ARTICLES ON EAST TIMOR MASSACRE FROM PEACENET AND ASSOCIATED NETWORKS

Volume 6: December 10-16, 1991

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Table of Contents 1EAST TIMOR - COLONIZING A COLONY (ASA NEWS) ...... 3 THE LAND, THE PEOPLE...... 3 WIND OF CHANGE...... 3 INDONESIAN INVASION ...... 3 INSIDE EAST TIMOR...... 4 TIME FOR ACTION...... 4 EAST TIMOR MASSACRE (ASA NEWS ADDENDUM)...... 4 DEPUTY CHIEF FOR MILITARY INTELLIGENCE LEADING TEAM TO INVESTIGATE DEMONSTRATION IN DILI...... 5 COMMANDER OF THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES: DON'T MEDDLE IN INDONESIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS...... 5 DILI RIOT WAS PLANNED -- SUDOMO...... 5 CARRASCALAO 'KOMPAS' INTERVIEW ...... 6 ALI ALATAS: WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATING TEAM...... 7 INVESTIGATIVE TEAM TO BE FORMED IN CONNECTION WITH EAST TIMOR RIOT...... 7 UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA: CUT AID!...... 8 STATEMENT OF THE BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF INDONESIA (BCI) ON THE INCIDENT IN EAST TIMOR...... 8 BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF INDONESIA, SIGNED ...... 9 FEAR STALKS EAST TIMOR (ASIAWEEK)...... 9 A LEGACY OF SUFFERING (ASIAWEEK) ...... 10 PROBOSUTEJO SUSPENDS INVESTMENT PLANS IN EAST TIMOR ...... 10 DILI TRADERS INCOME DWINDLING SINCE BLOODY 12 NOV. INCIDENT (JAKARTA POST)...... 10 MINEWATCH CONDEMNS INDONESIA'S 'SAVAGE COLONIALISM ...... 11 TIMOR REBELS SPURN HAWKE...... 11 MOTHER SEARCHES FOR HER SON (KOMPAS) ...... 11 52 U.S. SENATORS WRITE BUSH...... 11 VERY MANY VICTIMS OF THE DILI INCIDENT ARE STILL IN HOSPITAL (PELITA) ...... 12 WAITING FOR THE DILI INQUIRY (ASIAWEEK)...... 12 CLOSING DOWN A LEFTOVER FROM PORTUGAL (TEMPO)...... 13 INDONESIA ATTACKS THE NATION (BANGKOK)...... 13 WHO IS CIETACT?...... 13 NAIRN MASSACRE ACCOUNT (NEW YORKER) ...... 14 CHURCH URGES END TO TIMOR SHAME (AGE)...... 15 ALP: ARMS SALES TO INDONESIA “MUST STOP” (AUSTRALIAN) ...... 15 GENERAL TRY "KNOWS THE MASTERMIND" (JAKARTA POST)...... 15 TIMOR: ALATAS ISOLATED AT OIC? (LISBON CAPITAL)...... 15 LBH LASHES ARMY (TFI)...... 16 EAST TIMOR DISCUSSED IN THE BRITISH COMMONS...... 16 NGO’S INVESTIGATED IN INDONESIA...... 16 STOP ARMING INDONESIA (ACT)...... 17 CANADA CUTS AID...... 17 ACTION REPORT: CANADA...... 17 U.S. CONDEMNS ARMY AGAIN ...... 17 STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING, DEC. 9: ...... 17 TIMOR CLOSING UP AGAIN?...... 18 WHITLAM CRITICIZES HAWKE...... 18 East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 2 Dec. 10-16, 1991

WIRE SERVICE DIGEST 10 DEC...... 18 SUHARTO LEAVES SENEGAL...... 18 PORTUGAL: NO ISLAMIC MEDIATOR...... 18 SOARES TALKS WITH BELGIAN KING...... 19 PORTUGUESE AVIATION UNION BOYCOTT...... 19 SINTONG PANJAITAN DEFENDS COMMANDER...... 19 TROOPS RE-ENACT MASSACRE ...... 19 MASSACRE PROMPTS CUT IN CANADIAN AID TO INDONESIA (TORONTO STAR)...... 19 WHITLAM BLASTS HAWKE ON TIMOR (AUSTRALIAN)...... 19 AUSTRALIAN URANIUM TO INDONESIA?...... 20 INDONESIA THREATENS SUBVERSION TRIALS?...... 20 DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON ON TIMOR...... 20 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC URGENT ACTION...... 21 RECOMMENDED ACTION:...... 21 APPEALS TO:...... 22 COPIES TO:...... 22 CANADA CUTS OFF $30 MILLION IN AID TO INDONESIA...... 22 SANCTIONS AGAINST MASSACRE LEAVE SOME PROGRAMS UNTOUCHED ...... 22 REPORT: DEMO AT INDONESIAN U.N. MISSION DEC. 10...... 22 TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY...... 23 ORGANIZING U.S. -TIMOR SOLIDARITY GROUP...... 23 EAST TIMOR PROTEST IN GERMANY (TAPOL)...... 23 AMBASSADORS PUT ON THE SPOT ...... 23 MAASTRICHT VIDEO DEM O ...... 24 TIMOR GAP TREATY TO BE SIGNED...... 24 MILITARY “CONCESSIONS” ...... 24 AID CUTS, 'NO EFFECT' ...... 25 THE GENOCIDAL BEGINNINGS OF PRESIDENT SUHARTO (GREEN LEFT)...... 25 STUDENTS TO MAASTRICHT, MARIO SOARES SPEECH (PUBLICO)...... 25 BBC ON THE TERROR IN DILI...... 26 JAPAN'S BISHOPS WRITE TO BISHOP BELO AND U.N...... 26 MALAYSIA PUBLIC MEETING CONDEMNS MASSACRE...... 27 STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION...... 27 ‘SECRET MASS GRAVES’ SEARCH ...... 27 PORTUGUESE MEDIA DEC.12...... 27 TIMOR GAP OIL EXPLORATIONS TO START (PUBLICO)...... 27 PORTUGUESE UNIONS MOURN ...... 28 PORTUGUESE PARLIAMENTARIANS GO ABROAD ...... 28 RESISTANCE FEARS ARMY THREATS...... 28 PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR MEETS GHALI...... 28 SOEHARTO: TO HELL WITH YOUR AID ...... 28 “NO MORE BODIES?” ...... 28 SCHOOLGIRL DESCRIBES SLAUGHTER...... 28 INDONESIA LOSES 'CREDIBILITY' ...... 29 TIMOR GAP OIL CONTRACTS LET...... 29 SOEHARTO CALLED 'SOFTIE'...... 29 TOKYO HUNGER STRIKE...... 29 MORE GRAVEDIGGING UNWITNESSED?...... 29 TRIALS FOR 21 TIMORESE STUDENTS...... 30 AID CUT TO INDONESIA NOT ENOUGH, CANADIAN TIMOR SUPPORTERS SAY (ETAN)...... 30 CUT OFF ARMS TO INDONESIA (TORONTO STAR)...... 30 DENMARK CUTS OFF NEW AID...... 31 PORTUGUESE MEDIA DEC. 13...... 31 COMMEMORATION IN SANTA CRUZ CEMETERY...... 31 PORTUGUESE UNIONS’ MINUTE OF SILENCE...... 31 PORTUGUESE NEWSPAPER & ARTISTS SUPPORT TIMOR...... 31 AI CANNOT CONFIRM EXECUTION RUMORS...... 31 BELO FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE? ...... 31 DEATH IN TIMOR...... 31 ARMY DAMAGES INDONESIA IMAGE...... 31 THERE MUST BE AN INDEPENDENT TEAM ...... 31 East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 3 Dec. 10-16, 1991

VATICAN ENVOY IN DILI! ...... 32 CAMPAIGN TO RELEASE 52 EAST TIMORESE DUE TO GO ON TRIAL (TAPOL)...... 32 WHICH HEADS WILL ROLL? ...... 32 TRY SUTRISNO IN PERIL?...... 33 TIMOR GAP CONTRACTS DENOUNCED (IPS) ...... 33 EAST TIMOR: THE NOVEMBER 12 MASSACRE AND ITS AFTERMATH (ASIA WATCH REPORT)...... 33 1. INTRODUCTION ...... 33 2. LEAD-UP TO THE DEMONSTRATION...... 33 3. THE MASSACRE...... 34 4. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS...... 34 5. TROOP MOVEMENTS...... 36 6. THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH...... 36 7. THE DEATH TOLL ...... 36 8. INVESTIGATIONS...... 37 9. DOMESTIC REACTION...... 37 10. DEMONSTRATIONS AND ARRESTS...... 38 11. INTERNATIONAL REACTION...... 38 The United Nations...... 38 The European Community...... 39 Bilateral European actions...... 39 Japan...... 39 The United States ...... 39 Canada ...... 39 Australia ...... 39 Guinea-Bissau...... 39 12. RECOMMENDATIONS...... 40 APPENDIX 1:BISHOP BELO'S ACCOUNT OF THE 28 OCTOBER INCIDENT ...... 40 OFFICIAL STATEMENT...... 40 APPENDIX 2: EXTRACT FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY REPORT ...... 41 INCIDENT OF NOVEMBER 12 ...... 41 CONCLUSIONS...... 41 APPENDIX 3: EAST TIMORESE STUDENTS ARRESTED AFTER NOVEMBER 19...... 42 FOR MORE INFORMATION ...... 42

