Precedence: bulk
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 9415 8218
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Chair: Bishop Hilton Deakin Director: Ana Noronha
URGENT ACTION
6 September 1999
NAMES: Aniceto Lopes Guterres
VIOLATIONS: Arbitrary Detention
LOCATION: Dili, East Timor
Ref: UA 9/99
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is gravely concerned for the
safety of Aniceto Lopes Guterres. Aniceto, the head of the human rights
organisation Yayasan Hak, had been talking on the phone to a journalist
from Lusa as the police arrived. He said "the Brimob (police mobile
brigade) are here to take me to their headquarters. I don't know what they
want, I don't know if I am being arrested, I don't know anything".
According to Aniceto, the Yayasan Hak human rights office was destroyed by
militia in an attack which lasted two hours before the police arrived.
Aniceto said all the people in the office at the time were all right, but
he could not specify how many were there at the time. He reported that the
militia destroyed his house on Saturday, September 4, then on Sunday
attacked the office. In the past few months he has received death threats
for his involvement in human rights activities.
Aniceto told the Lusa journalist that the attack stated at 9pm on Saturday
and believes it was well planned because all the street lights were out in
the immediate vicinity which was quite unusual. He pointed out that the
areas in which the Yayasan Hak office is situated, a lot of military
personnel live. Before being taken away by the police, he reported that the
city of Dili "is drowned in chaos". He said it was difficult to determine
or to confirm the number of violent incidents that have taken place since
the announcement of the ballot results on Saturday, September 4. A reliable
ETHRC source has confirmed that Kopassus military personnel are heading
these violent incidents.
The ETHRC has received confirmation that thousands of refugees are seeking
safety from the violence in a number of Catholic establishments around East
Timor. In the Seminary in Dili it has been confirmed that 2500 refugees are
seeking protection. At Bishop Belo's house, a large number of people are
also seeking refuge. It has been confirmed that Sunday night the militia
surrounded Bishop Belo's house. These, and indeed other refugees are too
afraid to return their homes. Likewise, refugees are seeking protection at
the Conossian Convents in Balide and Becora. Other reports of refugees have
come from Kampung Baru and the Salesian college where up to 8000 have been
reported.
It has also been confirmed that at 4pm on Sunday September 5, the Camara
Ecclesiastica (the Catholic Church Diocesan office) in Dili was set on fire.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa
Indonesia or your own language:
* expressing particular concern at the detention of Aniceto Lopes Guterres
and seeking details of the charges (if any) against him and calling for his
immediate release if he has not been charged with a recognisable offence
under existing laws;
* seeking assurances that he will not face torture and ill-treatment in
detention and that he will be treated humanely in accordance with
international standards;
* calling on the government of Indonesia to immediately invite a UN
peacekeeping force in to East Timor in order to restore law and order and
to assist in the ease of access for humanitarian aid to reach the refugees
seeking protection and all the people of East Timor;
* calling on the government of Indonesia to take immediate steps to disarm
all civilian militia groups in East Timor and to prosecute those
responsible for human rights violations to the fullest extent of the law; and
* calling for immediate and unrestricted access to be allowed to all areas
of East Timor for UN human rights monitors, international and local human
rights organisations, in order to provide ongoing human rights monitoring,
and in particular to conduct a full and impartial investigation of the
recent violations committed by military backed militia.
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: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
2. 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
3. MINISTER FOR DEFENCE FORCES
General Wiranto
Menteri Pertahanan Keamanan RI
Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No 13-14
Jakarta 10110
INDONESIA
Telephone: +62 21 366 184 Fax: +62 21 3845 178
4. RESORT MILITARY COMMAND (KOREM)
Colonel Mohamed Noer Muis
Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma
Dili
East Timor
Faxes: +62 390 21 624 Telegrams: Colonel Muis, East Timor (Indonesia)
5. MILITARY COMMANDER REGION IX/UDAYANA (includes East Timor)
Major General Adam Damiri
Pangdam IX/Udayana
Markas Besar KODAM IX/Udayana
Denpasar, Bali
INDONESIA
Telephone: +62 361 228 095 Telegrams: Pangdam IX/Udayana, Denpasar, Bali,
Indonesia
6. United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Anan
New York, NY 10017 USA
Fax: 1 212 963 2155
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Or: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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
October 18, 1999.
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