Subject: ETHRC UA 7/99: Violations against women
Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 19:11:24 -1000
From: ethrc <ethrc@minihub.org> EAST TIMOR HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE 124 Napier St
Fitzroy 3065 Australia PO BOX 1413 Collingwood 3066 Australia Tel: +61 3 9415 8225 Fax:
+61 3 9415 8218 E-mail: ethrc@minihub.org Interim Director: Ms Kathleen Maltzahn Chair:
Bishop Hilton Deakin
URGENT ACTION 8 June 1999
NAMES: Marta Fatima Ivonia Ribeiro Virgina Sarmento Ermelinda da Conceicao Genobeva (no
surname) Agusta (no surname) Justina Santa Etelvina Ribeiro Gracilda Varela Teresa Varela
Anita Lemos Elvira (no surname)
VIOLATIONS: Ill-Treatment/Sexual Abuse/Arbitrary Detention
LOCATIONS: Ulmera Village, Bazartete Sub-District, Liquica, East Timor
Ref: UA 7/99
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is gravely concerned for the lives and
well-being of the above-mentioned East Timorese women.
Marta Fatima, Ivonia Ribeiro, Virgina Sarmento, Ermelinda da Conceicao, Genobeva (no
surname), Agusta (no surname), Justina Santa, Etelvina Ribeiro, Gracilda Varela, and
Teresa Varela were arrested between 17 and 18 May because their husbands were accused of
joining the East Timorese resistance movement after the 5 April 1999 Liquica Massacre (see
ETHRC UN 2/99). Anita Lemos and Elvira (no surname) were arrested on 31 May 1999 at Ulmera
village. It is believed that the head of the village of Ulmera, Paustino (no surname) gave
orders to arrest the women.
According to reliable ETHRC sources, the twelve women have been detained and subject to
continued forced labour from the Indonesian Armed Forces backed militia group entitled
Besi Merah Putih (BMP). Amnesty International has also been informed that the women have
apparently been subject to sexual abuse. All twelve women are held hostage at the houses
of two teachers, Geraldo Ribeiro and Manuel Soares, who are brothers. The BMP has stated
that the women must present their husbands to the BMP by 4 June 1999, or the women will be
killed. The ETHRC has been unable to verify their current condition.
The ETHRC has received unconfirmed reports of the women's children also being held
hostage. The ETHRC has confirmed that the women have a total of 24 children, however,
their whereabouts is undetermined. The possibility of the children being detained is
currently under investigation by the ETHRC.
These twelve women are subjects of a continued wave of numerous separate attacks
throughout East Timor. The BMP and other groups sponsored by the Indonesian Armed Forces
have relentlessly pursued supporters of East Timorese independence. These supporters and
their families are repeatedly subject to arbitrary detention, physical abuse, and
extrajudicial execution.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English,
Bahasa Indonesia or your own language:
* Expressing concern that the above 12 women have been arbitrarily detained and subject
to physical and sexual abuse, and calling for their immediate unconditional release; *
Expressing particular concern at the recent human rights violations perpetrated by members
of the Besi Merah Putih, in the village of Ulmera; * Calling for immediate and
unrestricted access to be allowed to all areas of East Timor for UN human rights monitors,
international and local human rights organisations, in order to provide ongoing human
rights monitoring, and in particularly to conduct a full and impartial investigation of
the recent violations committed by military backed armed militia; and * Calling on the
government of Indonesia to take steps to immediately disarm all civilian militia groups in
East Timor and to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations to the fullest
extent of the law.
SEND APPEALS TO:
1. PRESIDENT YUSUF HABIBIE President of the Republic of Indonesia Istana Negara Gedung
Binagraha Jl. Veteran Jakarta Pusat INDONESIA Faxes: +62 21 345 7782 Telegrams: President
Habibie, Jakarta, Indonesia E-mail: habibie@ristek.go.id
2. MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Ali Alatas S.H Menteri Luar Negeri Jl. Medan Taman
Pejambon No. 6 Jakarta INDONESIA Faxes: +62 21 360 541 / 360 517 / 380 5511 / 345 7782 /
724 5354
3. MINISTER FOR DEFENCE FORCES General Wiranto Menteri Pertahanan Keamanan RI Jl. Medan
Merdeka Barat No 13-14 Jakarta 10110 INDONESIA Telephone: +62 21 366 184 Fax: +62 21 3845
178
4. RESORT MILITARY COMMAND (KOREM) Colonel Tono Suratman Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma
Dili East Timor Faxes: +62 390 21 624 Telegrams: Colonel Suratman, East Timor (Indonesia)
5. MILITARY COMMANDER REGION IX/UDAYANA (includes East Timor) Major General Adam Damiri
Pangdam IX/Udayana Markas Besar KODAM IX/Udayana Denpasar, Bali INDONESIA Telephone: +62
361 228 095 Telegrams: Pangdam IX/Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Please also send appeals to:
* Diplomatic representatives of Indonesia in your country * Parliamentarians and the
Foreign Ministry in your country
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY Check with the East Timor Human Rights Centre if
sending appeals after July 20, 1999
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