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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 Director: Ms Maria Brett Chair: Bishop Hilton Deakin

URGENT ACTION Progress Report

3 August 1998

NAMES: Jose Antonio Belo Cesario da Costa Manuel "Loke Matan" (pseudonym) Gil da Costa Guilherme dos Santos

VIOLATIONS: Incommunicado Detention / Torture

LOCATION: Dili and Baucau, East Timor

Ref: UA 16/97PR3 Previous reports: UA 16/97, UA 16/97PR, UA 16/97PR2

The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) has received new information about Jose Antonio Belo and four other East Timorese men who were arrested in June 1997 during an armed conflict with Indonesian security forces in Caibada, Baucau. (See UA 16/97 for details).

Sources have confirmed that Jose Antonio Belo, who was being held in incommunicado detention at Kopassus (Special Forces Command) headquarters in Bacau and then by Kopassus in Dili, has now been released but is required to report to the military every two days. It is believed the other four men, Manuel "Loke Matan", Guilherme dos Santos, Cesario da Costa and Gil da Costa, who were also detained by Kopassus, have also been released.

It is believed all five men were subjected to torture while in detention by members of the Indonesian military. Sources have confirmed that following their release, Jose Antonio Belo and Cesario da Costa are in very poor condition, both physically and mentally, as a result of being tortured.

The ETHRC believes the five men were arbitrarily detained as no charges were brought against them. The ETHRC is continuing to investigate the treatment of the five men while in detention.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa Indonesia or your own language:

* welcoming the release of Jose Antonio Belo, Cesario da Costa, Manuel "Loke Matan", Gil da Costa, and Guilherme dos Santos; * expressing deep concern that the five men were subjected to torture in detention by members of the Indonesian military; * calling on the Indonesian authorities to conduct a full and proper investigation into the torture allegations, ensuring that the perpetrators are charged under the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) and face criminal trials, and that they receive sentences reflecting the seriousness of the crimes; * urging the government of Indonesia to ensure that East Timorese prisoners will not be arbitrarily detained and that they will not be subjected to torture and ill-treatment in detention, but will be treated humanely and in accordance with international standards.

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. 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

ALSO SEND COPIES TO:

3. 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. SECRETARY GENERAL, NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Prof. Dr. Baharuddin Lopa Sekretaris Jenderal, Komisi Nasional Hak Azasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) Jl Latuharhary No 4 B, Menteng Jakarta Pusat INDONESIA Phone/Fax: +62 21 392 5227 Email: info@komnas.go.id

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 14 September 1998

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