Subject: AI EXTRA 65/99 EAST TIMOR Fear for safety
Date: 03 Jun 99 19:30:20 -0400
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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/48/99 3 June 1999
EXTRA 65/99 Fear for safety
EAST TIMOR
Marta Fatima (f) Ivao Ribeiro (f) Jorgina Sarmento (f) Remija da Concicao (f) Noveva
(f) Agusta (f) Justina Santa (f) Gracilda Varela (f) Anita Lemos (f) Elvira (f) Terasa
Varela (f)
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of the 11 women from Liquisa named
above who are reportedly being held hostage by the militia group Besi Merah Putih (BMP),
Iron Red and White, since late May 1999. A local village leader in contact with the
militias has reportedly said they will be killed. The women are apparently being sexually
molested in detention.
Since the beginning of April the BMP and other militia groups, supported by the Tentara
Nasional Indonesia (TNI), Indonesian Armed Forces, have detained, tortured and killed
scores of people in violent attacks across East Timor in an attempt to locate supporters
of independence for the region. At least 18 people, possibly many more, were killed in
Liquisa on 6 April when the BMP and militias attacked a church where about 2000 local
people had sought refuge from the attacks. The 11 women were taken hostage and threatened
with death when the BMP were unable to find their husbands in hiding. The BMP reportedly
now have total control of Liquisa.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A number of militia groups, including the BMP, have been formed in recent months in the
face of increased pressure to find a political solution to the situation in East Timor.
These militia groups have actively targeted supporters of independence with a campaign of
killing, detention, ill-treatment, intimidation and harassment. They have also destroyed
homes and raped women, leaving thousands of people internally displaced. Despite clear
evidence of its support for the militia units the TNI denies responsibility for the
actions of the groups.
In January 1999 the Indonesian government announced that it would grant East Timor
independence if a proposed autonomy package was rejected by the East Timorese. On 5 May
Indonesia and Portugal signed an agreement allowing for a popular consultation on
autonomy. The ballot is scheduled to take place on 8 August.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Bahasa
Indonesia or English or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of 11 women from Liquisa, naming them all if
possible, who were taken hostage by Besi Merah Putih at the end of May 1999;
- urging the authorities to ensure that the women are immediately and unconditionally
released;
- urging the authorities to launch an immediate investigation into their abduction by
the BMP and ensuring their subsequent safety;
- urging the authorities to prevent the detention of supporters of independence and
their families by either militia groups or military units; - calling on the authorities to
disarm and disband the BMP and all other militia groups.
APPEALS TO (Time difference = GMT + 7 hrs / BST + 6 hrs) (please note that fax tones
can be difficult to obtain during certain times of the day. You may have the best chance
of success if you ring during local office hours):
Minister of Defence and Security
General Wiranto [Salutation:Dear Minister] Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan Jl. Medan
Merdeka Jakarta 10110 Indonesia Telegrams: General Wiranto, Jakarta, Indonesia Faxes: + 62
21 381 4535 / 384 5178
Commander Resort Military Command (Korem) 164/Wiradharma (covers East Timor)
Colonel Tono Suratman [Salutation:Dear Colonel Suratman] Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma
Dili East Timor, Indonesia Telegrams: Colonel Suratman, East Timor, Indonesia Faxes: + 62
390 321 624
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: Embassy of Indonesia, 38 Grosvenor Square,
London W1X 9AD. Fax: 0171 491 4993
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
President
Jusuf Habibie President RI Istana Negara Jl. Veteran Jakarta Pusat Indonesia Faxes: +
62 21 526 8726 / 21 380 5511 / 21 345 7782 (via ministry of Foreign Affairs)
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about + + the UA scheme in general,
please contact: + + Ray Mitchell / Becky Hess + + Amnesty International UK Section + + 99
- 119 Rosebery Avenue + + London EC1R 4RE email: ua@amnesty.org.uk
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