Suharto steps up repression in East Timor
By Jon Land
Indonesian military and security forces have intensified efforts to suppress the people of East Timor. Resistance sources estimate that up to 10,000 additional Indonesian soldiers have been deployed in the territory since the start of the year, bringing the total number of soldiers there to 35,000.
The situation for East Timorese has also been worsened by famine and a dramatic increase in the price of basic commodities.
The extra troops are being used to strengthen security posts and increase the number of patrols in search of Falintil resistance fighters. The activity of Falintil units over the last 18 months — especially during the election period last year — has frustrated the Indonesian military.
Mercenary gangs have been hired in many districts, especially in remote rural areas, to intimidate villagers and anyone suspected of supporting Falintil. The Red Cross has been denied access to areas where atrocities are known to be occurring.
Students in Dili and other towns are also being targeted by security forces.
A number of disappearances, cases of arbitrary arrest and unfair trials have occurred in recent weeks. On March 23, four farmers (all in their 20s), accused of assisting Falintil forces, were detained by Indonesian soldiers in Ilomar. A fifth farmer from the same area was detained on March 28. The whereabouts of the five are unknown; they have had no access to legal assistance, and it is believed that they are being tortured.
The East Timor Human Rights Centre and Amnesty International hold grave fears for the well-being of Falintil commander Justo Nones (alias Lari Mau), who was detained by Kopassus forces on March 27 near Los Palos. His whereabouts remain unknown.
On March 31, student activist Constancio dos Santos, 21, was convicted of subversion and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by the Dili District Court. He was arrested in September, after police found light arms and explosives in his possession. Imprisoned resistance leader Xanana Gusmao has stated that he claims full responsibility for the weapons, which were to be used against military targets.
Indonesian authorities allege that dos Santos and five other East Timorese students — also on trial for subversion — were taught by an Australian named "Mr Geoffrey" how to make bombs when he visited Central Java last year. Dos Santos angered court officials during his trial with political speeches denouncing the illegal Indonesian occupation and his repeated demand that Gusmao be present during proceedings.
Another two East Timorese, part of a group of six who have been sheltering in the Austrian embassy since September 19, have been labelled "ringleaders" of the "bomber network". The six have all been refused permission to leave for Portugal.
Six other student activists are on trial for allegedly beating and torturing three Indonesian soldiers in an incident on November 14 near the University of East Timor. One of the students and his lawyer were expelled from the court after they angrily protested that the soldiers are the ones who should be on trial, because of the assault and damage security forces carried out at the university on that day.
In another incident, eight students were arrested by Indonesian soldiers on April 2 in a pre-dawn raid on a house in the village of Comoro, near Dili . The military have stated that one student was shot in the leg while running away, while eyewitnesses claim that two students were shot dead. The Indonesian commander for East Timor, Colonel Slamet Sidabutar, said that the students were "holding an illegal meeting to plan a protest at the University of East Timor".
East Timorese students have staged protest actions in cities throughout Indonesia in response to the repression. On April 3, 80 East Timorese students and their supporters demonstrated outside the British embassy in Jakarta. The protest coincided with the second Asia-Europe Meeting, being held in London, and called upon participants to discuss a solution to the problem of East Timor.
A similar protest was organised on April 8 by 20 East Timorese from the Association of Iliomar Students and Youth outside the office of the National Commission on Human Rights in Jakarta.
A statement released by the students on April 3 demanded that Indonesia withdraw troops from East Timor, enter into open negotiations to reach a solution acceptable to the East Timorese people and the international community, and release all Indonesian and East Timorese political prisoners without condition and declare the whereabouts of all people who have disappeared.
East Timorese students with Fretilin flags and pro-independence banners were prominent at anti-dictatorship protests involving thousands of students at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on April 3 and 5. The military commander of Java, General Mardiyanto, claimed that the East Timorese were responsible for "stirring up" anti-government feelings among the Indonesian students.
Solidarity activists and the East Timorese community abroad are increasingly concerned by the spread of famine and disease in East Timor. Australian aid workers recently returned from East Timor reported that the situation was approaching crisis point in many areas, citing the example of Fefudin village, where 85 out of a population of 100 have died because of food shortages caused by drought.
There are severe shortages in the rural centres of Atabai and Maliana. Some food aid is coming into East timor, but it is not reaching the worst affected areas.
A special appeal, sponsored by unions, church, solidarity and East Timorese organisations, has been launched in Australia for food, medicine, clothing and cash, which will be distributed by the Catholic Church in East Timor. The Maritime Union of Australia has pledged support by arranging the delivery of containers to Dili. All goods/cheques/money orders can be sent to: APHEDA East Timor Appeal, Box 4, Trades Hall, 4 Goulburn St, Sydney 2000.