James Dunn (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.

James Dunn

AM
Born(1928-01-06)6 January 1928
Died31 January 2020(2020-01-31) (aged 92)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationPublic servant, diplomat

In 1977 Dunn's report on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Indonesian troops in East Timor was released, prompting international attention.[2] He alleged that American weapons had been used in the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975.[3] He also argued that Australia's policy related to East Timor was inadequate.[4]

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.[5] In a review published in Woroni, Dunn was praised for his sincere tone.[6] J.A.C. Mackie, writing for The Canberra Times wrote that the book was "disappointingly unconvincing".[7]

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."[8]

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".[9]

Works
  • Timor: A People Betrayed, Jacaranda Press, 1983
  • East Timor: A Rough Passage to Independence, Longueville Books, 2003, ISBN 1920681035

References
  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. "Timor 'not problem' for US, Indonesia". The Canberra Times. 12 April 1977. p. 1.
  4. Green, Jonathan (15 October 1979). "Indonesia blamed for E. Timor deaths". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
  5. "Book on Timor a 'milestone'". The Canberra Times. 12 August 1983. p. 6.
  6. "East Timor: Shame Whitlam Shame". Woroni. 26 August 1983. p. 15.
  7. 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.
  8. "James Stanley DUNN". It's an Honour database. Australian Government. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  9. Taur Matan Ruak, Primeiro-Ministro de Timor-Leste, Twitter, 4 February 2020
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
W.A. Luscombe		 Australian Consul to Portuguese Timor
1962–1964		 Succeeded by
D.W. Milton
as Acting Consul


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