East Timorese Eyewitnesses to Testify on Capitol Hill Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Media Advisory For Immediate Release Contact: Lynn Fredriksson, 202-544-6911 (Washington) John M. Miller, 718-596-7668 (New York) East Timor Eyewitnesses to Testify Before Congress Two East Timorese survivors of recent paramilitary violence in the Indonesia-occupied territory will testify before the U.S. Congress this week. The eyewitnesses will describe atrocities committed by paramilitary groups organized and armed by the Indonesian military. Two Congressional briefings and a press conference on Capitol Hill will take place from May 4 to May 7. The two survivors will be joined by Manuel dos Martires, an East Timorese with detailed, first-hand knowledge of Indonesian military and paramilitary operations in East Timor. Scheduled events in Washington, DC, include: Tuesday, May 4, 4 pm, Rayburn House Office Building (Room 2200), Joint Human Rights and Progressive Caucus Briefing Wednesday, May 5 at 2:30 pm Press Conference with Senators Patrick Leahy and Russell Feingold and Congresman Patrick Kennedy (invited). (location to be announced) Friday afternoon, May 7 House Human Rights Subcommittee Briefing, (time and location to be announced) The three East Timorese witnesses have come to the United States at a time of increasing paramilitary violence in their homeland. In the last few months, at least 100 people have been killed and over 10,000 internal refugees created as paramilitary groups in cooperation with elements of the Indonesian military have been attacking pro-independence villagers and leaders. On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Indonesia are expected to sign an agreement to hold a UN-sponsored vote in early August which could lead to independence for the former Portuguese colony. The paramilitaries, supporting Indonesia's continued occupation, have announced their intention to disrupt the vote. Scheduled to appear with the East Timorese will be Indonesian human rights activist Aryati, human rights advocate Arnold Kohen, Human Rights Watch-Asia Director Sidney Jones, and ETAN Washington Representative Lynn Fredriksson. Documentation of recent military and paramilitary violence will also be available. All three East Timorese are available for interviews. They are scheduled plan to be in New York the week of May 10. --30-- END John M. Miller Internet: etan-outreach@igc.apc.org Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network PO Box 150753, Brooklyn, NY 11215-0753 USA Phone: (718)596-7668 Fax: (718)222-4097 Web site: http://www.etan.org ================================================================= 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 ================================================================= nytpac-05.12.99-02:19:47-20883