EAST TIMOR - COLONIZING A The hundreds of years of Portuguese colonization were years of neglect and re- Indonesian invasion COLONY (ASA NEWS) pression. East Timor was never developed, Three months before the invasion, East Lina Cabaero, from ASA News, Sept. '91 only a few roads were built and almost no Timor was virtually administered by health or education services were intro- FRETILIN though at that time, it continued The land, the people duced. to recognize Portuguese sovereignity and repeatedly requested the Portuguese East Timor is part of the Timor island - Wind of change government to return to Dili (the major city) one of the Eastern islands of the Indonesian In 1974, a coup in Portugal brought some and continue the process of decolonization, archipelago. democratic freedom to the Timorese people which in FRETILIN's estimation would take The people of East Timor are of diverse for the first time, and with it came the hope 5 years. ethnic roots. There are around 550.000 East that the colony might be independent and On 7 December 1975, Indonesia launched Timorese and a few thousands Chinese, govern itself, like most other countries in the a full scale invasion of East Timor. There are Europeans and mixed origins living in East region. a number of reasons for the invasion. Timor today. Some 80% of East Timor Three major political groups were Indonesia did not want an independent belong to the Catholic church. quickly formed in East Timor: ASDT East Timor as it can be used as a base for Even before the Portuguese colonized (Associacao Social Democratica de Timor), any anti-government movement existing in East Timor, it was already well-known to the most radical of the three which calls for the outer islands (such as Mollucas and Irian Arab and Chinese traders as an excellent independence and rejection of colonialism; Jaya). Indonesia also fears the precedent source of precious sandalwood. It was in UDT (Uniao Democratica Timorense) East Timor may set for others who are 1566 when the Portuguese set claim to the which favoured federation with Portugal, fighting for independence from Indonesia's island. The Dutch came in 1613 and tussled and the Apodeti (Timorese Popular control in some parts of the country. with the Portuguese over the control of the Democratic Association) which supported Indonesia envisioned a swift and decicive sandalwood trade. union with Indonesia. ASDT eventually colonization. But they were diappointed. Later, a treaty was signed by the two co- changed its name to FRETILIN in For even if some 60.000 poeple were killed lonial powers to define the imperialist September 1974. by the widespread bombing and another boundaries between Dutch and Portuguese Among the three, FRETILIN and UDT 140.000 died of starvation, FRETILIN territories. Timor island was devided in two. were the most popular. The 2 political managed to survive. The Western half of the island was to groups formed a coalition in 1975. But later FRETILIN, after being almost decimated become part of the Dutch colony of on, differences in views and the handling of in 1975 - 1979, was able to reorganize and Indonesia whose independence was granted political issues led to the thawing of the prepare for a prolonged guerilla warfare in 1949. The Eastern half, East Timor was FRETILIN-UDT coalition. to remain in Portuguese hands. East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 4 Dec. 10-16, 1991 under the leadership of Xanana Gusmao in It is Indonesia which needs convincing. determination. However, unlike Kuwait, 1981. Indonesia must take note that, especially these resolutions were not acted upon and after the Iraq-Kuwaiti scuffel, the interna- virtually ignored by major powers. Inside East Timor tional community is more sensitive today on Some 200.000 East Timorese, estimated Indonesia's unlawful occupation of East the issue of self-determination. to be around one-third of its population, Timor has denied the Timorese people of It must also take note of the fact that have died since the Indonesian invasion. The their most basic human right, the right to East Timor is no longer a hush-hush topic proportion of the people killed is self-determination. inside Indonesia and is becoming an issue of comparable to the genocide in Cambodia. The East Timorese people are virtually great concern amongst a large number of However, unlike Cambodia these massacres, prisoners, denied of the right to live in their Indonesians who are opposed to Indonesia's killings, disappearances and tortures went own country. They are denied the right to military regime. unreported. This recent massacre only travel inside and outside their own country. Talks, which hopefully lead to a just received media attention because two Social gatherings are viewed with suspicion, settlement, are important and crucial at this American journalists by chance witnessed the right to assemble, associate and time. There has been so much suffering, so the killings. expression are non-existent. much lives wasted, too much tears shed. One of the Kamal's favourite shirt was In the late 70's, almost all of the people The East Timorese people deserve to be the ASA T-shirt with the slogan "I am a were forced to leave their traditional lands to given self-determination. witness to the suffering of my people, and I live in resettlement villages. This way they This article comes from of the latest shall bear witness to their liberation". can be controlled, their movements (seventh) "NEWSLETTER", an international While he did not live to witness the lib- monitored, and contact with the guerrillas magazine. For further information or to eration of the people in East Timor, he died lessened. As a result, there was widespread order a printed copy contact us directly. struggling for their liberation. And for that famine. Postal address: NEWSLETTER his death is not meaningless. He died for a The East Timorese people are also being c/o AStA Universitaet Hannover just cause. Kamal will be fondly re- culturally exterminated. Indonesia wants the Student Union of Hannover University membered by ASA as an uncompromising total assimilation of East Timor, therefore it Post/Mail : Welfengarten 1, W-3000 human rights fighter. exerts a lot of effort in effecting means of Hannover 1, Germany But how many more East Timorese and erasing any trace of Timorese identity. Tel./Phone : +49 511 762 506-1,-2,-3 students like Kamal must die before the The Indonesian language is the medium of Fax : +49 511 762 3456 world take action on East Timor? We must instruction in the schools and the use of not allow the Indonesian governmemt to indeginous or Portugese languages invites East Timor Massacre (ASA NEWS continue perpetrating acts of genocide and harsh punishment. Indonesia is also trying Addendum) commits human rights abuses against an to depopulate East Timor by bringing in isolated but determined people of East more Indonesians. On November 12, 5000 East Timorese Timor. Atrocious acts continue to be committed attended a merorial service at the Molael Demonstrations in protest against the by Indonesian troops. Women are reported Church in Dili for Sebastian Gomes, one of nassacre had already taken place in the to have been killed very slowly by stabbing two Timorese students killed by Indonesian United States, Portugal, Netherlands, with sharp knives. Others have died of security forces two weeks earlier. Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. hunger, starvation, illness or burnt to death After the service, they marched 5 km to ASA call upon its members and friends and shot during encounters with Indonesian the Santa Cruz cemetry. 15 minutes after to urgently send protest letters, organized army. Yet, the East Timorese people persist the funeral had ended, Indonesian soldiers demonstrations against the Indonesian con- to struggle. came. They walked up and started shooting sulate in your country and put pressure on into the crowd. The shooting went on for a Time for action the issue of East Timor. number of minutes. Between 60 and 115 The demands should include the follow- The independence of Namibia in 1990 people died. ing: after a guerrilla struggle of over 40 years and Even as the street was lined with bodies, 1. An immediate, unrestricted and inde- a very active campaigne in the United the soldiers ran over them pursuing others, pendent investigation on the massacre be Nations is a strong reminder that the length shooting them in the back. Kamal Bamadhaj, conducted. of struggle does not erode the principles of a 21 year-old Malaysian student studying in Australia was among those killed. He was 2. A total cessa/tion of Indonesian military self-determination. operations, the immediate withdrawal of In 1982, the UN General Assembly shoot three times in the back. Kamal participated in a number of ASA Indonesian troops from East Timor and Resolution 37/30 asked the Secretary- that the people of East Timore be given General to "initiate consultations with all activities last year when ASA organized the "Workshop for People's Liberation" and the the right to self-determination as parties concerned with a view of exploring stipulated by United Nations resolutions. avenues and achieving a comprehensive ASA Executive Council meeting in Sydney. settlement of the problem." Kamal was in Dili in anticipation of the In 1986, the UDT and FRETILIN arrival of an international delegation in East formed the Nationalist Convergence based Timor. The delegation which was cancelled on the struggle for self-determination and raised hopes of eventual peace for the independence. They have consistently people in East Timor, an issue which Kamal thwarted Indonesia's design to remove the as a student activist felt strongly about. East Timor agenda from the international East Timor, a small Portuguese colony in limelight. the Indonesian archipelago was invaded by The Timorese independence forces want Indonesia in 1975 after independence was negotiations with Indonesia and have called declared by East Timorese. This invasion for free electios and a referendum, under UN was condemned by the United Nations sponsorship, to determin East Timor's Security Council twice in December 1975 future. East Timorese leader, Xanana and April 1976. Gusmao has stated his willingness to These UN resolutions called for the negotiate, without pre-conditions, under the withdrawal of Indonesian troops and for the auspices of the United Nations. East Timor people be given the right to self- East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 5 Dec. 10-16, 1991

DEPUTY CHIEF FOR COMMANDER OF THE DILI RIOT WAS PLANNED -- MILITARY INTELLIGENCE INDONESIAN ARMED SUDOMO LEADING TEAM TO FORCES: DON'T MEDDLE IN Unedited translation forwarded on a pro- INVESTIGATE INDONESIA'S INTERNAL tected source basis: DEMONSTRATION IN DILI AFFAIRS Official statement concerning the incident in Dili, as reported in Media Indonesia, Unedited translation forwarded on a pro- Unedited translation forwarded on a pro- 11.15.91 tected source basis: tected source basis: According to Sudomo [Coordinating Sudomo, Coordinating Minister for Politics Try Sutrisno, Commander of the Indonesian Minister for Politics and Security], the 42 and Security, and Try Sutrisno, Commander Armed Forces, as reported in Media people being held in connection with the of the Indonesian Armed Forces, as reported Indonesia, 11.15.91 Dili riot "are suspected in inciting the riot." in Suara Pembaharuan (Protestant daily), Upon emerging from a ministerial Also according to Sudomo, formerly the 11.15.91 Coordinating Meeting on Politics and Commander for the Restoration of Security According to Sudomo, ABRI [Indonesian Security yesterday in Jakarta, General Try and Order, military personnel were able to Armed Forces] has already formed an Sutrisno, Commander of the Indonesian seize one G-3 Nato standard rifle, two investigating team to probe thoroughly all Armed Forces [ABRI], was surrounded by Mauser firearms, three pistols, five hand matters related to the recent incident in Dili. dozens of reporters inquiring about the re- grenades and dozens of sharp weapons, as Headed by Major General Arie Sadewo, cent disturbances in Dili. Over the sound of well as Fretilin flags. "The weapons along Deputy Chief of the Strategic Intelligence pouring rain, the General, who also holds with the flags will be presented as evidence Agency [BAIS], the team has already left the position of Chief of the Coordinating in court." for East Timor. Agency for National Security The Coordinating Meeting then issued an Sudomo explained that, as has already [BAKORSTANAS], answered all questions official statement concerning the Dili riot, as been reported by the ABRI Commander, the in turn. Below are selected highlights: follows: number of deaths related to the riot totalled What is your opinion about recent re- 1. On November 12, 1991, a riot occurred in 19, while 91 have been listed as injured, quests by the United Nations and a number the city of Dili, incited by remnants of including two persons whose condition of foreign countries that the Indonesian East Timor GPK [terrorist gang] remains critical. government provide a detailed account of members who thus were able to perpe- Forty-two people have been arrested in the bloody disturbance? trate a "brutal" act of violence. Their connection with the incident. Six guns, in- "As a sovereign nation we do not wish action represent a violation of Indonesian cluding one G-3 (Garand) rifle, two any force outside meddling in our domestic law, disturbing the peace and stability to Mausers, and three pistols, 5 grenades, affairs. The task of following up on the the city in which it took place. The Fretilin flags, banners, hundreds of machetes incident is our own responsibility. incident was intended to draw and other sharp weapons plus ammunition Regardless of any outsider requests, we are international sympathy and world in the possession of the rioters, have been the ones responsible for undertaking a full attention in connection with the unilateral seized. Those