Subject: AI UA 106/99 EAST TIMOR Fear for safety
Date: 12 May 99 18:56:56 -0400
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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/40/99 12 May 1999
UA 106/99 Fear for safety/ possible "disappearance"
EAST TIMOR
Agostinho Amaral, 24 Cesaltina (f), Olandina Maria Caetano (f), Elda Maria Caetano (f),
Lita (f), Julia (f), Zelia Guterres (f), Maria Julia Guterres (f) Afonso Guterres
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Agostinho Amaral, a student at the
University of East Timor (Untim), and the eight other people from the Santa Cruz area of
Dili named above.
Police officers and members of the Indonesian armed services (TNI, formerly known as
ABRI) reportedly detained Agostinho Amaral at his home in the Quintal district of Aileu
City, south of Dili, at 7am on 11 May 1999, and took him to an unknown destination.
Representatives of Amaral's local church made inquiries about him at the local police
headquarters (Polres) and at the local military command (Kodim) in Aileu, but were given
no information about his whereabouts or whether he had been formally arrested. There are
grave concerns that he is at risk of ill-treatment, torture or "disappearance".
The eight people named above were reportedly taken from their homes in the Santa Cruz
district of Dili by paramilitaries in a separate incident on 10 May, and their whereabouts
are not known. Seven are female and three are believed to be children (siblings). When
asked about the incident, local police denied knowledge of them.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since early April, paramilitary groups, supported by the TNI, 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 the TNI - attacked a church where around 2000 local residents had
sought refuge from earlier paramilitary assaults.
Since 17 April at least 18 people and possibly many more are believed to have been
killed in Dili by paramilitary units. Despite the signing of a peace agreement on 21 April
between the TNI, the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), the paramilitaries
and the political groups that support integration, the situation in Dili remains tense.
According to reports, at least four independence supporters were killed between 9 and
10 May. There have also been reports of attacks on foreign journalists in Dili: supporters
of integration threw stones and shot at foreign journalists near the municipal market on
10 May. Supporters of independence and human rights monitors, many of whom remain in
hiding, are still at risk of arrest or violent attacks.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Bahasa
Indonesia, English or your own language:
- urging the authorities to prevent the arrest of supporters of independence by either
paramilitary or military units;
- calling on the authorities to conduct full and impartial investigations into the
incidents detailed above;
- urging the authorities to take measures to ensure the safety of all those taken into
custody;
- calling on the authorities to disarm and disband all paramilitary units.
APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT + 7 hrs / BST + 6 hrs)
MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND SECURITY
Gen. Wiranto [Salutation: Dear Minister] Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan Jl. Medan
Merdeka Jakarta 10110 Indonesia Fax: + 62 21 381 4535 / 384 5178 Telegram: General
Wiranto, Jakarta, Indonesia
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 Fax/Tel: + 62 390 321 624 Telegram: Colonel Suratman, KOREM,
East Timor, Indonesia
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 Presiden RI Istana Negara Jl. Veteran Jakarta Pusat Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 526 8726 / 21 380 5511 / 21 345 7782 (via ministry of Foreign Affairs)
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 23 June 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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