Subject: ETHRC UA 16/98 Ill-treatment of political
prisoners
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 14:48:15 -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 11 November 1998
NAMES: 26 East Timorese political prisoners
VIOLATIONS: Ill-treatment / Fear of torture
LOCATION: Dili, East Timor
Ref: UA 16/98
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is concerned for the safety of 26 East
Timorese political prisoners who have been transferred from Becora prison in Dili, to a
military prison in Balide, Dili.
The transferred prisoners have been identified as follows:
Adelio de Fatima Barreto H Agostino Moreira Agostino Vital Alberto Ximenes Bernardo da
Silva Carlos Freitas Constancio C Santos Domingos Pereira Eduardo dos Santos Eusebio
Ximenes Floriano da Costa Xavier Joao Alves Trindade Joao dos Reis Joaquim de Carvalho de
Araujo Jose Soares Menezes Lamberto Freitas Lino Xavier Nunes Luis Antonio Soares Manuel
(no surname) Manuel Moniz Mariano da Costa Sarmento Matias Marcal Soares Pedro Freitas
Romeo da Conceicao Salvador da Silva Venancio (no surname)
The 26 prisoners were rounded up by the Indonesian military at midnight on 30 October
1998 and it is believed they were subjected to violent beatings, hit with gun butts and
thrown into the waiting military vehicles. They arrived at the Balide military prison at
4.00am the following morning.
It is believed the prisoners were transferred to the Balide military prison because
they had openly expressed their political views. ETHRC sources reported that Indonesian
authorities said the 26 prisoners had disturbed other prisoners by shouting slogans such
as "Viva Xanana" and "Viva Independence". It is believed the prisoners
had also participated in a hunger strike which was undertaken in late August to support
calls for the release of Xanana Gusmao, the jailed leader of the East Timorese resistance.
The prisoners' families and legal representatives became aware of the move the day
after the prisoners were transferred and have since been allowed to visit them. However,
the ETHRC remains concerned for the prisoners' safety as prisoners in military detention
are routinely subjected to torture and ill-treatment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa Indonesia or
your own language:
* expressing concern that the 26 political prisoners were subjected to ill-treatment
during their transfer to the Balide military prison; * seeking assurances that they will
not face torture and further ill-treatment at the Balide military prison and that they
will be treated humanely in accordance with international standards; and * seeking
assurances that they will have continuing access to members of their family, humanitarian
assistance and legal representation.
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. MINISTER PROF. DR. MULADI, SH Minister of Justice Menteri Kehakiman Jl H.R. Rasuna
Said Blok X VI Kav. 4-5 Kuningan Jakarta Selatan INDONESIA Faxes: +62 21 525 3095
Telegrams: Justice Minister Muladi, Jakarta, Indonesia
3. MILITARY COMMANDER REGION IX/UDAYANA (includes East Timor) General Syahrir MS
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:
4. 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
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 23 December 1998
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