Newsgroup: it.politica.pds
Titolo: Timor Est (Amnesty International)

Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of
human rights defenders in East Timor, who are being intimidated,
apparently by paramilitary and military units.
On 28 April 1999 several non-governmental human rights
organizations held a meeting with the British Foreign and
Commonwealth Office Minister, Derek Fatchett, in the offices of
Yayasan HAK, Human Rights Foundation. They urged the British
government to pressure Indonesia to end human rights violations
and to allow international human rights monitoring in East Timor.
The groups then issued a joint public statement reiterating these
demands. Groups at the meeting included Yayasan HAK,; Fokupers,
the Communication Forum for Timorese Women; Kontras, the
Committee for the "Disappeared" and Victims of Violence; Gertak,
East Timorese Women's Movement Against Violence; Dewan
Solidaritas Mahasiswa Timor Timur (DSMTT), East Timorese Students
Solidarity Council; Grupo Feto Foin Sae Timor Lorosae (GFFT),
Timorese Female Youth Group; and Posko Bantuan Darurat untuk
Pengungsi Internal, Command Post for Emergency Relief for
Internal Refugees.
At around 7 pm a group of five or six men - some in military
uniform - came to the Yayasan HAK office. They left shortly
afterwards, but another group - not in uniform - arrived at 9.30
pm and stayed for around 20 minutes. The identity of both groups
is not clear but they are either from the Indonesian Armed Forces
(ABRI) or paramilitary units operating with ABRI support. It
seems they intended to intimidate Yayasan HAK and the other
organizations who had been at the meeting.
Several human rights organizations, and people working with them,
including Yayasan HAK director Aniceto Guterres and deputy
director Ze Luis de Oliveira, are believed to be on lists of
people and organizations compiled by paramilitary units as
possible targets.
Concerns for human rights monitors and supporters of independence
are also raised by brochures circulated in Dili by a paramilitary
group called Darah Merah, Red Blood. These say that the group
will begin an operation in Dili on 1 May to "destroy"
pro-independence groups in East Timor. Similar threats have in
the past been followed by serious human rights violations.
Amnesty International believes that this threat should be taken
seriously, and that the Indonesian Government should take steps
to prevent paramilitary attacks on supporters of independence and
human rights defenders.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 5 April, paramilitary groups, supported by ABRI, have
carried out arbitrary detentions, torture and unlawful killings
during violent attacks in several towns across East Timor, in an
attempt to seek out supporters of independence. At least 18, and
possibly many more, people were killed in Liquisa on 6 April when
paramilitary units - backed up by ABRI - attacked a church where
around 2000 local residents had sought refuge from earlier
paramilitary assaults.
Since 17 April at least 14 people and possibly many more are
believed to have been killed in Dili by paramilitary units.
Similar operations are taking place in other towns, including
Suai, Liquisa and Ermera. There are continuing reports of
arbitrary detentions, unlawful killings and "disappearances",
including the killing of seven men in Liquisa since 21 April.
Paramilitary road-blocks and threats are preventing confirmation
of these reports.
Despite the signing of a peace agreement on 21 April between
ABRI, the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), the
paramilitaries and the political groups that support integration,
the situation in Dili remains tense. Paramilitary units are still
visible on the streets. There are new reports that they will
launch another operation to seek out supporters of independence
from 28 April through to the beginning of May. Supporters of
independence and human rights monitors, many of whom remain in
hiding, are still at risk of arrest or violent attacks.
The Indonesian authorities say they have arrested 15 members of
paramilitary units for their involvement in attacks since 17
April.

