Subject: AI EXTRA 62/99 EAST TIMOR Fear for safety
Date: 20 May 99 19:16:17 -0400
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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/43/99 20 May 1999
EXTRA 62/99 Fear for safety / possible "disappearance"
EAST TIMOR
Ramameta Halerik Januarii Anderade Stevao Pereira (21), student Agustinho da Costa
(24), student
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of the five men named above, who were
arrested between 19 and 20 May 1999.
Ramameta, Halerik and Januarii Anderade, who were arrested on 19 May by police in
Aileu, are now reportedly being held at regional police headquarters (POLDA) in Dili. All
are known to be supporters of independence.
Stevao Pereira and Agustinho da Costa were arrested the next day at around 1:30pm by
Rajawali, a special forces command (KOPASSUS) unit, together with troops from battalion
744. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.
They were arrested at the Politeknik institute in Hera, Dili, where they are students,
when they tried to go on campus to collect some belongings. Access to the campus is
currently being denied to students and teachers who are normally housed there. It is
currently occupied by members of Aitarak (Thorn) paramilitary unit. Four others arrested
at the same time have since been released.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since the beginning of April 1999, paramilitary groups, supported by the Tentara
Nasional Indonesia (TNI), Indonesian Armed Forces, have been responsible for violent
attacks and the arbitrary detention, torture and unlawful killing of people throughout
East Timor in an attempt to seek out supporters of independence for the region. On 6
April, at least 18 people, possibly many more, were killed in Liquisa when paramilitary
units - backed up by the TNI - attacked a church where around 2000 local residents had
sought refuge from earlier paramilitary assaults.
Since 17 April at least 18 people, possibly many more, are believed to have been killed
in Dili by paramilitary units. Despite the signing of a peace agreement on 21 April
between the TNI, the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), paramilitaries and
the political groups that support integration, the situation in Dili remains tense.
According to reports, at least four independence supporters were killed between 9 and
10 May. On 10 May there were reports of attacks on foreign journalists in Dili when
supporters of integration threw stones and shot at them near the municipal market.
Supporters of independence and human rights monitors, many of whom remain in hiding, are
still at risk of arrest or violent attacks.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Bahasa
Indonesia, English or your own language:
- urging the authorities to establish the whereabouts of Ramameta, Halerik, Januarii
Anderade, Stevao Pereira and Agustinho da Costa;
- asking the authorities to clarify any charges brought against the five men and that
they be given immediate, regular and continuing access to independent legal advice and
their families;
- urging the authorities to prevent the arrest of supporters of independence by either
paramilitary or military units;
- calling on the authorities to disarm and disband all paramilitary units.
APPEALS TO (Time difference = GMT + 7 hrs / BST + 6 hrs) (please note that fax tones
can be difficult to obtain at certain times):
Minister of Defence and Security
Gen. Wiranto [Salutation:Dear Minister] Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan Jl. Medan
Merdeka Jakarta 10110 Indonesia Telegrams: General Wiranto, Jakarta, Indonesia Faxes: + 62
21 381 4535 / 384 5178
Commander Resort Military Command (KOREM) 164/Wiradharma (covers East Timor)
Colonel Tono Suratman [Salutation:Dear Colonel Suratman] Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma
Dili East Timor, Indonesia Telegrams: Colonel Suratman, KOREM, Dili, East Timor, Indonesia
Faxes/Tel: + 62 390 321 624 or 62 390 321 512
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: Embassy of Indonesia, 38 Grosvenor Square,
London W1X 9AD. Fax: 0171 491 4993
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
President Jusuf Habibie Presiden RI Istana Negara Jl. Veteran Jakarta Pusat Indonesia
Faxes: + 62 21 526 8726 / 21 380 5511 / 21 345 7782 (via ministry of Foreign Affairs)
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 17 June 1999.
If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about + + the UA scheme in general,
please contact: + + Ray Mitchell / Becky Hess + + Amnesty International UK Section + + 99
- 119 Rosebery Avenue + + London EC1R 4RE email: ua@amnesty.org.uk
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