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SOLID-NET Diterbitkan oleh SOLIDAMOR Solidaritas untuk Penyelesaian Damai Timor Leste Solidarity for Peace in East Timor Jl. Pramuka Jaya Sari No. 9 Jakarta Pusat Telp. (62-21) 422 4079, 422 6348. Faks. (021) 422 4079 E-mail: solidmor@centrin.net.id; solidmor@mega.net.id

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN EAST TIMOR HAVE INTENSIFIED Translated by TAPOL

Jakarta, Solid-Net (18/12)

Human rights abuses in East Timor have intensified during the past two months. They have taken the form of violence against the civilian population.

This was the conclusion reached by Canadian ambassador Kenneth Songuist, according to Media Indonesia on 16 December, during a visit to East Timor.

Florentino Sarmento, head of the National Human Rights Commission office in East Timor, concurred with this conclusion, who added: 'The widespread violence in East Timor has resulted in much loss of life, particularly among the civilian population.'

During his visit to East Timor, Ambassador Songuist had the chance to speak by phone to Taur Matan Ruak, commander of Falintil, the armed resistance. Speaking through Manuel Carrascalao who acted as interpreter, Matan Ruak said that Falintil is continuing to fight for independence for East Timor and would continue to do so for as long as it takes. Even so, the Falintil commander. speaking in Tetum, said that the East Timorese fighters were at present devoting greater attention to the diplomatic struggle.

The Canadian ambassador was also reported as saying that he fully understood the intention of Matan Ruak to continue to struggle for the aspirations of the people of East Timor.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign 111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8HW, UK Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322 email: tapol@gn.apc.org Campaigning to expose human rights violations in Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh

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