persons under arrest will be resolution of the affair. I emphasize again, decision taken by the Portuguese processed and then brought to trial, no foreign party should be meddling in Parliamentary delegation to cancel its continued the Minister. Indonesia's internal affairs." planned visit to the area. One New Zealand citizen of Malaysian With outbreak of this disturbance in Dili 2. During the riot, the security officials origin, Kamal bin Ahmad, was among the some people have claimed that human rights present first attempted a persuasive ap- dead. Kamal was in fact a reporter when he are being abused in East Timor. proach to control and calm the crowd. died of a gunshot wound, actually the victim "Oh ... no, there is none of that. If they However, one group in the crowd did not did not possess a journalist visa to enter want to talk about human rights, let them heed this approach, and instead began to East Timor, noted Sudomo. please study Pancasila [Indonesia's National attack, trying to seize firearms for Two United States citizens were also Creed]. Before they were capable of putting themselves, causing casualties to fall. present when the riot occurred in Dili. Amy the idea of human rights into words, we had 3. The government will undertake a com- Goodman and Allen Yoseph, both already invented a just and civilized plete investigation of this incident in full apparently also reporters without official humanitarianism. There's no need to worry accordance with the law. clearance, have since returned to their native about human rights in Indonesia. They country, Sudomo said. should really understand the reason the 4. Day-to-day life is undisturbed and has Stated the Minister, "Day-to-day life is incident happened. Those rioters were returned to normal in the city of Dili; undisturbed and has returned to normal in simply brutal." community life has not been affected by the city of Dili; community life has not been The incident in Dili -- can it be attributed the incident. affected by the incident ..." to the failure of ABRI's territorial op- 5. The government of the Republic of Referring to the possibility that a number erations? Indonesia is deeply concerned about this of members of the Church are among those "Oh no, I assure you our territorial op- mass riot, which has claimed a number of being detained, the ABRI [Indonesian erations over there have been successful. victims. Armed Forces] Commander Try Sutrisno The community is progressing steadily and noted that there have been no confirming is eager for more development. And the reports. However, he cautioned that we terrorist gang [GPK] have no room left for must continue to be alert. "Church has a maneuver now. In any case, we will con- range of meanings. It can be an institution, a tinue to see our territorial operations religious activity, or simply a building. through in order to promote development in Being in or part of a church is no problem. the area." But we must be careful about elements who simply use these holy places. As a nation, we must be sure not to disrupt religious life," elaborated the Commander. East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 6 Dec. 10-16, 1991

CARRASCALAO 'KOMPAS' the people of East Timor highly respect Answer: I think we have to be bold and fairness/justice. All those who were in- honest. Bold enough to face the mistakes INTERVIEW volved and all those who did wrong must we've made and honest in admitting those be prosecuted. The problem is extensive mistakes so that the people's trust Unedited translation forwarded on protected and this situation is disadvantageous to remains with us. This is the foundation, source basis: development in East Timor. without this, we have no place to start. Mario Viegas Carrascalao, Governor of Question: What kind of approach do you Question: What kind of mistakes occurred? East Timor, interviewed by KOMPAS recommend? Answer: Mistakes in the preparations for (Catholic daily), 16.11.91. Answer: This case has to be investigated the Portuguese Parliament visit to East "We Should Be Honest and Bold Enough exhaustively. It should not be based on Timor. An informal curfew was in effect to Apologize." Telephone interview with rumours or news from interested people. for the Timorese people. But other Governor of East Timor, Mario Viegas We have to find the truth so that the people were permitted to walk around. Carrascalao on Friday morning, November people can see that we are just and hon- So that ... [illegible] specifically for East 15. KOMPAS, November 16, 1991. est. We have to declare that those who Timorese. But there was no formal Question: What is the atmosphere of Dili did wrong did wrong, and those who did curfew, but the situation was made so. after the incident? no wrong did no wrong. And whoever Question: What are the concrete steps to be Answer: The atmosphere is relatively calm did wrong, [they] must be punished. taken? compared to a few days ago. But some Because there is no other God on this Answer: There must be a neutral investiga- of the population are still frightened. earth. There is only one God. No one tion. If the results have to be confiden- This is the negative situation created by else should be treated like God. tial, so be it. But the people need to feel the incident. Question: What is Bishop Belo's position? that action is taken based on the results Question: What is your view of the distur- Answer: In my view, Bishop Belo was not of the investigation. The central bances? at all involved. I just talked to him on the Government has to carry this out itself, Answer: In my view the incident was phone, he did not know of the [church] because this is not an affair for foreigners. probably partly our mistake. As a result, mass. He only knew after hearing the So the investigation must be from the the situation backfired. Groups that are sound of gunshots. center. We should not be disputing over against us [literally, anti-us] are now able Question: What about the [church] mass it- truth here. to appeal to many in the population. self? Question: How about the approach that has This is the core of the problem. Answer: That is the people's custom. But been carried out so far? Question: Is that because the approach is after the mass was over, there were Answer: ABRI's territorial operation has appropriate? people manipulating the situation. They been received extremely well by the Answer: Yes, in the past, the population unfurled banners on the way from the people. But what happened during the slept with machetes and clubs to protect church to the Military Subdistrict preparations for the Portuguese themselves from those who are against Headquarters [Kodim]. If it has been Parliamentary visit has erased the posi- us, now they use them to defend them- said that there was going to be a demon- tive effects of the territorial operation. selves from us. This is what is happen- stration in front