Subject: ETHRC UA 17/98: Killings, Arrests,
Disappearances in Alas, East Timor
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 19:11:30 -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 Chair: Bishop Hilton Deakin Director: Ms Maria
Brett
URGENT ACTION 23 November 1998
NAMES: Approximately 50 East Timorese people extra-judicially executed, 14 of whom are
identified and 36 of whom remain unidentified
Etelvina (no surname) and Atina (no surname), arbitrarily arrested and currently in
incommunicado detention at KODIM 1634 headquarters in Same
And up 28 other East Timorese people disappeared, possibly arrested
VIOLATIONS: Extra-judicial executions / Incommunicado detention / Disappearances /
Possible Arbitrary detentions
LOCATION: Alas sub-district, Manufahi district, East Timor
Ref: UA 17/98
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) has received reports from reliable sources
in East Timor about the extra-judicial execution of approximately 50 East Timorese people
between 10 and 16 November, 1998. The executions took place during a military operation by
members of the Indonesian military (ABRI) in the sub-district of Alas in the south of East
Timor. The military operation has also resulted in up to 30 East Timorese people being
arrested, including two teenage East Timorese girls, who are believed to be in
incommunicado detention. The current whereabouts of most of the detainees is unknown and
grave fears are therefore held for their safety.
The killings and arrests in the Alas sub-district have followed the recent build-up of
Indonesian troops in the area. It is believed ABRI forces launched the operation in Alas
in retaliation for an attack on 9 November by Falintil (East Timorese Armed Resistance) on
members of the military. During that attack, three Indonesian soldiers were killed and 13
taken captive, 11 of who have since been released. According to ETHRC sources, the ABRI
forces responsible for the military operation included personnel from battalions 315, 744,
745, marine forces, Gaurda Penculik, Black Horse Mobile Brigade and Hansip (East Timorese
recruited into the Indonesian military).
Extra-judicial executions
On 13 November ABRI forces attacked in the village of Taitudak, arresting Vicente
Xavier, the village chief, and four other unidentified young people. They were taken to
the village of Barike where they were killed. In a report from the Dili-based newspaper
Suara Timor Timur, the Indonesian military chief of East Timor, Colonel Tono Suratman,
confirmed the death of Vicente Xavier, claiming that the village chief had been one of the
masterminds behind the Falintil attacks on the military.
ETHRC sources reported that five of the East Timorese who were killed were shot by the
military, loaded onto trucks and taken away to be buried by the military. One was buried
at the Becucu post, one at Motakelan post and another, identified as Felipe, was buried
around the hamlet of Dotik, near a military post.
To date, only fourteen of the 50 East Timorese people killed during the military
operations have been identified:
1. Vicente Xavier, chief of Taitudak village in Alas. 2. Domingos Pereira, secretary of
Makida village, Alas. 3. Marcal (no surname), Catholic youth leader at the parish of Alas.
4. Adriano Fernandes, resident of Alas, a public servant of Manufahi District. 5. Berekiak
(no surname), from Lurin hamlet, father of four children. 6. Manuel Dias, from Lurin. 7.
Jose da Silva, from Lurin. 8. Alexandrino (no surname), young boy from Lurin. 9. Florindo
de Andrade, young boy from Lurin. 10. Patricio (no surname), primary school teacher at SDN
(government primary school) Aituhak village, Baucau district. 11. Duarte (no surname),
resident from Lurin. 12. Victor (no surname), from Tutuluro village, Same. 13. Francisco
Xavier, killed in Turicsai. 14. Felipe (no surname)
Disappearances / possible Arbitrary Detentions
On 15 November, ABRI forces again attacked the village of Taitudak and also the village
of Turin. Two nieces of Vicente Xavier, Etelvina and Atina, both in their teens, were
arrested and taken to KODIM 1634 (District Military Headquarters) in Same, where it is
believed they are being held in incommunicado detention. The ETHRC holds grave concerns
for their safety as detainees in military custody in East Timor are routinely subjected to
torture and ill-treatment, especially if they are denied access to independent legal
representation and humanitarian assistance.
Fears are also held for up to 28 others who are believed to have been arrested. Their
current whereabouts is unknown and they are also believed to be at serious risk of torture
and ill-treatment if they are not located soon.
