Summary
On January 24 and
25, 1999, four East Timorese were alleged to have been
extra-judicially killed by members of the Indonesian
military and armed civilian militia groups. Six others,
five of them children, have disappeared. The increasing
violence has resulted in a flood of refugees into Dili
and other parts of East Timor.
On January 24, 1999, in the Zumalai sub-district,
Fernando Cardoso (aged 27) is believed to have been
killed brutally by Indonesian military personnel from the
marine post at Cassa in Ainaro, and members of a
paramilitary group called RATI which has allegedly been
armed and trained by the Indonesian military. Fernando
Cardoso's body was severely mutilated and his limbs
removed. He was buried beside the road with his head
still exposed.
On January 25, 1999, at 10:00 p.m., members of the
Indonesian military (ABRI) and armed civilian militia
groups attacked the village of Galitas, Zumalai sub-district,
Covalima district, in the South of East Timor shooting at
the local population. Three other villagers were believed
to have been killed.
| |
Name
|
Age |
Occupation |
| 1. |
Fernando Cardoso |
27 |
- |
| 2. |
Olandino
Pereira |
52 |
Farmer
|
| 3. |
Luis
Pereira |
15 |
Student |
| 4. |
Angelina de
Jesus (Pregnant) |
27 |
Housewife |
Two other people
were seriously injured in the assault and are now
receiving medical treatment at the Audian Catholic
hospital in Santo Paulus.
| |
Name
|
Age |
Occupation |
| 1. |
Adelino
Barreto |
40 |
Farmer |
| 2. |
Hermenegildo
Freitas |
40 |
Farmer |
According to
unconfirmed reports, another six were disappeared
following the Galitas assault. Their whereabouts is
unknown:
| |
Name
|
Age |
Occupation |
| 1. |
Cipriano(no
surname given) |
25 |
Farmer |
| 2. |
Alipio(no
surname given) |
15 |
Student |
| 3. |
Silverio(no
surname given) |
14 |
Student |
| 4. |
Rofina(no
surname given) |
12 |
Student |
| 5. |
Joana(no
surname given) |
13 |
Student |
| 6. |
Rui(no
surname given) |
16 |
Student |
According to latest
news, at least two hundred people have fled their homes
in Galitas, seeking refuge in churches in Suai.
|
| Action Requested Please send polite letters to the Indonesian
Government:
Expressing concern at the
escalation of violence in East Timor perpetrated
by civilian militia groups;
Expressing particular concern
over the alleged killings of Olandino Pereira,
Angelina de Jesus, Luis Pereira and Fernando
Cardoso;
Requesting the safety and
whereabouts of the six disappeared young people
in Zumalai;
Calling for immediate and
continuing access by United Nations human rights
monitoring groups and international human rights
organizations;
Requesting the government of
Indonesia to take steps to immediately disarm all
civilian militia groups in East Timor.
| Send letters and faxes to: |
|
President Yusuf Habibie
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Istana Negara, Gedung Binagraha, Jl. Veteran,
Jakarta Pusat, INDONESIA |
Fax : 62-21-345-7782
Email : habibie@ristek.go.id
|
| c.c. Copy to: |
|
1. Resort Military Command
Colonel Tono Suratman, Markas KOREM 164/Wiradharma
Dili, East Timor, INDONESIA |
Fax: 62-390-21-624 |
| 2. Diplomatic representatives of Indonesia in
your country |
|
|
Sample
Letter
We write with grave concern
about the escalating violence in East Timor that
is believed to be perpetrated by civilian militia
groups, which have been armed and trained by the
Indonesian military. More importantly, we are
very much concerned about the recent alleged
killings and injuries by members of ABRI and
militia groups in the Zumalai sub-district. It
was reported that six young people named Cipriano
(aged 25), Alipio (aged 15), Silverio (aged 14) ,
Rofina (aged 12), Joana (aged 13), Rui (aged 16),
are all believed to have disappeared in Zumalai
sub-district. We therefore urge you to ensure
their safety and keep their families informed of
their whereabouts.
We urgently call for immediate and continuing
access to all areas of East Timor for UN human
rights monitors and international human rights
organizations in order to provide ongoing human
rights monitoring. We request for a full and
impartial investigation into the recent violence
in Zumalai.
We therefore urge the Indonesian Government
immediately take steps to disarm all civilian
militia groups in East Timor and ensure a
peaceful solution for East Timor. |
|
Background
On January 26, 1999, the Indonesian
Government announced that it may grant independence to
East Timor if no better solution could be found. However
clashes between pro-independence groups and pro-integration
groups have flared in the recent months, and the
situation remains dire.
There has been a noticeable increase in violence by local
civilian militia groups, which are believed to be backed
by the Indonesian military. These militia groups are
allegedly intimidating the East Timorese in many parts of
East Timor. According to sources, more than 1,000 people
have fled from their homes in Maubara, Alas, Turiscai,
Cailaco and Cassa to Dili. Currently, only limited access
has been granted to United Nations observers, and
international human rights organizations have been denied
access to the territory. Some areas are believed to be
closed to visitors including local non-government
organizations because of the escalating violence.
|