of the governor's office, Yet in fact the villagers were really sat- ing and it is a complex problem. Because this is not true. They did not pass by isfied with it. But I don't know what the of this, an in- depth investigation is the governor's office. When they passed territorial operation concept for the urban necessary. Not to seek out who is wrong Kodim Headquarters, something areas is. What I know is that in the past and who is right, but to look for a happened that I did not see, so I cannot two to three months, the people in the medicine that can heal. describe it to you. I only saw three city felt dissatisfied resulting in the Question: Who were they actually, were groups of 300-400 people, the back part emergence of something strange. For they Fretilin? of the group ran left and right, like the instance, as the Portuguese Parliamentary other groups. Some ran behind the gover- visit approached, people became Answer: Fretilin's numbers are small. nor's office and then up to the cemetery. frightened to see us, rather than being Masses of people gathered after a radio I knew no more till I heard the gunshots. frightened to see Fretilin. This is strange. announcement about a ceremony [of Question: How many were killed in the The reason for this must be sought out, putting flowers at the grave] commemo- and a medicine be found. But I am not rating the death of Sebastian Gomes. It disturbance? Answer: I don't want to speculate on peo- the right person to search for the medi- was preceded by a mass at the St. cine. Antonius church in Motael, at 6:00. As a ple's lives or on something that causes result of the announcement, many people anxiety. Wait for the official numbers. Question: What is your personal message on gathered, including students. Meanwhile, Question: Was there a foreign journalist who this situation? in the gathering there was also another died? Answer: Starting now, we have to be honest group, the terrorist [Security Disturbing Answer: That has been confirmed by the and fair in facing the situation. We have Gang]. They were the ones who caused Military Region Commander. A foreign to apologize to families who did no the chaos. The important thing is not to journalist died, a foreigner, his name was wrong. We do not apologize to the involve innocent children. Most of the Kamal Amad, originally from Malaysia Terrorists because they are enemies. But youths were interested in putting the with New Zealand nationality. His [we must apologize] to their innocent flowers on the grave. Only a few par- family will come to East Timor. families simply tagged along; we have to be humane and apologize ... [illegible]. In ticipated in the mass, about 1000 people. Yesterday [Thursday] I received the First But, according to many people, the Secretary of the New Zealand Embassy. my view, this has to be done. It is number of those who were in the I gave him the necessary explanations. difficult indeed. If I am ordered to do so cemetery was larger. And today [Friday] he will meet with the I am ready. If there is no one else willing, Question: So, what should be done? Operations Commander of East Timor. I am ready to do it. If necessary, I will say that I am representing the Answer: In order to heal the spirit of the Question: Based on this fact, what is the government in doing it. Dili population, a special strategy is conceptual resolution on East Timor that necessary, a special approach. Because you recommend? Question: Who has the most authority to do it? East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 7 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Answer: We should apologize after the in- Question: How should East Timor actually gative team to determine what actually oc- vestigation. After the investigation has be developed in such a way that would curred during the riot. The team is being been carried out and there is proof of make it appealing to the younger gen- headed by the Deputy Chief of the Strategic mistakes, we should apologize. We eration? Intelligence Agency, Major General Ario should not justify something that is Answer: In my view, in order to appeal to Sadewo. wrong. I think we are wrong if we think the hearts of the younger generation, we The Commander of Military Region we are always the ones who are right. have to slow down physical construction IX/Udayana, Major General Sintong The people will not believe this. If so, all [literally, physical development]. First, Panjaitan, last Thursday emphasized that the government's campaign for de- we have to develop the people. As of Fretilin/GPK [terrorist gang] leader Xanana velopment will also be received with how physical development has moved far Gusmao aong with other Fretilin leaders suspicion. ahead of the people themselves. Physical bears the responsibility for the civilian Question: What form [should the apology development and the development of the casualties that resulted from the incident in take]? people should be balanced, neither should the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili on Answer: We are not looking for an expose. be more stressed. Why should we build November 12. We should look for their families. Go to health clinics [original, puskesmas] if As a result of agitation and propaganda, their homes. Use a humane way. This is there is no health practitioners? My part of the Dili community, mostly young the relationship between one human point is, develop the people first. If people, have been incited to resist integra- being and another. If it is done in a there are health practitioners and no tion and to attack ABRI [Indonesian Armed formal way through a radio broadcast, it health clinics, people could still be Forces] personnel, the Major General told a will only be for the external consumption treated even under a tree. group of reporters from AFP, Reuter, ABC, of other people. To their families we AAP as well as from Jakarta and other should say that what was right was right Indonesian provinces in Dili last Thursdsay. ALI ALATAS: WE SHOULD The Regional Commander expressed great and what was wrong was wrong. If this WAIT FOR THE RESULTS OF is politically exploited, that is another concern and sorrow over the unfortunate matter. But as for me, [I believe] they THE INVESTIGATING TEAM. event. In addition, he noted that the actions themselves will accept our apology. And taken by ABRI personnel during the they will convey to others that our Suara Pembaharuan, November 16, 1991. incident were in accord with proper military government has admitted that what was (Protestant daily) Unedited translation. procedure. right was right and what was wrong was According to Alatas, the foreign media The Commander also noted that no other wrong. That is important for raising the has presented biased reporting on the inci- choice of action was open to the security consciousness of the people. dent in East Timor. "They portray the personnel