East Timor: Torture of arrested men

Case IDN/TMP 020698

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests yours URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Indonesia/ East Timor.

Brief description of the situation:
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC), a member of the OMCT
Network, has expressed its grave concern for physical and
psychological integrity of Mr. Joao Soares Reis, Mr. Floriano da Costa
Xavier and Mr. Bernardo da Silva.

According to the ETHRC, Mr. Joao Soares Reis, Mr. Floriano da Costa
Xavier and Mr. Bernardo da Silva who were arrested late February, 1998
by members of Kopassus (Special Forces Command) and the Indonesian
police, are currently in detention at Becora prison in Dili. The
detainees have been accused of holding clandestine resistance meetings
and of making contact with the East Timorese armed resistance
(Falintil). No charges have been brought against them and no date has
been set for a trial. It is believed the three men have been
arbitrarily detained solely for political reasons.

In early March, Dili Police Commander, Lt. Col. Setyanto, said the
three men had been arrested in relation to 420 home-made bombs and 20
arrows allegedly found in a student's house in Hera (a suburb of Dili)
and allegedly manufactured by the detainees.

According to information received from the ETHRC, all three men had
been subjected to torture and beatings, following their arrests and
were denied access to their families and legal representation while in
detention at POLRES (Police Resort) in Dili. The detainees have been
allowed visits from family members and their legal counsel now that
they have been transferred to the Becora prison. 

The International Secretariat of OMCT remains concerned for the
frequency of arrests, carried out in East Timor, for political reasons
and the allegations that detained individuals have been tortured. 

Actions requested:
Please write to the Indonesian authorities urging them to:

i.  -guarantee the physical and psychological well being of Mr. Joao
Soares Reis, Mr. Floriano da Costa Xavier and Mr. Bernardo da Silva;
ii.  -order their immediate release if there are no valid charges
against them, and if so bring them immediately before a competent and
impartial tribunal and guarantee there procedural rights at all times;
iii.  -guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into the alleged
torture, identify those responsible, bring them to trial, and apply
the penal, civil, and/or administrative sanctions provided by law; iv.
 -ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms in accordance with national laws and international standards.

Addresses:
PRESIDENT YUSUF HABIBIE, President of the Republic of Indonesia,
Istana Negara, Gedung Binagraha Jl. Veteran, Jakarta Pusat, INDONESIA,
Fax: +62 21 345 7782. MINISTER OF JUSTICE Prof. Dr. Muladi, S.H.
Menteri Kehakiman, JI. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. 6-7, Kuningan, Jakarta
Selatan, Indonesia. Fax : + 62 21 525 3095 MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS, Ali Alatas S.H. Menteri Luar Negeri, Jl Medan Taman Pejambon
No. 6 Jakarta, Imdonesia, Fax  +62 21 380 5511/360 517/345 7782/360
541 CHIEF OF NATIONAL POLICE Maj. Gen. (Pol.) Banurusman Atmosumitro,
Kapolri, Markas Besar Kepolisian RI, JI. Trunojoyo 13, Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia. Telegrams : National Police Chief,
Jakarta, Indonesia MILITARY COMMANDER REGION IX/UDAYANA(includes East
Timor) General.Syahrir MS, Pangdam IX/Udayana, Markas Besar KODAM
IX/Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Telegram : Pangdam IX/Udayana,
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. SECRETARY GENERAL, NATIONAL COMMISSION ON
HUMAN RIGHTS Prof. Dr. Baharuddin Lopa, Sekretaris Jenderal, Komisi
Nasional Hak Azasi Manusia (Komnas HAM), JI Latuharhary No.4B,Menteng
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia. Phone/Fax: +62 21 392 5227-Email:
info@kommas.go.id

Geneva, 2 June 1998

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.