East Timor Eyewitnesses to Testify Before Congress
Two East Timorese survivors of recent paramilitary violence in the
Indonesia-occupied territory will testify before the U.S. Congress this
week. The eyewitnesses will describe atrocities committed by paramilitary
groups organized and armed by the Indonesian military. Two Congressional
briefings and a press conference on Capitol Hill will take place from May 4
to May 7.
The two survivors will be joined by Manuel dos Martires, an East Timorese
with detailed, first-hand knowledge of Indonesian military and paramilitary
operations in East Timor.
Scheduled events in Washington, DC, include:
Tuesday, May 4, 4 pm, Rayburn House Office Building (Room 2200),  Joint
Human Rights and Progressive Caucus Briefing
Wednesday, May 5 at 2:30 pm  Press Conference with Senators Patrick Leahy
and Russell Feingold and Congresman Patrick Kennedy (invited). (location to
be announced)
Friday afternoon, May 7 House Human Rights Subcommittee Briefing, (time and
location to be announced)
The three East Timorese witnesses have come to the United States at a time
of increasing paramilitary violence in their homeland. In the last few
months, at least 100 people have been killed and over 10,000 internal
refugees created as paramilitary groups in cooperation with elements of the
Indonesian military have been attacking pro-independence villagers and
leaders. On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Indonesia are
expected to sign an agreement to hold a UN-sponsored vote in early August
which could lead to independence for the former Portuguese colony. The
paramilitaries, supporting Indonesia's continued occupation, have announced
their intention to disrupt the vote.
Scheduled to appear with the East Timorese will be Indonesian human rights
activist Aryati, human rights advocate Arnold Kohen, Human Rights
Watch-Asia Director Sidney Jones, and ETAN Washington Representative Lynn
Fredriksson. Documentation of recent military and paramilitary violence
will also be available.
All three East Timorese are available for interviews. They are scheduled
plan to be in New York the week of May 10.

EAST TIMOR         Mateus Araujo
                   Alvaro - possibly killed
                   Daniel
                   Marcelino
                   Jorge
                   Bernadino - possibly killed
                   Felis
                   Marcal
                   Abilio - probably killed
                   Alvaro - possibly killed
      New Names:   Claudio Magno            ]
                   Alipio Jordao            ]
                   Abrao                    ]      "disappeared"
                   Agustinho Ferreira       ]
                   Justinho Cardoso         ]
                   Elias Nunes
                   Orlando Berek            ]
                   Tome Nunes               ]      arrested: three have
                   Joao Nunes Ximenes       ]      "disappeared"
                   Xisto Borges             ]
                   Pedro da Costa           ]
Up to 18 men have been killed by paramilitaries in Suai,
south-west of Dili. A further nine have "disappeared" after they
were arrested by soldiers and paramilitaries, and there is grave
concern for their safety.
Abilio Pires, believed to be the "Abilio" on the list, is already
known to have been killed by paramilitaries. A further three of
the people on that list are now thought to be among the dead.
"Bernadino" is believed to be Bernadino Simoa, a student from the
University of East Timor (UNTIM), who was kidnapped by Mahidi on
11 April and later killed; Alvaro Barreto (believed to be
"Alvaro"), was arrested on 14 April at Kamanasa, Suai, by the
Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) and the paramilitary group Laksaur
Merah Putih while riding a bus, and then killed by the
paramilitary group Mahidi; and Alvaro de Araujo, 25 (believed to
be "Alvaro") was killed by paramilitaries in Suai.
The nine other men who have "disappeared" were arrested by ABRI
and paramilitary groups between 20 and 23 April in various
villages in Suai. Orlando Berek, Tome Nunes, Joao Nunes Ximenes,
Xisto Borges and Pedro da Costa were arrested by Laksaur Merah
Putih on 22 April in Walabaru, Foholulik. Three of them have
since "disappeared", but it is not known which three.
Among the 18 feared dead are Jose Fatima, who was arrested by
Laksaur Merah Putih on 14 April, and Joao Ximenes Soares, a
student from UNTIM, who was kidnapped on 11 April by Mahidi in
Daes, Suai. The names of the others killed are not yet known, but
they could include some of the six people originally listed as
"disappeared" who are not yet accounted for.

 April.
Quindi il governo fa qualcosa.
-Stefano


In Kosovo sono "spariti" oltre 120000 kosovari.
Fonte dell'Alto Commisariato Onu per i Rifugiati.
-Stefano