ASIET News Updates - April 20, 1999 =================================== * Wiranto: UN troops will be allowed after a decision on the option * Residents raise separatist flags in Aceh * Update on incidents/killings in Timor * Parties push ahead with premature campaigning ---------------------------------------------------------------- Wiranto: UN troops will be allowed after a decision on the option ================================================================= Suara Pembaruan - April 19, 1999 (summary) ABRI commander General Wiranto said that East Timor is still part of Indonesia and that any violations of the law by either side are intolerable. Asked about the entry of UN forces, he said this would happen at the appropriate time, ie when a decision has been taken regarding the option that is being offered. He denied that conditions in Timor were tense and said that everything was under control. The army and the police there were under orders to keep things in order and to prosecute those who break the law. Foreign Minister Ali Alatas that the conflicts were part of a longstanding conflict between the pro- and anti-integration groups and it would not influence the tripartite meeting at the UN later this week. Monday evening Justice Minister is due to meet Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao at his Department when he will ask Xanana to retract his statement regarding war (sic). He denied that Xanana would be returned to prison because this would be a setback, but said he could speak harshly to Xanana. The atmosphere in Dili appears to be calm though all shops are closed and the markets are quiet, while schools are not functioning. The governor presided over a ceremony in which he inaugurated civilian security guards (Pam Swakarsa) for Dili district, which included members of the Aitarak militia. In Becora, pro-independence youth gathered together while many residents evacuated to a safer place. The security forces have been unable to gain control of the area because the roads are blocked by pro-independence groups who want to seek vengance against pro-integration groups. In Dili proper the streets are being patrolled by Brimob. The police chief admitted that his forces were still unable to take charge in some areas because the roads are blocked. Manuel Carrascalao, speaking from Bishop Belo's home said he lamented the violence at his house and the death of his son. Why had they killed him and not me, he said, because I am the one involved in politics. Residents raise separatist flags in Aceh ======================================== Agence France Presse - April 19, 1999 Lhokseumawe -- Residents Monday raised separatist flags over their homes in several villages of Indonesia's northern Aceh district, a day after the flag figured prominently in a mass rally here, a witness said. In the colorful rally on Sunday hundreds of people including scores of young children paraded through the city's main avenue for several hours, cheered by hundreds of onlookers. "This was the first time ever that the independence flag has been openly displayed," a resident said. "Today [Monday] most homes in the villages in the northern Aceh district are flying the separatist flag," he added The flag has a bright red background contrasting with the white crescent and star symbol trapped between two thick black horizontal stripes. The children in Sunday's parade wore red headbands bearing the same symbol and mounted large flags on the backs of bicycles. "People were overjoyed and welcomed the flying of the flag, widely seen here as a symbol of independence," the source added. A few police officers stood by and largely ignored the yells of some students who demanded a referendum on self-determination, he said. The staunchly Moslem province of Aceh is home to the Free Aceh movement which has fought for an Islamic state in the oil-rich region since the mid-1970s. President B.J. Habibie, in his first visit to the provincial capital Banda Aceh in March, promised an inquiry into human rights violations during the ten years the province was under virtual military control. He said civilian or military offenders would be taken to court. Habibie has brushed aside calls for a referendum on self- determination in Aceh. Separatist sentiment has been strongest in districts where the military conducted heavy-handed operations against rebels for a decade until last year. Discontent at the central government has also been fuelled by complaints that it is exploiting the region's natural resources, including its oil and gas reserves, without little of the profits going to Aceh itself. Update on incidents/killings in Timor ===================================== Fortilos - April 16, 1999 [The following summarises a report from Yayasan HAK which was circulated in Bahasa by Fortilos.] 1. With regard to the casualties at Manuel Carrascalao's house, we have spoken by phone to a neighbour who said that yesterday, 17/4, he was able to count eighteen corpses, but there could have been more as, besides men, women and children were also in the house. In a quivering voice -- because his home was full of security officers -- he said that after the house was attacked, the security forces came and blocked the road outside the house and prevented anyone from passing. That evening several army trucks arrived and took away the refugees who had survived and those who were injured to an unknown destination. He thought that the corpses were also removed. As yet, we have no information about where the victims and refugees are and there have been no burials reported in any of the known cemeteries or prayers said for the dead. It seems that it will be the same as what happened after Sanata Cruz in 1991 and Liquisa on 6 April 1999, that the bodies will be buried in concealed graves to eliminate all traces. Manuel Carrascalao himself is still taking refuge in the Bishop's house while his home is heavily guarded by the police. 2. At 10 am today, the pro-integration militia were active in Becora, where they killed two people and injured several others with gunfire. The incident began when local residents were startled by the appearance of a vehicle and a motor-bike both full of militia, driving from west to east. As they drove past Becora market, they started firing into the air. People in the vicinity panicked and fled in all directions for protection. Nothing is yet known about what exactly happened to result in the deaths and injuries. 