I'm spreading this in answer to a plea. Hope everyone else will do likewise. Sorry it's off topic on some lists but it really is urgent. Dion ------------------------------------------ ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: East Timor action >Sender: AI Australia - Queensland Region ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Reply-To: AI Australia - Queensland Region ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Dear Friends > >Below is an urgent action on East Timor - please do what you can to spread >this as far as possible - also send copies to your local members - if you >can, phone your local member as well to get them to put pressure on the >Australian government. > >Best wishes > >AI Qld E Timor team > >RAPID RESPONSE ACTION >amnesty international australia >PUBLIC AIA Index: ETA RRA 30/99 > >Concern - Post-Ballot Human Rights Violations >EAST TIMOR >3 September, 1999 > > See AI Index:ASA 21/110/99 and ASA 21/111/99 >While the ballot on 30 August was able to take place and the people of >East Timor were able to cast their votes, the human rights situation >continues to deteriorate. Amnesty International's primary concerns are: >* armed pro-integration militias continue to commit human rights >violations with impunity and continue to be openly supported by the TNI >and in some cases by the Indonesian police >* the response of the Indonesian police continues to be totally >inadequate >* UNAMET staff, in particular local staff, are being targeted by >militias. Journalists covering militia operations have also been >threatened and attacked precisely because they are witnessing and >recording human rights violations committed >* Pro-independence supporters continue to be at risk of abduction, >unlawful killing and "disappearance" by militias >There are some 4,000 local UNAMET staff in East Timor, who are >considered to be at particular risk. In an attack in Babo Leten village >in Ermera, local UNAMET >staff were particularly targeted. Under the agreements governing the >ballot process Indonesia must provide security for UNAMET staff. >Journalists, both national and international, have also been threatened >and attacked in recent days, and as a result many are now leaving the >territory. Journalists were targeted during the 1 September, 1999 >attacks around the UNAMET headquarters. On 2 September 1999 around 30 >Indonesian journalists are reported to have left because of threats >received by the militia. >A father and his child are reported to have been abducted on 30 August >1999 by members of the Dili-based militia group, Aitarak. Andrade, >reportedly a captain in the Indonesian army, and his child were leaving >Dili by car on their way to Liquicia, are said to have been stopped by a >militia roadblock. Their whereabouts are now unknown, and there is >concern that they may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Aitarak >members are reportedly guarding exits from Dili, including the air and >seaports. According to reports they are preventing East Timorese from >leaving the province. >BACKGROUND INFORMATION: >Since early April, military groups, supported by the Tentara Nasional >Indonesia (Indonesian National Army-TNI), have carried out arbitrary >detentions, torture and extra-judicial killings during violent attacks >across East Timor. The next few days, in the run up to and immediately >after the announcement of the results of the ballot are likely to be >extremely volatile. Beyond that there remains considerable uncertainty >around security during the interim period (ie. the period before the >results are put to the new Indonesian government for ratification which >is expected to take place in October and November). Indonesia will >continue to be responsible for security during this period. As the >situation deteriorates, action must be taken to ensure that the world's >attention remains focused on East Timor. >LETTER WRITING ACTION: >Please send letters/faxes to the Prime Minister and the Minister for >Foreign Affairs, urging them to pressure the Indonesian government, >particularly in the period when foreign observers and media leave the >country. Specifically ask them to: >* continue putting pressure on the Indonesian government in this >critical period; stress the responsibility of all governments to ensure >that East Timorese people can live in safety and security, and that >continued intervention is needed before further lives are lost >* put pressure on Indonesian authorities to protect local UNAMET staff >* put pressure on the Indonesian government to ensure that members of >national and international media can carry out their work without >threats, intimidation or risk of further human rights violations >* ask the Indonesian government to take action to guarantee the safety >of Andrade and his child who are believed to have been abducted by >members of the militia group Aitarak at a roadblock in Dili on 30 August >1999 > >APPEALS TO: >Hon John Howard MP >Prime Minister >Parliament House >Canberra ACT 2600 >FAX: 02 6273 4100 >Salutation: Dear Prime Minister >Copies to: >Hon Alexander Downer MP >Minister for Foreign Affairs >Parliament House >Canberra ACT 2600 >FAX: 02 6273 4112 >Salutation: Dear Minister > >PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with AIA if you are sending >appeals after 12 October 1999 > >--- End Forwarded Message --- > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- This is the Neither public email list, open for the public and general discussion. To unsubscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=unsubscribe To subscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=subscribe For information on [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.neither.org/lists/public-list.htm For archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
