Timor: Indonesia Recruits Militia into "Police" force Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - ethrc June 11 1999 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 9415 8218 E-mail: ethrc@minihub.org Interim Director: Kathleen Maltzahn Chair: Bishop Hilton Deakin MEDIA RELEASE 11 June 1999 The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) condemns the Indonesian government's recent recruitment of Eurico Guterres and other members from the Indonesian military backed pro-integration militias into a new civilian defence force designed to ensure security for the August 8th ballot in East Timor. The Interim Director of the ETHRC, Kathleen Maltzahn, stated, "the appointment of Eurico Guterres, leader of the Aitarak militia group, as head of the new civilian defence force, PAM Swakarsa, and the enlistment of other militia members into PAM Swakarsa, clearly violates the May East Timor Popular Consultation Agreement Regarding Security". Under the agreement, Indonesia agreed to provide "a secure environment devoid of violence or other forms of intimidation". Clearly the appointment of a militia commander, who has incited violence against East Timorese civilians, violates the spirit of the Agreement. The ETHRC believes the appointment of Eurico Guterres, as head of PAM Swakarsa, is just a further method of intimidation. Guterres is a pinnacle leader linked to repeated violence against East Timorese, and is responsible for the April 17th bloodshed after a Aitarak rally in Dili. (see ETHRC UA3/99). The Director said, "the intimidation is clearly demonstrated by his commands at the Aitarak rally on April 17 when he ordered the pro-integration militia to 'conduct a cleansing of all those who betrayed integration,' and to 'capture and kill if you must.' The Indonesian government is taking actions to ensure the East Timorese are intimidated into adopting autonomy in the August 8 referendum". The Director believes that given the recent violations committed by Guterres and his militia group, "the task to provide civilian security devoid of intimidation is impossible under Guterres' leadership". "What the Indonesian government should be doing, and what it has failed to do despite repeated calls from international human rights organisations, including the ETHRC, is prosecute Eurico Guterres and other civilian militia responsible for gross human rights abuses, to the fullest extent of the law". The ETHRC urges the Australian government and the international community to call on the Indonesian government to arrest Eurico Guterres and other members of the militia for crimes against humanity. The ETHRC also urges Indonesia to comply with its obligations under the Agreement to ensure the proper security required for a free and fair election. "Only when the East Timorese people legitimately exercise their right to self-determination through a free and fair election, can there be a real peaceful solution to this 23 year-old conflict", stated Ms. Maltzahn. For further information contact: Elizabeth Exposto, East Timor Human Rights Centre Tel +61 3 9415 8225 E-mail: ethrc@minihub.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-06.16.99-02:45:57-27745