East Timor Disappearance Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: etchrmel@peg.apc.org 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 20 October 1997 NAME: Julio Soares da Silva, 28 VIOLATION: Disappearance LOCATION: Gleno, Ermera district, East Timor Ref: UA 24/97 The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) is concerned for the safety of Julio Soares da Silva, an employee of Bank Pembangunan Daerah from Gleno, Ermera district, who disappeared after his arrest on or about 17 September, 1997. The disappearance was detailed in an Indonesian media report (Kompas 29 September) which stated that his wife, Alexandrina Martins has not seen him since his arrest. According to the Kompas report, the disappearance is being investigated by KomnasHAM (the Indonesian Human Rights Commission) in Dili. However, latest reports from ETHRC sources have confirmed that Julio Soares da Silva is still missing, despite steps being taken to locate him. It is believed that Julio Soares da Silva was arrested in Gleno by members of SGI (Special Intelligence Unit) under suspicion of being a member of the Clandestine Front (East Timorese Resistance) and taken to an unknown location. The ETHRC holds grave fears for Julio Soares da Silva if he is not located soon as he is at grave risk of torture and ill-treatment if he is being held incommunicado. Detainees in East Timor 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. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/telegrams/express/airmail letters in English, Bahasa Indonesia or your own language: * seeking clarification of the exact whereabouts of Julio Soares da Silva; * 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 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 immediate access to legal representation, members of his family and humanitarian assistance. SEND APPEALS TO: 1. MILITARY COMMANDER REGION IX/UDAYANA (includes East Timor) General Syahrir MS 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 Atok Rismanto 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: +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 1 December 1997 ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-10.22.97-20:05:55-20530