Subject: UA 2/98PR: East Timorese tortured then
released
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 17:15:17 -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 Director: Ms Maria Brett Chair: Bishop Hilton
Deakin ________________________________________________________________________
URGENT ACTION 14 July 1998
NAMES: Marcal Amaral Magno Guterres, 27 Basilio Mendonca, 26 Manuel Sarmento Antonio
Freitas
NEW NAMES: Elias de Araujo Joao dos Santos Alfredo Amaral Bernardo dos Santos
VIOLATION: Torture
LOCATION: Dili, East Timor
Ref: UA 2/98 Previous report: UA 2/98
_______________________________________________________________________
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) has received further information in relation
to eight East Timorese men who were detained at POLRES (Police Resort) headquarters in
Dili, following their arrest at 4am on 2 April, 1998, by members of the Indonesian
military. (See UA2/98 for details).
ETHRC sources have confirmed that six of the men, Marcal Amaral Magno Guterres, Basilio
Mendonca, Elias de Araujo, Joao dos Santos, Bernardo dos Santos and Alfredo Amaral were
subjected to torture while being interrogated at POLRES in Dili. They were then
transferred to Becora prison and were awaiting trial when authorities decided to drop all
charges against them. The six men were released on 13 June. No information is available
about the other two men, Manuel Sarmento and Antonio Freitas, but it is assumed they have
also been released.
The East Timorese men had been arrested for allegedly participating in a clandestine
resistance meeting. In the circumstances, it appears the men were targeted solely for
their political activities and their rights to freedom of expression and association were
denied.
NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED IN RELATION TO THIS CASE Thank-you to all those who
assisted
Back to July Menu
Back to Main Postings Menu |
