role in recent years. His visit to the territory and subsequent statements in April 1999 alerted the world to the growing menace of Indonesian-sponsored militia thugs. His appointment as the EU Special Representative to oversee the referendum was a well-deserved recognition of the role he played in helping to find a peaceful and internationally acceptable solution to the conflict.
I can think of no other person better qualified to become our first ambassador to an independent East Timor while at the same time rewarding Mr Andrews for his courage in visiting the territory. His visits were not without grave personal risk while at the same time other foreign ministers were adopting ostrich-like positions and fuelling the conflict through arms shipments to the aggressors. - Yours, etc.,
Tom Hyland, East Timor Solidarity Campaign, Dame Street, Dublin 2.