James Dunn (diplomat)

James Dunn
AM
Born(1928-01-06)6 January 1928
Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Died31 January 2020(2020-01-31) (aged 92)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupation(s)Public servant, diplomat

James Stanley Dunn AM (6 January 1928 – 31 January 2020) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.[1] He was Australia's consul in Portuguese Timor from 1962 to 1964.

In 1977 Dunn's report on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Indonesian troops in East Timor was released, prompting international attention. As a result, Dunn gave testimony about the issue to the Committee on International Relations of the United States House of Representatives on 23 March 1977.[2][3] He alleged that American weapons had been used in the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975.[4] He also argued that Australia's policy related to East Timor was inadequate.[5]

His book Timor: A People Betrayed (published 1983) was a tribute to the tragedy of the Timorese. The book was launched by Gordon McIntosh at the Lakeside Hotel in Canberra.[6] In a review published in Woroni, Dunn was praised for his sincere tone.[7] J.A.C. Mackie, writing for The Canberra Times wrote that the book was "disappointingly unconvincing".[8]

In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Dunn was made a Member of the Order of Australia for "service to humanity as an advocate for the rights of the East Timorese."[9] In 2002 he was awarded the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry (GOIH) by the President of Portugal. On 30 August 2009, Dunn was presented with the award of the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste by the President, José Ramos-Horta.[10]

He died on 31 January 2020; Prime Minister and former President of East Timor, Taur Matan Ruak, praised him as "one of the greatest international advocates for Timor Leste's self-determination".[11]

  1. ^ Campaigner for East Timor during Indonesian occupation, Sydney Morning Herald, February 14, 2020
  2. ^ Fernandes, Clinton (4 June 2013). "Australian inquiry into East Timor relations ignores local experience". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Human Rights in East Timor and the Question of the Use of U.S. Equipment by the Indonesian Armed Forces. Wednesday, March 23, 1977: Statement of James S. Dunn, Foreign Affairs Group, Legislative Reference Service, Australian Parliament". Hearings, Reports and Prints of the House Committee on International Relations. Washington, DC: United States. Congress. House. Committee on International Relations. 1978. pp. 26–47. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Timor 'not problem' for US, Indonesia". The Canberra Times. 12 April 1977. p. 1.
  5. ^ Green, Jonathan (15 October 1979). "Indonesia blamed for E. Timor deaths". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Book on Timor a 'milestone'". The Canberra Times. 12 August 1983. p. 6.
  7. ^ "East Timor: Shame Whitlam Shame". Woroni. 26 August 1983. p. 15.
  8. ^ Mackie, J.A.C. (25 September 1983). "Takeover of East Timor: Was there really anything else Australia could have done". The Canberra Times. p. 2.
  9. ^ "James Stanley DUNN". It's an Honour database. Australian Government. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Expression of Grief for the Death of James Stanley Dunn" (Press Release). Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Government of Timor-Leste. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  11. ^ Taur Matan Ruak, Primeiro-Ministro de Timor-Leste, Twitter, 4 February 2020