Subject: AI UA 50/99 EAST TIMOR Fear for safety/risk
of torture
Date: 19 Mar 99 16:54:56 -0500
From: UA E-Mail Incoming <UA%AI-UK@amnesty.org.uk> Paper reprints authorised.
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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/20/99 19 March 1999
UA 50/99 Fear for safety/Risk of torture or ill-treatment
EAST TIMOR
11 people wounded - names unknown 3 possible detainees - names unknown
At least 11 East Timorese civilians were reportedly shot and wounded by Indonesian
soldiers on the evening of 18 March 1999. The soldiers had just recovered the bodies of
two other soldiers believed to have been killed by supporters of East Timorese
independence, and the shootings are believed to have been in revenge for their deaths.
The two soldiers, Sergeant Katamir and First Corporal Nasikun, were abducted from a bus
in Vemasse sub-district on 6 March. Their bodies were found in Bucoli village, Vemasse
sub-district, on 18 March. Soldiers transporting the bodies from there to the capital,
Dili, apparently first fired shots into the air and then, as they approached and entered
Dili, began to shoot directly at people by the road.
There are unconfirmed reports that three East Timorese have been arrested in connection
with the soldiers' deaths. If so, they would be at serious risk of torture or
ill-treatment in detention.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Indonesian and Portuguese governments have been negotiating the future of East
Timor at the United Nations. As progress has been made on a diplomatic level in the last
few months, the situation in the territory has become increasingly tense.
On 27 January 1999 the Indonesian Government announced that if the East Timorese
rejected the autonomy package being negotiated by the two governments, it would give up
its claim to the territory and allow it to become independent.
In the meantime, the Indonesian security forces continue to carry out
"disappearances", arbitrary detentions and torture.The government's statement on
possible independence has led to more confrontations, sometimes violent, between pro- and
anti-independence groups.
Pro-integration paramilitary groups which have been armed by the Indonesian armed
forces have also detained, tortured and killed their opponents. In the last week nuns at a
convent in the town of Maurai in Liquisa sub-district have received death threats from
members of a paramilitary group because they have been providing food and shelter to
internal refugees fleeing these groups.
On the other side, there are reports of East Timorese who support integration with
Indonesia and Indonesian settlers in East Timor being harassed, intimidated and in some
cases violently attacked by supporters of independence .
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters in Bahasa
Indonesia, English or your own language:
- acknowledging the right of the Indonesian authorities to bring to justice those
responsible for the killings of the two soldiers, but urging them to ensure that this is
done in accordance with international standards and that anyone detained in connection
with the deaths is not tortured;
- urging the authorities to immediately issue orders to stop members of the security
forces from taking revenge on civilians for the killing of their colleagues;
- urging the authorities to immediately investigate the shootings of the 11 civilians
on 18 March and to bring those responsible to justice.
APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT + 7 hrs / BST + 6 hrs)
The Head of the Armed Forces
General Wiranto Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.13-14
Jakarta 10110 Indonesia Fax: + 62 21 381 4535/ 384 5178
Commander Resort Military Command (KOREM) 164/Wiradharma (covers East Timor) Colonel
Tono Suratman Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma Dili East Timor, Indonesia Fax/Tel + 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:
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Ali Alatas S.H. Menteri Luar Negeri Jl. Medan Taman Pejambon No.6 Jakarta, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 380 5511/345 7782/ 360 541/ 724 5354 Tlx: 44205; 44469 deplu jkt
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 30 April 1999.
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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