Subject: ETHRC UA 1/99: Urgent situation in East
Timor
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 17:34:27 -1000
From: ethrc <ethrc@minihub.org>Precedence: bulk
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 27 January 1999
NAMES: Olandino Pereira, 52, farmer ) All Angelina de Jesus, 27, female, house-wife )
believed Luis Pereira, 15, student ) to have been Fernando Cardoso, 27 ) killed
Cipriano (no surname), 25, farmer ) All Alipio (no surname), 15, student ) believed
Silverio (no surname), 14, student ) to Rofina (no surname), 12, student ) have Joana (no
surname), 13, (female), student ) disappeared Rui (no surname), 16, student )
VIOLATIONS: Extra-judicial Executions / suspected Disappearances / Ill-treatment
LOCATION: Galitas village, Zumalai sub-district, Covalima district, East Timor
Ref: UA 1/99
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is extremely concerned about the
deteriorating situation in East Timor which has resulted in further killings, injuries and
disappearances, this time in the south of East Timor in the remote Zumalai sub-district.
At 10.00pm on 25 January 1999, members of the Indonesian military and armed civilian
militia groups launched an assault on the village of Galitas, shooting at the local
population. It is believed Olandino Pereira, Angelina de Jesus and 15 year old Luis
Pereira we shot dead during the assault. Sources have reported that Angelina de Jesus was
pregnant at the time she was killed.
Another two people, Adelino Barreto, 40, and Hermenegildo Freitas, 40, both farmers,
sustained serious injuries during the assault and are now receiving medical treatment at
the Audian Catholic hospital in Santo Paulus. According to an unconfirmed report, another
six people, five of them only children, disappeared following the Galitas assault. Their
current whereabouts is unconfirmed and ETHRC is taking immediate steps to try to locate
them.
Many others have had to flee their homes, holding grave fears for their personal
safety. At least two hundred people have fled from the village of Galitas and have sought
refuge in churches in Suai.
On 24 January, also in the Zumalai sub-district, Fernando Cardoso is believed to have
been killed by members of RATI (a para-military group believed to have been trained and
armed by the Indonesian military) and Indonesian military personnel from the marine post
at Cassa in Ainaro. Sources have alleged that Fernando's body was severely mutilated and
his limbs removed and that he was buried beside the road with his head still exposed.
Further information
In recent months, similar incidents have been occurring in many parts of East Timor.
There has been a noticeable increase in violence by local civilian militia groups, which
are intimidating and terrorising the East Timorese population. Many civilians are believed
to have fled from their homes in Maubara, Alas, Turiscai, Cailaco and Cassa and have fled
to Dili, where it is estimated more than 1,000 people have taken refuge.
The Indonesian military has claimed that the escalation of violence in East Timor is
nothing to do with the military but that the conflict is between different East Timorese
groups, those favouring independence and those favouring integration with Indonesia.
However, the involvement of the Indonesian military is quite clear as military forces have
initiated assaults on villages in various parts of East Timor, often in conjunction with
the civilian militia. Militia groups are also conducting a widespread campaign of terror,
with the support of the military. In fact, the Indonesian military is believed to have
actually admitted that civilian militia groups have been armed and trained by the
Indonesian military (Sydney Morning Herald, 27 January 1999).
The ETHRC is receiving reports that armed civilian militia groups are responsible for
serious human rights violations. There have also been allegations of violations committed
by pro-independence civilian groups, but these reports are still unconfirmed. The ETHRC
condemns human rights violations, whether perpetrated by pro-independence or
pro-integration groups, and calls on all East Timorese to immediately cease the use of
violence and to support the search for a solution to the long-standing East Timor conflict
through more peaceful means.
To avoid a further deterioration of the situation in East Timor, there is a clear need
for independent human rights monitoring in the territory. However, international human
rights organizations are currently denied access to East Timor and UN observers are
allowed very limited access. The ETHRC believes full and continuing access to East Timor
should be allowed for UN observers and international human rights organisations, including
access to areas which are believed to be completely closed to visitors, including local
NGOs, because of the escalation of violence.
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 East Timor, in particular, the
violations perpetrated by civilian militia groups which have been armed and trained by the
Indonesian military; * Expressing particular concern at the recent violations perpetrated
by members of ABRI and militia groups in the Zumalai sub-district, including the alleged
killings of Olandino Pereira, Angelina de Jesus, Luis Pereira and Fernando Cardoso; *
Requsting information about the whereabouts of Cipriano (no surname), Alipio (no surname),
15, Silverio (no surname), 14, Rofina, (no surname), 12, Joana, (no surname), 13, Rui, (no
surname), 16, all believed to have disappeared in Zumalai sub-district; * Calling for
immediate and continuing access to be allowed to all areas of East Timor for UN human
rights monitors and international human rights organizations, in order to provide ongoing
human rights monitoring, and in particular to conduct a full and impartial investigation
of the recent violations in Zumalai; and * Requesting the government of Indonesia to take
steps to immediately disarm all civilian militia groups in East Timor.
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. RESORT MILITARY COMMAND (KOREM) Colonel Tono Suratman Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma
Dili East Timor Faxes: +62 390 21 624 Telegrams: Colonel Suratman, East Timor (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 10 March 1999
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