Indonesia: Disappearance of University Professor

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: ethrc@minihub.org  
Director: Ms Maria Brett  Chair: Bishop Hilton Deakin
________________________________________________________________________

URGENT ACTION 
29 December 1997

NAME:Lucas da Costa, 49
     
 VIOLATION:Disappearance

 LOCATION:Surabaya, Indonesia

 Ref: UA 30/97
  _________________________________________________________________________  

The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) holds grave fears for the safety
of Lucas da Costa, an East Timorese university professor working in
Surabaya, Indonesia, who disappeared on 23 December, 1997.  It is believed
Da Costa left his home at 5.00pm on 23 December to go to work at the
Catholic University but has not been seen since.  Da Costa's family has
made enquiries with the University and with Indonesian military authorities
but has not been able to obtain any information about his whereabouts.

The reason for his disappearance is not known but sources have reported
that he may have been arrested under suspicion of involvement in the East
Timorese student Resistance.

The ETHRC is concerned that if Lucas da Costa is not located soon he may be
at grave risk of torture and ill-treatment in order to obtain a false
confession or to extract information about the activities of others. East
Timorese detainees are routinely subjected to torture and ill-treatment
while in military or police custody, especially if they are denied access
to their families and independent legal counsel.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

It is believed East Timorese students studying in Indonesia have been under
close surveillance by the Indonesian security forces since 13 September
when an explosion took place at a house in Semarang, Indonesia, where it is
believed home-made bombs were being made. The incident resulted in the
arrest of 18 East Timorese people in Semarang and Dili, seven of whom now
face charges. (See UA 23/97, UA 23/97PR & UA 23/97PR2 for details).

On 21 December in Surabaya, another six East Timorese students were
arrested at their boarding house in Menur, Surabaya. Mario Soares Romaldo,
Jose N. da Silva, Henrique da Conceicao, Pascoal da Costa, Nelson de
Carvalho and Antonio Lopes were arrested by masked members of the
Indonesian security forces.  It is believed they were subjected to torture
and released nine hours later at separate locations and warned not to
report the incident to any-one. On 24 December, Raimundo (no surname), a 26
year-old East Timorese youth studying in Surabaya, was also arrested and
severely tortured by members of the security forces.  He was released at
4am on Christmas day and it is believed he is extremely mentally disturbed
as a result of the torture.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

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

* seeking clarification of the exact whereabouts of Lucas da Costa;
* if he is in detention, seeking details of the charges (if any) against
him 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 torture and ill-treatment in
detention and that he will be treated humanely and in accordance with
international standards; and 
* seeking assurances that he will have immediate access to legal
representation, members of his family and humanitarian assistance.
 
SEND APPEALS TO:

1. CHIEF OF NATIONAL POLICE
Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo
Kapolri
Markas Besar Kepolisian RI
Jalan Trunojoyo 13
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Faxes: +62 21 720 7277
Telegrams:  Kapolri, Jakarta, Indonesia

ALSO SEND COPIES TO:

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  

3. 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: +62 21 392 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 9
February 1998

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.