Subject: UA13/99 Dare refugees atacked
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 17:17:51 -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: Ana
Noronha
URGENT ACTION 12 September 1999
NAMES: One unidentified East Timorese refugee (female) - killed One unidentified East
Timorese refugee (male)
AND: Up to 100,000 East Timorese refugees in Dare
VIOLATIONS: Extrajudicial Execution / Possible disappearance / "Shooting
Attack" / Intimidation / Persecution / Fear of Safety
LOCATION: Dare, East Timor
Ref: UA13/99
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is gravely concerned for the safety of up to
100,000 East Timorese refugees who have taken refuge in the town of Dare, 9km south of the
capital city Dili. There are conflicting reports that the town of Dare is currently under
attack by Kopassus members (Special Forces Command) of the Indonesian military. The ETHRC
is currently endeavouring to confirm reports on the situation in Dare.
ETHRC sources have confirmed that there was a shooting attack in Dare on Saturday 11
September by about 50 Kopassus soldiers in which one unidentified East Timorese female
refugee was killed during the shooting attack. An unidentified East Timorese man was
wounded during the attack and was taken away by Kopassus soldiers. Despite internal steps
taken to locate him, his whereabouts is unknown. Sources have also confirmed that a German
priest, Fr. Albert Garim, was killed on Saturday night in Dare by Kopassus. It is believed
the Indonesian soldiers made intimidating threats to return to Dare. The Indonesian
soldiers are believed to be stationed only fifteen minutes away from Dare.
The refugees who fled the UNAMET compound two days ago are believed to have sought
refuge in Dare. A majority of the refugees are women, children and elderly people. The
situation of the refugees in Dare is extremely grave. There is no food available for the
refugees and they have been forced to resort to eating roots, which have caused them to
experience diarrhoea. There are also no sanitation facilities available and the threat of
disease is imminent.
The ETHRC will be issuing press releases on the unfolding developments in Dare.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English,
Bahasa Indonesia or your own language:
* expressing concern for the safety of up to100,000 refugees in Dare, especially the
unidentified male refugee who was taken away and is reported missing;
* expressing outrage at the killing of the female refugee and the ongoing intimidation of
the refugee population in Dare;
* calling for humanitarian aid agencies to be guaranteed unrestricted access to the
refugees in East Timor and in West Timor;
* calling for immediate evacuation under the protection of the United Nations of any East
Timorese wanting to leave East Timor or Indonesia, and the provision of temporary refuge
in Australia or other safe countries;
* calling for the United Nations to immediately take up its responsibility for East Timor
and send forces to protect the East Timorese people, as Indonesia has forfeited the right
to further involvement in East Timor;
* calling on the Australian, New Zealand, United States and other governments to
immediately send an armed force to East Timor to protect the East Timorese people, with or
without UN participation; and
* calling for immediate and unrestricted access to be allowed to all areas of East Timor
for UN human rights monitors, international and local human rights organisations, in order
to provide ongoing human rights monitoring, and in particular to conduct a full and
impartial investigation of the recent violations committed by military backed militia; and
* calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for human rights
violations against East Timorese civilians in East and West 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. 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
3. MINISTER FOR DEFENCE FORCES General Wiranto Menteri Pertahanan Keamanan RI Jl. Medan
Merdeka Barat No 13-14 Jakarta 10110 INDONESIA Telephone: +62 21 366 184 Fax: +62 21 3845
178
4. RESORT MILITARY COMMAND (KOREM) Colonel Mohamed Noer Muis Markas KOREM
164/Wiradharma Dili East Timor Faxes: +62 390 21 624 Telegrams: Colonel Muis, East Timor
(Indonesia)
5. MILITARY COMMANDER REGION IX/UDAYANA (includes East Timor) Major General Adam Damiri
Pangdam IX/Udayana Markas Besar KODAM IX/Udayana Denpasar, Bali INDONESIA Telephone: +62
361 228 095 Telegrams: Pangdam IX/Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
6. United Nations Secretary-General Secretary General Kofi Anan New York, NY 10017 USA
Fax: +1 212 963 2155 E-mail: ecu@un.org Or: webadmin.hchr@unog.ch
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 October 27, 1999.
World Leaders Contact List The East Timorese need you
to speak out for them
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