The 28 disappeared people have been identified by local sources. Eleven were arrested
on 16 November by members of Kopassus in their homes in the villages of Taitudak and
Betanu. Their whereabouts is still unknown, despite internal steps taken to locate them:
1. Cursius da Costa, 23, farmer, from Taitudak village 2. Bensiol da Costa, 16,
student, Taitudak village 3. Januario da Costa Franco, 14, Taitudak village 4. Duarte da
Costa Fernandes, 23 , farmer, Taitudak village 5. Egidio da Costa, 23, student, Taitudak
village 6. Tobias (no surname), 28, married, primary school teacher, Taitudak village 7.
Jako'o (no surname), 35, married, primary school teacher, Taitudak village 8. Alvitu (no
surname), 29, married, primary school teacher, Taitudak village 9. Acacio Conceicao, 27,
park ranger, from Seliasa hamlet, Betanu village 10. Hermenegildo (no surname), teacher,
from Seliasa hamlet, Betanu village 11. S. Alves, 40, from Seliasa hamlet, Betanu village
Another five, Eduardo Magalhaes, Selcio Magalhaes, Victor da Costa, Miguel da Costa and
Jaime da Costa, were identified by CNRT (National Council of Timorese Resistance) in Dili.
It is believed the five were arrested by the military, under suspicion of links with
Falintil. Their current whereabouts is unknown, despite internal steps taken to locate
them.
Another twelve East Timorese people were reported as either arrested or persecuted. It
is not clear whether these people are in detention or whether they have gone into hiding
for fear of persecution. The twelve have been identified as follows:
1. Adroaldo Marques 2. Albino Fernandes 3. Antonio Xavier, 23 4. Augusto Fernandes 5.
Joao Corte-Real 6. Joao Pachero 7. Luis Corte-Real, 19 8. Mateus Tilman 9. Sancha Maria,
19 (female) 10. Tobias Amaral 11. Vicente (no surname) 12. Vicente (no surname)
As a result of the military attacks many villagers living in the Alas sub-district have
fled to the surrounding forest areas or taken refuge at their local Catholic parishes.
Those villagers who have remained are facing critical shortage of food and water as
soldiers are controlling the food supply and it is believed the military have also
destroyed the water pipeline. Access into the Alas sub-district is forbidden as soldiers
have sealed off the village from outsiders, including humanitarian organisations.
According to media reports, soldiers have also burnt 30 homes belonging to the East
Timorese they have arrested or killed in the attack.
The ETHRC calls on the Indonesian authorities to conduct a full and impartial
investigation into the violations committed during the military operations in Alas,
including all alleged extra-judicial executions, disappearances and arbitrary detentions.
Background information
The ETHRC is extremely alarmed by the human rights violations occurring in the
sub-district of Alas. Concerns have already been raised internationally about the recent
build-up of military personnel in East Timor. According to Indonesian military documents
recently leaked to the international media, the total number of Indonesian security
personnel, including paramilitary units, is approximately 21,600, despite claims by
President's Habibie that troop numbers in the territory have been reduced.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa Indonesia or
your own language:
- expressing concern at the escalation of violence in the Alas sub-district and calling on
the Indonesian authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation into allegations
of violations committed during the military operations, including all alleged
extra-judicial executions, disappearances and arbitrary detentions, and prosecuting those
found responsible to the fullest extent of the law;
- seeking details of the charges (if any) against Etelvina and Atina and all other East
Timorese who have been arrested and detained during the military operations in Alas and
calling for their immediate and unconditional release if they have not been charged with a
recognisable offence under existing laws;
- seeking assurances that detainees will not face torture and ill-treatment in detention
and that they will be treated humanely and in accordance with international standards;
- seeking assurances that they will have regular and on-going access to legal
representation, family members and humanitarian assistance; and
- urging Indonesian authorities to allow access into the Manufahi district for human
rights monitors and humanitarian organisations.
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 RESORT MILITARY COMMAND (includes East Timor) Colonel Tono
Suratman Markas KOREM 164/ Wiradharma Dili East Timor (Indonesia) Telephone: +62 390 21
624 Telegrams: Colonel Suratman, East Timor, (Indonesia)
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
4. 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 4 January 1999.
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