Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Fri, 20 Nov 1992 09:58:32 PST
From:         Charles Scheiner <cscheiner@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      ETAN/US on possible Xanana capture

/* Written  9:57 am  Nov 20, 1992 by cscheiner@igc.apc.org in igc:reg.easttimor
 */
/* ---------- "ETAN/US on possible Xanana capture" ---------- */
to:   East Timor Supporters
from: Charlie Scheiner, ETAN/US
re:   Responses to possible Xanana Gusmao capture
date: 20 November, noon

Antara (the Indonesian press agency) reported Xanana Gusmao's capture at 6
am today, Indonesian time. The arrest of the East Timorese resistance leader
was also announced by Indonesian army communique. The Antara report was
relayed by Kyodo News Service and the BBC. It has not been confirmed by any
independent source.

The Indonesian government may be deterred from torturing and killing him if
they are made aware of international public and governmental attention.
Please fax or call the following immediately (the following are fax numbers):

*       US Acting Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, DC  202-647-7120
*       President Suharto, Jakarta 62/21-36-7781, 62/21-36-7782, 62/21-36-0501
*       UN Secretary-General Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, NY  212-963-4879
*       Your Senators and Representatives (phone 202-224-3121).

Make one or more of the following points when talking with government
leaders or the media:

*       Urge the Indonesian military and government to treat Xanana Gusmao in
compliance with international conventions against torture and arbitrary
execution. They could move him to a third country to help insure his safety.

*       Now that Jakarta knows where Xanana is, he should participate in the
UN- sponsored talks on East Timor between Indonesia and Portugal that will
continue next month. Indonesia should allow a popular plebiscite on East
Timor's future without losing face.

*       The situation in East Timor will be extremely tense, with both the
Timorese people and the Indonesian troops under stress. The army could try
to eliminate anti-integration sentiment once and for all. In light of
recently increasing repression and the new governor's statement that a
thousand people should have been killed at Santa Cruz last year,
international pressure may be the only way to prevent a further bloodbath.
If the situation threatens to get out of control, the United Nations could
intervene to help keep the peace. If Xanana is tortured or killed, military
repression and mass killings could get even worse.

*       Xanana's capture (if true) is not the end of the East Timorese struggle
for self-determination. The resistance is more than one person; it is
supported by the overwhelming majority of the East Timorese people. By
comparison, Nelson Mandela's imprisonment did not mean the end of the South
African struggle, it meant the beginning of a campaign which culminated in
his release and his ability to work openly for majority rule.

Please send copies of any statements or responses to the East Timor Action
Network.

East Timor Action Network - U.S.
P.O. Box 1182, White Plains, NY 10602 USA
Tel. (914)428-7299    fax:(914)428-7383
email: CSCHEINER@IGC.APC.ORG
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU