From: Foreign Bases Project <fbp@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Date: 21 Nov 92 13:37 PST
Subject: ETAN/US on possible Xanana capture
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700813:000:3247
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!fbp    Nov 21 13:37:00 1992


From: Foreign Bases Project <fbp>
Subject: ETAN/US on possible Xanana capture

/* Written  5:54 pm  Nov 20, 1992 by MAILER-DAEMON@web.apc.org in igc:pn.alerts */
/* ---------- "ETAN/US on possible Xanana capture" ---------- */
Subject: ETAN/US on possible Xanana capture

/* Written  9:57 am  Nov 20, 1992 by cdp:cscheiner in web: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