Subject: UA/1199 Priests/Nuns Killed URGENT
ACTION
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 21:40:28 -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 8 September 1999
NAMES: Bishop Basilio Nascimento ) Injured/ property destruction
Fr Hilario Pereira, Catholic Priest ) Fr Francisco Soares, Catholic Priest ) Deaths
confirmed 1 Unidentified Catholic Priest
Fr Luis Bonaparte ) Believed to be killed
Sr Margarida, Catholic Nun ) Deaths 3 Catholic Nuns (unidentified) ) confirmed
VIOLATIONS: Extra-judicial execution/ serious injury/destruction of property
LOCATION: Baucau, Suai, Fatumaca, Dili, East Timor
Ref: UA/1199
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is gravely concerned with the deteriorating
situation in East Timor. The ETHRC has received reliable information that today, September
8, Bishop Basilio was stabbed in the hand by militia while trying to protect refugees who
were seeking refuge in the Bishop's house. It was also reported that his house was burnt
and destroyed. The Bishop has since safely fled Baucau with Salesian priests. Information
about the refugees has yet to be confirmed.
The ETHRC has received confirmation from reliable sources that on Wednesday morning,
September 8, Sr Margarida, a Canossian nun, was killed in the Lecidere Church in Dili.
Also, that three Catholic priests, Fr Hilario, Fr Francisco Soares, an unidentified priest
and 3 unidentified Catholic nuns, who were living in Suai, were executed. It has also been
reported that Fr Luis Bonaparte was allegedly killed. These killings reportedly took place
between Monday September 6 and Wednesday, September 8. ETHRC is making every effort to
confirm the exact day. In the town of Fatumaca, the Catholic Salesian college was also
destroyed by militias. It was reported that most of the Suai city was burned.
ETHRC's reliable sources have confirmed that Catholic establishments in Dili have been
systematically attacked by militia. The following are the names of the establishments that
have been burnt: Franciscan Convent in Taibesi, Salesian College in Comoro, Dili, the SVD
Convent in Kuluhun, Dili, the Nuns Convent in Kuluhun, Dili the Cathedral in Dili, Moatel
Church in Dili, the Seminary, Balide, Dili.
The pattern of violence against the spiritual leaders of East Timor and the other
priests and nuns is extremely worrying. The Catholic Church holds a special place in East
Timor in that it was always able to provide protection for East Timorese civilians who
were experiencing violence or intimidation. The Catholic Church was seen as a sanctuary.
But now, the last line of protection and the international voice for the East Timorese is
swiftly being destroyed.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English,
Bahasa Indonesia or your own language:
* expressing outrage at the attack on Bishop Basilio Nacimento and the destruction of his
house;
* expressing outrage that the extra-judicial execution of the 4 Catholic priests, Fr
Hilario, Fr Luis, the unidentified priest, Sr Margarida and the unidentified nuns;
* calling on foreign Embassies in Jakarta to provide sanctuary for East Timorese who are
seeking protection there;
* 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.
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 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 20, 1999. End.
Back to September Menu
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
World Leaders Contact List
Main Postings Menu |