present at the riot. Numbering only 200, the soldiers were surrounded by Question: How about openness in East situation as if the security [forces] were shooting innocent people without provo- 3,500 rioters and had to defend themselves. Timor? Among the crowd were members of Answer: With openness we become more cation." "Does this kind of reporting make sense? GPK/Fretilin, their behavior exceeding all free. Appealing to the hearts of the limits. people could be made more important. Are we so stupid? For many years we have been involved in developing the province of From the start ABRI personnel kept This has to be done as soon as possible. calm, calmed the Regional Commander. It is a mistake if we blame outsiders. We East Timor; we have even invited Portugal and the United Nations to come. What Security forces attempted to avoid taking have to be aware that the competitive action even though two victims had already ability of the East Timorese is rather would be the point of the government purposely creating this incident," he said. fallen. The Deputy Commander of inferior. Because of that, we have to do Airborne Battalion 700 Lt. Andi Girhard more in order to increase their ability to If the media reporting were balanced and objective, Alatas believes that there would Andi Lantara, whose condition remains compete. If we ban outsiders from critical, and Private Dominggus, who sus- entering, we are being paternalistic. The not have been any of the negative reactions particularly from Portugal and a number of tained light wounds. East Timorese will not become a mature According to Sintong, up until now, in people. We have to promote Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO), like Amnesty International and Asia Watch. the case of demonstrations that remain lim- improvement of the competence of the ited to vocal protests such as "no consent to East Timorese. Everyone has to do this, There would also not have been any ludicrous inferences which said that this integration," ABRI forces have used only but usually we are not so flexible in use persuasive methods without taking further of our funds, we are too bureaucratic. incident was the policy of the government of the Republic of Indonesia. action or making arrests. This approach is Until this day, I have not been able to maintained as long as the demonstrators "do implement a large portion of the not resort to violence, murder, burning, or President's Instruction for Village INVESTIGATIVE TEAM TO BE vandalism." Development, which was proposed in FORMED IN CONNECTION Yet, commented the Commander, this May, because the money has not been WITH EAST TIMOR RIOT persuasive approach apparently only served delivered from the center. It is said, there to encourage the young demonstrators to be is something in it that cannot be Unedited translation forwarded on a pro- even more daring. The Fretilin leader approved. We have to wait and wait. tected source basis: Xanana than was able to take advantage of Question: How about the issue of land? Ali Alatas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the situation, bringing the demonstrators to Answer: We should not speculate, land is Major General Sintong Panjaitan, the point of "forgetting themselves," and attacking ABRI personnel, police, and only one problem, although it probably Commander of Military Region IX/Udayana, has contributed to the creation of a as reported in Kompas (Catholic daily) observers, asd well as seizing fireamrs. negative atmosphere. Sentiments against [date?] Today, Xanana has been forced to redi- us [literally, anti-us] are created by many rect the focus of his actions to the diplo- At the Ministerial Coordinating Meeting matic-politics front in order to secure his factors. The land issue has not been for Politics and Security last Thursday implemented fully. Many of the main source of support there. Accordingly, (November 14), the Coordinating Minister the center of Xanana's activities is now in implementing regulations to them are still of Politics and Security Sudomo claimed not in place. Dili, since he can no longer win sympathy that Indonesia has already sent an investi- from rural communities in the forests. East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 8 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Now, thanks to the vigilance of ABRI, Department of the BCI, left for Dili on sulted in many innocent casualties were which have for a long time been one in body November 22 and returned on November not a policy of the government, nor were and mind with the local community, the city 26. He was followed by Monsignor J. they a policy of the Indonesian Armed of Dili is peaceful again, and daily business Darmaatmadja SJ, Head of the BCI, and Forces. Many members of the Armed continues normally. Monsignor M.D. Situmorang, OFMCap, Forces were seen to be guarding the Secretary General of the BCI, who left on demonstration well, so many people said. UNITED CHURCH OF the 25th and returned on the 27th of There were even some who said that at CANADA: CUT AID! November, 1991. the time of the shootings there were 2. These visits proved very useful because members of the Armed Forces who tried The United Church of Canada, the coun- we were able to meet with those who to stop their fellow soldiers who were try’s major Protestant church (Methodist- personally witnessed the incident, and doing the shooting. An additional Presbyterian-Congregationalist union), sent those who received reports directly from positive sign is that after two members of the following letter to External Affairs eye-witnesses of the November 12 the Armed Forces were wounded, Minister Barbara McDougall on Nov. 26. incident; we were also able to obtain through stabbing by demonstrators, it is The Canadian Conference of Catholic general information that was circulating reported that members of the Armed Bishops has also sent a letter, which we widely in Dili and its environs, but that Forces around them did not immediately hope they will agree to make public shortly. has not reached other regions. retaliate. Regarding rumors of executions The information in circulation not only of a number of people on the evening of Dear Secretary McDougall, November 12th, those who regularly re- We are very concerned about the recent contained reports that were very differ- ent from the official statements that we ceive information were doubtful of its brutal killings of many innocent civilians by truth. the Indonesian Military in East Timor. We had, it also added new information. For example, that many families did not So we deeply regret that because of the understand that the Military is now actions of some members of the Armed eliminating potential witnesses to the mas- know whether their husbands, brothers and sisters, or children were still alive or Forces, the moral integrity, dignity, and sacre of November 12. credibility of the nation has been