From: hrcoord@igc.apc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: AI UA403/92 EAST TIMOR Arrests
Date: 20 Dec 92 02:34:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700895:000:6698
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Dec 19 18:34:00 1992


/* Written  7:43 pm  Dec 18, 1992 by gn:rmitchellai in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI UA403/92 EAST TIMOR Arrests" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: ASA 21/25/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC   
 
UA 403/92   Legal concern/          18 December 1992
            Fear of torture
 
INDONESIA/EAST TIMOR:   
 
Arrested in Manatuto: 
 
Apisa (35), policeman, arrested 15 November
Candido (29), Head of Agriculture Office, Manatuto, arrested 14
November    
Eduardo (30), businessman, arrested 14 November
Felipe (30), hospital administrator, Manatuto, arrested 14 November
Geraldo (28), businessman, arrested 14 November
Joao (45), village head of Kai Rui, arrested 13 November
Joao Faria (30), civil servant, arrested 14 November
Kancio (50), businessman, arrested 15 November
Manuel Constancio (27), civil servant, arrested 13 November
Manuel de Costa (45), civil servant, arrested 14  November
Mario Santa (33), civil servant, arrested 14 November 
Serilo (27), civil servant, arrested 15 November
Tomas de Rosario Cabral (25), civil servant, arrested 5 December
Vicente (50), nurse, Manatuto hospital, arrested 14 November
Vitor (50), nurse, Manatuto hospital, arrested 11 November
 
Arrested in Dili:
 
Arnaldo Borges (17) arrested October 
Constancio Guterres (37), Armed Forces member, arrested 22
November
Leandro Isaac (45) and
Manuel Isaac (42), brothers, civil servants, arrested 22 November
Manuel Mercario (47), nurse, arrested 22 November
Maria Lourdes Alves Araujo (female), (36) and her husband
Octavio Jordao de Araujo (42), arrested 18 December
 
Arrested in Same: 
 
Elsa (female), arrested 15 November
Graciana (female), arrested 15 November
Luis, arrested 15 November
 
 Amnesty International is urgently concerned for the safety of the 25
people named above. Those arrested are among at least 60, and
possibly many more, people arrested in East Timor since early
November 1992. The 25 were reportedly arrested in Manatuto and
Same districts and in East Timor's capital, Dili. The precise
whereabouts of the 25 are not known, but they are believed to be
detained in military detention centres in the towns of Baucau, Same
and Dili. Those arrested are at risk of torture and ill- treatment by the
Indonesian security forces. There have also been unconfirmed reports
that 17 relatives of Constancio Pinto, an East Timorese activist now
living in Portugal, were arrested on 25 November 1992 in Dili and
there are fears they too may be at risk of torture.
 
Serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, torture,
"disappearance" and possible extrajudicial execution, have accompanied
a recent crackdown by Indonesian forces in East Timor. The increased
repression has coincided with the anniversary of the November 1991
Santa Cruz massacre and the 20 November capture of Xanana
Gusmao, leader of the East Timorese resistance movement (see UA
366/92, ASA 21/17/92 of 23 November 1992 and UA 367/92, ASA
21/18/92 of 23 November 1992 and follow ups). The crackdown has
been particularly severe in Manatuto, Xanana's home district, in Dili
and in the districts of Lospalos, and Viqueque. 
 
Hundreds of people were reportedly rounded up in mid-November and
dozens are thought to remain in detention, most of them held
incommunicado. At least one of those arrested after Xanana's capture
is feared to have died as a result of torture. In December, residents of
East Timor appealed to Amnesty International to publish the names of
those arrested in order to protect them and their families from further
human rights violations by the Indonesian security forces.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
Indonesian forces invaded East Timor in 1975 in the aftermath of
Portugal's withdrawal from its former colony. Since that time Amnesty
International has continued to document serious human rights
violations by Indonesian security forces in the territory, including
extrajudicial execution, torture and ill-treatment, "disappearance" and
political imprisonment. 
 
In November 1991 more than 100 people were killed, and many others
"disappeared", after Indonesian soldiers opened fire on a peaceful
procession at the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili. The human rights
situation has not improved in the year since the massacre. Hundreds of
people have been subjected to death threats, beatings and arbitrary
arrest and at least 13 East Timorese have been sentenced, at unfair
trials, to long terms of imprisonment after being accused of organizing
the Santa Cruz procession and other peaceful protest marches. 
 
RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in English or
in your own language:
 
- expressing concern for the safety of the 25 people named above
arrested between October and December 1992 in East Timor and
seeking clarification of their whereabouts;
 
- urging that representatives of the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), lawyers, relatives and doctors be granted
immediate an unconditional access to their place of detention;
 
- seeking assurances that all the detainees will be accompanied by a
lawyer of their own choice while being interrogated, as required by
Indonesian law;
 
- urging the government to release immediately and unconditionally all
those detained solely for their peaceful political views or activities.
 
APPEALS TO
 
Brig Gen Theo Syafei        [Salutation: Dear Brig Gen Syafei]
PANKOLAKOPS
Markas Besar KOLAKOPS/KOREM 164
Dili, East Timor
Indonesia
Telegrams Brig Gen Syafei, Dili, East Timor
 
Maj Gen Suwardi             [Salutation: Dear Maj Gen Suwardi]
Markas Besar, KODAM IX/Udayana, 
Denpasar
Bali, Indonesia
Telegrams: Maj Gen Suwardi, Kodam IX, Denpasar, Bali,
 
General Try Sutrisno        [Salutation: Dear General Try]
Commander of the Armed Forces       
Markas Besar ABRI                   
Cilangkap, East Jakarta             
Indonesia                     
Telegrams:  Gen Try Sutrisno, Markas Besar ABRI, Jakarta, Indonesia
Faxes:      + 62 21 36 1471 (Armed Forces HQ); 
            + 62 21 37 8144 (Army HQ); 
            + 62 21 35 6404
 
Ali Alatas                  [Salutation: Dear Minister Alatas]
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kementerian Luar Negeri
Jl. Taman Pejambon 6
Jakarta
Indonesia
Telegrams: Minister Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Indonesia
Faxes:      +62 21 36 7781
            +62 21 36 7782
 
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
 
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (LBH)
Jl. Diponegoro 74
Jakarta 10320
Indonesia
 
and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.
 
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 29 January 1993.