---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Precedence: bulk PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/124/99 This is a limited action. Please restrict appeals to 15 per section EXTRA 121/99 Fear for safety / Possible ?disappearance? / Fear of torture or ill-treatment 1 September 1999 EAST TIMOR Deomentino de Fatima, aged 24 Francisco do Nascimento, aged 35 Unknown Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of three people believed to be in the custody of the Dili-based militia group Aitarak.= Reports indicate that two of them have been badly beaten and that one may have been killed. Deomentino de Fatima was abducted by Aitarak members within the last few ays in Taci Tolu, just outside Dili, as he and his family were travelling by car from their home village of Lauhata, Liquica sub-district, to Dili. After a flag of the Conselho Nacional da Resist=EAncia Timorense (CNRT) National Council of Timorese Resistance was discovered in the car, Deomentino de Fatima was= beaten and kicked and taken to an Aitarak post in Comoro, Dili. His family were murrdered to return home. They have had no information on his whereabouts. Francisco do Nascimento, from Ailok Laran, Bairro Pite Village, West Dili Sub-district, Dili, has not been seen since 27 August 1999 - the day in hich at least four people were killed during clashes between militia members= and pro-independence supporters in the Kuluhan area of Dili. When his wife went= to look for him at Aitarak headquarters she was reportedly told that there were two Franciscos in their custody and she was threatened with detention. According to one report Francisco do Nascimento has been severely beaten in custody and possibly killed. The day after his ?disappearance? his motor bike, shoes and belt were found in Dili. The third person, a pro-independence supporter whose name is not known, was reportedly handed over to Aitarak by police at the police resort (Polres) in Metinaro Sub-district, Dili, where he had been in custody. According to unconfirmed reports several Aitarak members had reportedly gone to the= police resort to urge the police to hand him over. The situation in Dili has been very tense since the 31 August ballot in= which the East Timorese voted on whether to accept special autonomy within= Indonesia. On 1 September there was a serious confrontation between militia members and pro-independence close to the UNAMET (United Nations Mission in East Timor) headquarters in Dili. At least one person, believed to be Georges Francisco Bonoparte, is known to have been killed. His political affiliation is= unknown. Journalists covering the events were also threatened by militia members and forced to seek refuge, along with local East Timorese, in the UNAMET= compound. Buildings are also reported to have been set on fire and shots fired by the militias. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Serious human rights violations, including unlawful killings,= "disappearances", arbitrary arrests, threats and intimidation have continued following the= ballot in East Timor. The majority of the victims, both during the popular= consultation process and after the ballot, have been supporters of independence for East Timor. UNAMET staff, in particular local staff, national and international journalists, non-governmental organizations and humanitarian workers have= also been threatened, intimidated and attacked. The majority of the violations have been carried out by members of pro- integration militia groups, though the armed opposition group, Falintil, has also committed abuses. There is clear evidence that the Indonesian military= are supporting the militias, including eyewitness accounts of direct military involvement in many of the attacks which have taken place. The Indonesian police have also given support to the militias by failing to prevent attacks or to investigate reports of human rights violations. They are also known to be directly involved in other incidents such as the attack on the village of Memo on 27 August in which three people died. At least one of them is thought to have been shot dead by the police. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Bahasa Indonesia, English or your own language: - expressing concern for the safety of Deomentino de Fatima, Francisco do Nascimento and a third person, whose name is not known, who are believed to= be in Aitarak custody where they are at risk of torture or ill-treatment and unlawful killing; - urging the authorities to immediately provide information on their whereabouts and to take measures to ensure their safety and release if they are being held by Aitarak; - asking that they investigate and prosecute members of Aitarak found to be responsible for detaining the three; - asking that all militia groups are disarmed and disbanded and that, in the meantime, police prevent members of militia groups carrying out unlawful detentions and other human rights violations. APPEALS TO (please note that fax tones can be difficult to obtain. It is= better to try during local office hours - GMT +7): Commander Resort Military Command (Korem) 164/wiradharma (covers East Timor) Colonel Muhamad Noer Muis Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma Dili, East Timor, Indonesia Fax/Tel: + 62 390 321 624 (if voice answers please say ?fax?) Salutation: Dear Colonel Chief of Police For East Timor Colonel GM Timbul Silaen Kapolda Timor Timur Dili, East Timor Indonesia Fax/Tel: + 62 390 321 544 Salutation: Dear Colonel COPIES TO: Commander of The Armed Forces (TNI)/Minister For Defence And Security General Wiranto Panglima TNI Markas Besar TNI Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No 13 Jakarta Pusat Indonesia Faxes: + 62 21 36 1471 (Armed Forces HQ); + 62 21 37 8144 / + 62 21 35 6404 / + 62 21 384 5178 and to diplomatic representatives of Indonesia accredited to your country. PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,= or your section office, if sending appeals after 29 September 1999. ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 2 Sep 1999 jam 06:16:08 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