put at We commend you in voicing your con- dead, because there were still quite a number of people who were being treated risk in the eye of the world, of our own demnation of the Military brutality, and in country, and, even more so, of the people stating that Canada will review its aid policy in the Military Hospital and who were not allowed to be visited by anyone. The of East Timor, a people to whom we to Indonesia. should be reaching out. It is very commendable that Canada has location of the graves of the dead is also moved lately to link its aid with human unknown. Some reported that the treat- 4. We appeal to all parties to assist the in- rights record of the various countries. ment of the corpses which were taken vestigation process of the National We strongly urge our Government to away in trucks was very inhumane: Investigation Commission by creating an press the Indonesian Government to desist bodies were simply dragged away and atmosphere in which people feel free to from any further military action against the tossed into the back(s) of the truck(s). say what they know, and by guaranteeing innocent civilian population of East Timor, At the time of the burials, families were their safety and security. The task of the and allow a process of self-determination not notified. It is also unclear whether National Investigation Commission is for the people of East Timor, to settle this burials were carried out with religious very difficult, because as of now people long festering situation. rites or not. As for the number of those there would rather keep quiet for their We would also urge that our Government who died: some say three truck loads, own safety. take strong action in relation to Indonesia others say more than one hundred 5.In the reporting of the November 12 in- by suspending all aid to that country until it people. The identities of those who were cident, the involvement of the Motael improves its human rights record, and shot dead is also unclear. It is believed Church has been mentioned. When the allows for a process of self- determination that some were Fretilin, some were Indonesian Armed Forces carried out a for East Timor. demonstrators, and some were members search of the church and the pastoral of the church community who came in complex, on October 28, Monsignor Belo STATEMENT OF THE droves after an invitation previously participated in it. He acknowledged that broadcast by radio. Why the Indonesian there really were people found in the BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF Armed Forces open fire, causing many church and brought outside. But he said INDONESIA (BCI) ON THE casualties, is the question in many that no sharp weapons were ever shown INCIDENT IN EAST TIMOR people's minds since the shooting to him at the time they were [allegedly] happened at the entrance of the Santa found. Yet when the Pastor of the Unedited translation forwarded on protected Cruz cemetery, far from the place where Motael Church was questioned in the source basis: the two members of the Armed Forces regional police headquarters, he was were stabbed. If the reason was self-de- eventually taken to a table: there he was BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF fense, people are asking, was it necessary shown sharp weapons, posters and other INDONESIA: Secretariat General to have so many casualties? Why were things which were said to have been 1. In order to contribute to the resolution of there no efforts to prevent the mixing found in the pastoral complex. the problem in East Timor, we find it between demonstrators and common We do not wish to say too much about necessary to heed and to take into ac- people who were participating in the the involvement of the Church in Motael, count the feelings and realities of the flower-giving commemoration ceremony? because it can be easily interpreted as whole population in East Timor, par- 3. So we feel it necessary that the curtain self-justification and as a lack of ticularly in Dili. This is what prompted drawn around the November 12 incident objectivity. If it is true that there was a us to write a news release dated should be drawn back through an objec- Pastor involved in the November 12 November 14, 1991, stating that "the tive investigation, since the current un- incident, it would of course be necessary BCI will continue to follow and study clear situation, reports may develop to investigate the extent of his in- the development" of the situation in East which could exaggerate the realities. This volvement and to take necessary steps, Timor. To this end, Father Alfons S. task is presently the responsibility of the just as it should be with anyone who is Suhardi, OFM, Head of the National Investigation Commission. We proved to have done wrong. But we still Documentation and Information are confident that the shootings which re- wish to convey our belief that the East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 9 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Bishop, the Priests, and the nuns in East Supreme Court judge to head an inquiry into though it failed to explode. Reporters were Timor, who have to stand above all po- the shooting. The panel will include shown a collection of grenades, guns and litical groups in sheperding their flock, representatives of the home, justice, and knives that the military said were taken are really in a difficult position. Parties foreign ministries, the army, Parliament and from the cemetery. Survivors, however, which are hostile to one another often the Supreme Advisory Council. Said denied hearing a shot or seeing a hurled consider them unhelpful. It can be re- President Suharto in his decree: "The grenade. Armed forces chief Gen. Try ported that in September 1991, Xanana, commission will investigate freely, fairly Sutrisno said the marchers "shouted the leader of Fretilin, was still forwarding and comprehensively all aspects of the in- hysterically, pelted shops and a police sharp criticism both to Pope John Paul II cident." station." Edgy soldiers fired, he said, only and to Monsignor Carlos Philipe Though torn by strife in the past, East after "persuasive and sympathetic" methods Ximenes Belo. Timor seemed well on the way to pacifica- failed to disperse the crowd. The attitude of Monsignor Belo in re- tion in recent years. But the latest violence Warouw said the shooting was a tragic sponding to recent incident is contained has once again focused attention on the mistake: "The soldiers thought they were in his Pastoral Notice dated November impoverished province. The killings hap- ordered to fire, but the order was 'Don't 22, 1991 (attached). pened during a visit to Dili by a team from fire.'" Some sources reckon the volley lasted 6.The most pressing action to be taken at the U.N. Human Rights Commission. 