Subject: ETHRC UA 16/98 Ill-treatment of political prisonersEAST 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
11 November 1998
NAMES: 26 East Timorese political prisoners
VIOLATIONS: Ill-treatment / Fear of torture
LOCATION: Dili, East Timor
Ref: UA 16/98
_________________________________________________________________________
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is concerned for the safety of
26 East Timorese political prisoners who have been transferred from Becora
prison in Dili, to a military prison in Balide, Dili.
The transferred prisoners have been identified as follows:
Adelio de Fatima Barreto H Agostino Moreira
Agostino Vital Alberto Ximenes
Bernardo da Silva Carlos Freitas
Constancio C Santos Domingos Pereira
Eduardo dos Santos Eusebio Ximenes
Floriano da Costa Xavier Joao Alves Trindade
Joao dos Reis Joaquim de Carvalho de Araujo
Jose Soares Menezes Lamberto Freitas
Lino Xavier Nunes Luis Antonio Soares
Manuel (no surname) Manuel Moniz
Mariano da Costa Sarmento Matias Marcal Soares
Pedro Freitas Romeo da Conceicao
Salvador da Silva Venancio (no surname)
The 26 prisoners were rounded up by the Indonesian military at midnight on
30 October 1998 and it is believed they were subjected to violent beatings,
hit with gun butts and thrown into the waiting military vehicles. They
arrived at the Balide military prison at 4.00am the following morning.
It is believed the prisoners were transferred to the Balide military prison
because they had openly expressed their political views. ETHRC sources
reported that Indonesian authorities said the 26 prisoners had disturbed
other prisoners by shouting slogans such as "Viva Xanana" and "Viva
Independence". It is believed the prisoners had also participated in a
hunger strike which was undertaken in late August to support calls for the
release of Xanana Gusmao, the jailed leader of the East Timorese resistance.
The prisoners' families and legal representatives became aware of the move
the day after the prisoners were transferred and have since been allowed to
visit them. However, the ETHRC remains concerned for the prisoners' safety
as prisoners in military detention are routinely subjected to torture and
ill-treatment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa
Indonesia or your own language:
* expressing concern that the 26 political prisoners were subjected to
ill-treatment during their transfer to the Balide military prison;
* seeking assurances that they will not face torture and further
ill-treatment at the Balide military prison and that they will be treated
humanely in accordance with international standards; and
* seeking assurances that they will have continuing access to members of
their family, humanitarian assistance and legal representation.
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 PROF. DR. MULADI, SH
Minister of Justice
Menteri Kehakiman
Jl H.R. Rasuna Said Blok X VI Kav. 4-5
Kuningan
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Faxes: +62 21 525 3095
Telegrams: Justice Minister Muladi, Jakarta, 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 23
December 1998
Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia