> Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 18:36:40 +0000 > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: East Timor Arbitrary Detention > > 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 9416 2746 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Director: Ms Maria Brett Chair: Bishop Hilton Deakin > ______________________________________________________________________ > URGENT ACTION > 19 September 1997 > > NAMES: Joaquim Santana Constancio Chantal dos Santos, 21 > Fernao Malta Lebre Jojo dos Santos > Ivo Miranda Francisco Caldeira > Julio Santana Jose Ximenes > Domingos Natalino > Soares (no first name) > Laurindo Alkino Da Costa > Fernando Lere > Nuno dos Santos > > VIOLATION: Arbitrary Detention > > LOCATION: Semarang, Indonesia and Dili, East Timor > > Ref: UA 23/97 > ____________________________________________________________________________ > > The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) holds grave fears for the safety > of up to thirteen East Timorese men who were arrested in Semarang, Indonesia > and Dili in East Timor. ETHRC sources have reported that Joaquim Santana, > Domingos Natalino, Fernao Malta Lebre, Ivo Miranda and Julio Santana are > currently detained at POLDA (local police station) in Semarang following > their arrest on 14 September, 1997. > > According to the Indonesian daily newspaper, "Republika", three other East > Timorese students, Nano, Soares (no first name) and Laurindo Alkino Da Costa > were arrested on the same day and are also believed to be in detention at > POLDA. According to the Indonesian report, the three youths were arrested in > relation to an alleged bomb explosion at a house in Demak, east Semarang, > that took place on Saturday 13 September. The Indonesian report states that > another five unidentified East Timorese students are being held in detention > at POLDA in relation to the alleged bomb explosion. It is not clear whether > the unidentified five are the same as Joaquim Santana, Domingos Natalino, > Fernao Malta Lebre, Ivo Miranda and Julio Santana, however it is believed > they are the same people. Other sources have reported that two other East > Timorese men, Fernando Lere and Nuno dos Santos, are also being held at > POLDA in relation to the incident. > > ETHRC sources have confirmed that Constancio Chantal dos Santos, Jojo dos > Santos, Francisco Caldeira and Jose Ximenes are currently in police custody > at POLRES (Regional Police Headquarters) in Dili. The men were arrested at > 8am on 16 September after disembarking in Dili. According to Amnesty > International, the arrests are believed to be related to bombs found on the > men by the Indonesian authorities. It is believed Constancio Chantal dos > Santos and Jojo dos Santos have been accused of breaching Articles 106, 108 > and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP). These articles relate to > rebellion against the state. The two men have also been accused of violating > another law in relation to the use of weapons. The ETHRC believes the > incidents in Semarang and Dili are related. > > The East Timor Human Rights Centre holds grave fears for the safety of the > thirteen East Timorese men as East Timorese detainees are routinely > subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in military or police custody, > especially if they are denied access to their families and independent legal > council. > > RECOMMENDED ACTION: > Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa > Indonesia or your own language: > > * seeking clarification of the identities of the East Timorese detained at > POLDA in Semarang and POLRES in Dili; > * seeking details of the charges (if any) against Jaoquim Santana, Domingos > Natalino, Fernao Malta Lebre, Ivo Miranda, Julio Santana, Soares, Laurindo > Alkino Da Costa, Nuno dos Santos, Fernando Lere, Francisco Caldeira and Jose > Ximenes and calling for their immediate and unconditional release if they > have not been charged with a recognisable offence under existing laws; > * seeking assurances that none of the detainees will face torture or > ill-treatment in detention and that they will be treated humanely and in > accordance with international standards; and > * seeking assurances that they will have access to their families and > independent legal representation. > > SEND APPEALS TO: > > 1. 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 > > 2. CHIEF OF POLICE FOR EAST TIMOR > Colonel Atok Rismanto > Kapolda Timor Timur > Dili, East Timor > INDONESIA > Telegrams: Kapolda, Dili, East Timor > > ALSO SEND COPIES TO: > > 3. MINISTER OF 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 > > 4. SECRETARY GENERAL, NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS > Prof. Dr. Baharuddin Lopa > Sekretaris Jenderal, Komisi Nasional Hak Azasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) > Jl Latuharhary No 4 B, > Menteng Jakarta Pusat > INDONESIA > Phone/Fax : +62 21 392 5227 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > and to diplomatic representatives of Indonesia in your country. > > PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY > Check with the East Timor Human Rights Centre if sending appeals after 31 > October 1997 > > > >