Subject: UA 9/97PR2: Disappearance
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 11:31:01 -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
DATE: 5 October 1998
NAMES: Felisberto Maria dos Santos, 44 (alias Sole-Solep) Jose Sobral, 40 Marcelino
Fatima dos Santos, 29
VIOLATIONS: "Disappearance" / Arbitrary detention / Torture and ill-treatment
LOCATION: Unknown location in East Timor
Ref: UA 9/97PR2 Previous reports: UA 9/97; UA PR
The East Timor Human Rights Centre has received new information in relation to
Felisberto Maria dos Santos (alias Sole-Solep), Jose Sobral and Marcelino Fatima dos
Santos who were arrested on 30 March, 1997, by Indonesian security force personnel (see UA
9/97 and UA 9/97PR for details).
It is believed the men were all subjected to lengthy arbitrary detention without access
to legal representation or members of their families and that they were subjected to
torture during interrogation. Sole-Solep's whereabouts is still unknown and it is believed
he may still be held in incommunicado detention at an unknown detention centre. It is not
known whether Jose Sobral and Marcelino Fatima dos Santos have been released as no further
information is available. A fourth man, Domingos Laranjeira, who was also arrested with
the group, has already been confirmed as released.
Chronology
The four men were arrested on the morning of 30 March 1997 in Batugade, Atabae
sub-district, while travelling by motorbike from Liquica to Atambua in West Timor. At the
time of their arrest, they were stopped by a road-block and attacked by members of the SGI
(Special Intelligence Unit) who were wearing civilian clothes. The men were arbitrarily
arrested, blindfolded, thrown into a car and taken to SGI headquarters at Colmera, Dili.
That night three of the men, Sole-Solep, Jose Sobral and Marcelino Fatima dos Santos, were
taken by boat in the direction of Atauro Island. On the way they were stripped naked and
thrown into the open sea. The following morning they were returned to SGI headquarters at
Colmera where they were interrogated and subjected to electric shock. It is believed
Sole-Solep received the most severe torture.
On 4 April 1997 the four men were again blindfolded and transferred to the Rumah Merah
(Red House) in Baucau, a notorious Indonesian military torture centre. Sole-Solep was
beaten up on the way. Domingos Laranjeira was transferred to the Rumah Merah in a separate
car and he was later released. On 5 April, Sole-Solep, Jose and Marcelino were put into a
cell together and detained there until May 7 1997. On 7 May Marcelino was transferred to
Kopassus (Special Forces Command) headquarters in Lospalos and the following day
Sole-Solep was transferred to an unknown detention centre. As at 13 December 1997, Jose
Sobral was still in detention at the Rumah Merah in Baucau.
Fears for safety
Sole-Solep's family have made inquiries of the Indonesian military on four separate
occasions to try to locate him, however their inquiries have been unsuccessful and
Sole-Solep's whereabouts is still unknown. In the circumstances, the East Timor Human
Rights Centre holds grave fears for the safety of Sole-Solep. If he is still in detention,
he is at heightened risk of torture and ill-treatment especially if he continues to be
denied access to members of his family and independent legal counsel. Fears are also held
for the other two men, Jose Sobral and Marcelino Fatima dos Santos, as no further
information is available about their cases.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English,
Bahasa Indonesia or your own language:
* seeking clarification of the whereabouts of Felisberto Maria dos Santos (Sole-Solep),
Jose Sobral and Marcelino Fatima dos Santos; * if any of them are still in detention,
calling for their immediate and unconditional release; * seeking assurances that they will
not face any further torture or ill-treatment in detention and that they will be treated
humanely and in accordance with international standards; * seeking assurances that they
will have full and continuing access to their families and independent legal counsel; and
* calling on the Indonesian authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation into
the disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of the three men, prosecuting those
found responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
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) 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
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 16 November 1998
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