3. On Sunday, 18/4, we were told by people who had just arrived from Maliana that about seventy people living in Cailako have been murdered or have disappeared. This came after an attack on a pro-integration leader from the Bobonaro district named Manuel Soares Gama on 13/4. As previously reported, Falintil made an attack on a vehicle on 13/4 in Cailaco sub-district, district of Bobonaro, killing Manuel Soares Gama and several of his followers. In response to this attack, troops from the local military command, Kodim, under the leadership of Kodim commander Lt-Colonel Burhanuddin, shot dead five local residents in the presence of local administration chiefs (Muspida). During the next few days, Kodim troops along with members of the Halilintar militia rounded up and killed a number of local residents who were suspected of collaborating with FALINTIL. Parties push ahead with premature campaigning ============================================= Jakarta Post - April 19, 1999 Jakarta -- Although the official election campaign period is still a month away, political parties across the country have moved their electioneering activities into high gear. In some cities, motorcades of party supporters in colorful uniforms and bandanas snaked through small streets and major thoroughfares. No fatalities or violence has been reported over the past three days from electioneering, which is officially scheduled for May 19 through June 4. However, there were some reports of harassment. The Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily said on Sunday a dozen members of ruling Golkar Party's security force were harassed in thc Central Java town of Boyolali as they returned from a gathering with party chairman Akbar Tandjung. They were blocked by a group of unidentified people on Jl. Merbabu, and were allowed to go after being forced to remove their party uniforms, the newspaper said. Akbar and a number of party executives were in Boyolali for a reading of the Koran to mark Islamic New Year, the first day of Muharram on Saturday, which was celebrated on Sunday The Jakarta Post's correspondent in Boyolali witnessed the arrival of Akbar's convoy -- comprising about 2,000 people, far lower than the expected 20,000 -- at Sonolayu stadium, and said the supporters were jeered at by locals. When Akbar waved to the crowd, most people responded by showing the finger sign of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) led by popular politician Megawati Soekarnoputri. Tension was felt when some people in the crowd shouted to Golkar's security personnel -- numbering over 1,000, according to provincial task-force commander Bambang Raya -- "You're thugs". Bambang said the security force included members of Golkar's youth wings AMPI, PPM and FKPPI. In his speech, Akbar said: "Yes, indeed there are people intimidating us, but don't be afraid to stand up to them. I am here, and no riots have broken out as some press reports said would happen if I came." Akbar was referring to strong opposition, voiced by various parties, to his planned visit to Central Java, following a clash between Golkar members and supporters of PDI Perjuangan. However, Akbar's convoy chose an alternate route to continue their journey to Surakarta, another central Java town, reportedly to avoid mobs. No mass gathering was held by Golkar in Surakarta, following widely reported rejection by locals, Antara reported on Saturday. Another incident took place in East Java's capital of Surabaya. A confrontation between supporters of the United Development Party (PPP) and the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Party, was reported by ANteve on Sunday. No injuries were reported. The news agency also reported electioneering by PPP in West Java's capital of Bandung and Jakarta, the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR) in Jakarta, PDI Perjuangan in Jakarta, the Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) in Central Kalimantan's capital of Palangka Raya and the National Democratic Party (PND) in Lampung. Meanwhile, at least 24 of the 32 parties represented in Cirebon West Java, held on Saturday a joint street rally, calling for peaceful campaigning, the news agency said. In Bandung on Saturday, influential Madurese figure Alawy Muhamad of PPP's board of advisers called on Muslims across the nation to unite and vote for PPP "If PPP wins, the party will strive to introduce Islamic teaching into the life of society," he told a crowd of hundreds. A street convoy followed after the gathering, but no violence occurred, Antara reported. In the Pasar Minggu area in South Jakarta, the chairman of the Jakarta chapter of PDI Perjuangan, Roy B.B. Janis, officially opened 70 "command outposts" scattered across the city. As many as 2 500 have already been established in Jakarta, he was quoted as saying. The outposts, usually small bamboo huts painted red, are placed at intersections and street corners as bases for supporters to gather or conduct party activities. Also in Jakarta, thousands of supporters of PDR gathered on Saturday in the Senayan indoor sports stadium to declare the establishment of the party. Press reports have linked PDR to Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Adi Sasono. Party chairman Latief Burhan denied there was a connection, the news agency said. In Lampung, PND announced on Sunday Megawati's elder brother, Guntur Soekarnoputra, was it's candidate for president. In Palangka Raya on Saturday, PUDI chairman Sri Bintang Pamungkas introduced the party's political platform for "total reforrn". ********************************************************** Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) PO Box 458, Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Phone: 61-(0)2-96901230 Fax : 61-(0)2-96901381 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WWW : http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet/ Free Xanana Gusmao, Budiman Sujatmiko and Dita Sari! Free all political prisoners in Indonesia and East Timor! ********************************************************** Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
