For Immediate Release June 15, 1999
Contact: Charles Scheiner, 914-428-7299 John M. Miller (718)596-7668

IFET Encourages on UN Secretary-General to Oppose Violation of Timor Consultation Agreement

The International Federation for East Timor today urged U.N. Secretary -General Kofi Annan to oppose the appointment of one the most notorious paramilitary militia leaders to head the local civil defence unit in Dili, East Timor's capital. (The letter follows.)

Eurico Guterres head of the Dili-based Aitarak ('Thorn') militia was appointed to head the civil defence corps (PAM Swakarsa) of Dili by Domingos Soares, the district head.

"It is inconceivable that these known murderers should be given any role in safeguarding security," IFET wrote the Secretary-General. Guterres is also Deputy War Commander of the militia command known as Milisia Pro Otonomi (MPO). His appointment as head of the civil defence corps has been welcomed by Colonel Timbul Silaen, Indonesia' s chief of police of East Timor. The police are charged with responsibility for maintaining security for the August 8 U.N.-organized vote by the East Timorese on their political status. Indonesia has pledged that its police and military will remain neutral during the campaign leading up to the vote, but numerous violations have already occurred. "The Aitarak militia are in the forefront of the pro-integration campaign which is the very reason for their existence. They not only propagate their views in words but also by killing pro-independence leaders and activists," IFET told the Secretary-General. Indonesian police force have made it clear that they intend to use this civil defense corps composed of militia members for policing duties. IFET urged the Secretary-General to "call for the arrest and prosecution of Eurico Guterres and other members of the Aitarak militia for incitement and involvement in the killings that were perpetrated in Dili on 17 April" and to "call on the civil authorities in Dili to revoke the appointment of Eurico Guterres as head of the Dili civil defence corps and protest to the chief of police, Colonel Timbul Silaen, for endorsing the appointment." The International Federation for East Timor includes more than 35 member groups from 22 countries. It was founded in 1991 by East Timor support organizations from four continents as a clearinghouse for non-governmental initiatives on East Timor. IFET is accredited with the United Nations Department of Public Information. Its secretariat is in the Philippines. Further information on IFET can be found at http://www.etan.org/ifet/.

The text of the letter follows:

International Federation for East Timor (IFET)
U.N. Representative: Charles Scheiner
PO Box 1182, White Plains, NY 10602 USA
Tel:1-914-428-7299 fax:1-914-428-7383
ifet@etan.org  http://www.etan.org/ifet

15 June 1999

Hon. Kofi Annan
United Nations Secretary-General
By fax to 212-963-2155

Dear Excellency,

On Monday 7 June, the district head of Dili, Mr. Domingos Soares, announced that Eurico Guterres, one of the most notorious of the pro-integration militia leaders, has been appointed to head the civil defence corps (PAM Swakarsa) of the Dili administration.

As is widely known, Eurico Guterres is head of the Dili-based Aitarak (Thorn) militia. He is also Deputy War Commander of the militia command known as Milisia Pro Otonomi (MPO). His appointment as head of the civil defence corps has been welcomed by Colonel Timbul Silaen, chief of police of East Timor who heads the force entrusted under the 5 May Accords with responsibility for security in East Timor during the UN Consultation. Moreover, several hundred members of Aitarak are also to join the Dili civil defence corps.

Eurico Guterres stood on the steps of the Governor's House in Dili on the morning of 17 April this year and called on his men to go out and slaughter pro-independence activists. Within hours, at least twelve people had been killed at the house of Mr. Manuel Carrascalao, including Mr. Carrascalao's son.

Point (3) of your Memorandum of 4 May 1999 regarding security for the consultation calls for "the prompt arrest and prosecution of those who incite or threaten to use violence against others."

The Indonesian police force have made it clear that they intend to use this civil defence corps composed of militia members for policing duties. This contravenes Point (1) of the Agreement on Security for the Popular Consultation signed by yourself and the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal which states that "(T)he absolute neutrality of the TNI and the Indonesian Police Force is essential." The Aitarak militia are in the forefront of the pro- integration campaign. They propagate their views not only in words but also by killing pro-independence leaders and activists.

It is inconceivable that these known murderers have been given a role in safeguarding security. If they were assigned, for example, to guard registration centers, few East Timorese, who have come to know these killers well, would turn up for registration.

We therefore urge you, under the terms of the Accords entered into by Indonesian and Portugal on 5 May and your own Memorandum on Security Matters:

1. To call for the arrest and prosecution of Eurico Guterres and other members of the Aitarak militia for incitement and involvement in the killings that were perpetrated in Dili on 17 April.

2. To call on the civil authorities in Dili to revoke the appointment of Eurico Guterres as head of the Dili civil defence corps and protest to the chief of police, Colonel Timbul Silaen, for endorsing the appointment. We believe that these actions would be in the best interests of securing a peaceful environment for the holding of a free and fair ballot, and we turn to you to put a stop to this outrage.

Yours Sincerely, /s/
Charles A. Scheiner
United Nations Representative

Cc: Security Council Member States Media

IFET Member Organizations

Australia-East Timor Association
Australians for a Free East Timor
Brisbane East Timor Office (Australia)
Campaign for an Independent East Timor (South Australia)
East Timor International Support Centre (Australia)
East Timor Relief Assn. (Australia)
Friends of East Timor, West. Australia
Hobart East Timor Comm. (Australia)
Canadian Action for Indonesia and East Timor
East Timor Alert Network (Canada)
National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT, East Timor)
Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (Fiji)
East Timor Group of Committee of 100 (Finland)
Agir Pour Timor (France)
Association Solidarité Timor-Oriental (France)
Gesellschaft fur Bedrohte Volker (Germany)
Watch Indonesia! (Germany)
East Timor Roundtable (Hong Kong)
Indian Society for Human Rights
Forum Solidaritas Untuk Rakyat Timor Lorosae (Indonesia)
E. Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign
Latin American and Mediterranean Coalition for East Timor (Italy)
Free East Timor - Japan Coalition
East Timor Information Network (Malaysia)
International Platform of Jurists for East Timor (Netherlands)
Norwegian Cooperation Council for East Timor and Indonesia
Asia-Pacific Coalition on East Timor (Philippines)
A Paz é Possivel em Timor Leste (Portugal)
Commissão para os Direitos do Povo Maubere (Portugal)
Movimento Christão para a Paz (Port.)
Paz é Justica para Timor Leste (Port.)
East Timor Scotland Support Group
Instituto de Estudios Políticos para América Latina y Africa (Spain)
Östtimor Kommitten (Sweden)
TAPOL (U.K.)
British Coalition for East Timor
East Timor Action Network (USA)
International Secretariat, Parliamentarians for East Timor