East Timor: Disappearance

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 9416 2746  E-mail: etchrmel@peg.apc.org  
Director: Ms Maria Brett  Chair: Bishop Hilton Deakin
___________________________________________________________________________
URGENT ACTION
23 May 1997

NAMES:          Joao Guterres (Mau-Lana), 28
                
VIOLATIONS:     "Disappearance" / Arbitrary Arrest

LOCATION:       Vemasse, Baucau District, East Timor

Ref: UA 10/97
___________________________________________________________________________

The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) holds grave fears for the safety
of Joao Guterres (also known as Mau-Lana), aged 28, whose whereabouts is
unknown following his arrest on 15 May, 1997, between Vemasse and Laleia in
the district of Baucau.

Joao Guterres was arrested by members of Kopassus (Special Forces Command)
and taken to the "Red House" (Kopassus headquarters) in Baucau where he was
detained from 16 to 17 May. Based on information received from ETHRC
sources, the ETHRC believes Joao Guterres may have been arbitrarily arrested
and detained.  

Other prisoners have reported that Joao Guterres was taken away to a waiting
army helicopter at 5.00pm on 17 May, and flown to an unknown destination.

East Timorese people, suspected of having links with the East Timorese
Resistance, are frequently subjected to arbitrary detention, torture,
"disappearance" and extra-judicial execution.  Detainees are frequently
denied access to independent lawyers and members of their families and, if
their whereabouts is unknown, they are at heightened risk of torture, ill
treatment and even extra-judicial execution.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa
Indonesia or your own language:

· seeking clarification of the whereabouts of Joao Guterres;
· if he is detention, seeking clarification of the charges against him (if
any) and calling for his immediate and unconditional release if he has not
been charged with a recognisable offence under existing laws;
· seeking assurances that he will not face any torture or ill-treatment in
detention and that he will be treated humanely and in accordance with
international standards; and
· seeking assurances that he will have full and continuing access to his
family and independent legal counsel; and
· if Joao Guterres is no longer in detention, urging the authorities to hold
an immediate inquiry into his current whereabouts.

SEND APPEALS TO:

1. MILITARY COMMANDER REGION IX/UDAYANA (includes East Timor)
Maj Gen H.A. Rivai
Pangdam IX/Udayana
Markas Besar KODAM IX/Udayana
Denpasar, Bali
INDONESIA
Telephone: +62 361 228 095
Telegrams: Pangdam IX/Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

2. CHIEF OF POLICE FOR EAST TIMOR
Colonel Yusuf Mucharam
Kapolda Timor Timur
Dili, East Timor
INDONESIA
Telegrams: Kapolda, Dili, East Timor

ALSO SEND COPIES TO:

3. MINISTER OF 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

4. SECRETARY GENERAL, NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Prof. Dr. Baharuddin Lopa
Sekretaris Jenderal, Komisi Nasional Hak Azasi Manusia (Komnas HAM)
Jl Latuharhary No 4 B
Menteng Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Phone/Fax : 392 5227
email  : info@komnas.go.id

and to diplomatic representatives of Indonesia in your country.


PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY
Check with the East Timor Human Rights Centre if sending appeals after 4
July 1997

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.