30 seconds, others insisted it went on for the present, in our view, is to restore a The tragedy had its roots in another five minutes. A survivor told Asiaweek that feeling of security and the people's trust shooting incident on Oct. 28. Sebastio the shooting was indiscriminate. "Small in the government. Gomez, 16, died of bullet wounds in a fight children of 4 or 5 died as well," she claimed. with right-wing Timorese who many claim "I saw troops bayoneting victims violently Jakarta, November 28, 1991 have been armed by the military. A after they'd been shot, and many people BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF memorial service for Gomez was organized who tried to get away were arrested." INDONESIA, signed on Nov. 12 in Dili's Montael church, where Among the dead was Malaysian-born he was slain. While some may have been student Kamal Bamadhaj, who holds a New Mgr. J. Darmaatmadja, SJ,Head inspired by political aims, many Timorese Zealand passport. His body was apparently Mgr. M.D. Situmorang, OFMCap, who streamed to the church that morning removed from a cemetery in Hera village, 15 Secretary General said they were there to mourn Gomez's km. east of Dili. Eighteen other bodies are death. Some 1,500 people later offered buried in unmarked graves there. FEAR STALKS EAST TIMOR flowers and lighted candles at the youth's Many Timorese claim there are other grave. Among them, said eyewitnesses, were mass graves outside Dili. Victims of night (ASIAWEEK) women and children. "arrests" are also said to be buried there. Asiaweek, November 29, 1991 Meanwhile about 1,000 young people Australia-based Fretilin members say the were marching from Montael to the ceme- victims were witnesses killed to prevent Sunday morning mass at Balide Catholic tery. Some in Dili said they planned to stage them from testifying. One villager said he church in Dili, capital of East Timor, was a protest outside the U.N. team's hotel, but saw a truck heading away from the city on packed on Nov. 17. Many worshippers held were turned away by guards. Pro-secession the night of Nov. 12. "The back was open back their tears. "They're afraid to cry groups have used such visits, including one and I could see the heads of bodies lying openly because they fear the military or by Pope John Paul II in 1989, to air their inside it." An old man recalled watching their informers will see them and come grievances. Others suggested an aborted visit while bodies were burned and the remains looking for them," said a nun. They had by Portuguese legislators Nov. 4 also stoked put into a pit. Armed Forces information reason to be afraid. passions. chief Brig.- Gen. Nurhadi Purwosaputro Five days earlier government troops, al- The marchers denied any involvement denied allegations of summary executions. legedly under provocation from the separa- with Fretilin. But photographs showed Said he: "It's a big lie." tist group Fretilin, fired on some 2,500 some carrying banners calling for inde- East Timor Gov. Mario Carrascalao ac- mourners at the Santa Cruz cemetery a few pendence, while others held the Indonesian cused Fretilin of orchestrating the march, hundred metres away from Balide church. flag upside-down. Independent eyewit- but he also blamed the military for not The army has admitted that 20 people died nesses asserted that many shouted protests keeping the crowd under better control. He and 91 were injured. The Jakarta-based against Indonesian rule. said he had warned the army against using Legal Aid Institute claimed there were 115 One badly bruised young girl told members of right-wing groups for security deaths, while other sources put the number Asiaweek that the trouble began when the work. "We have Timorese working with the as high as 180. While the exact death toll marchers passed the military command armed forces who walk around at night," may never be known, one thing was clear: centre outside the governor's office. "I was said the governor. "I call these the bandits, fear has become a fact of life in the province. grabbed by a man wearing black," she re- the terrorists, the extreme right-wing." After dark, few of Dili's 126,000 citizens counted. "I resisted and told him I had the On Nov. 19 the protests spilled over into walk the streets for fear of being hauled in right to be in such a march. He hit me and Jakarta. Some 30 Timorese gathered outside by soldiers or masked gunmen in black. other soldiers came towards us carrying the U.N. building and the Australian and Security checkpoints have been set up on all pieces of timber. My friends picked up Japanese embassies carrying placards roads leaving the city. Some survivors of the rocks and started to throw them. The man in decrying the bloodshed and calling for shooting have taken refuge with the black fell down and we ran off." The independence for East Timor. Army troops International Red Cross, which is also government has identified the man as Maj. beat them with clubs and rifle butts before helping distraught families locate missing Andi Geerhan Lantara, who it said was dragging them away. relatives. Many wounded were taken to a stabbed during the incident. The military has apologised for the military hospital, which is off limits to The girl and other marchers reported tragedy in Dili. "I express deep regrets that visitors. Church sources said authorities seeing up to five truckloads of soldiers head this happened, because no matter how it have made many arrests in Dili and for the cemetery. The men took positions happened, a loss of life is always regretta- surrounding towns. "You have to protect around the walls surrounding the graveyard. ble," said Gen. Sutrisno. But the current us," pleaded one relative of a victim. "We're What followed is still unclear. According to military crackdown in East Timor is not afraid we'll be killed in the same way." East Timor military commander Brig.-Gen. helping ease tensions. "These people know In the wake of an international outcry, Rafael Warouw, a pistol shot was heard in nothing of human rights," lamented a young the government on Nov. 19 named a the crowd and a hand grenade rolled out, woman. "We have no connection with East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 10 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Fretilin. They are finished here. It is the PROBOSUTEJO SUSPENDS Indonesia was far better than during the people of Timor alone who want change, days of Portugal. and if we have the chance, we would have INVESTMENT PLANS IN EAST Just think, if they were to cut themselves nothing to do with Indonesia." TIMOR off from Indonesia. What would become of them? Would they be able to set up an A LEGACY OF SUFFERING Kedaulatan Rakyat. 30 November 1991. independent state? At best, they would (ASIAWEEK) Original language: Indonesian. Abridged. become the plaything of other states. This Comment: Probosutejo is the step-brother of kind of understanding should be implanted Asiaweek November 29, 1991 President Suharto. This is a useful hint in the minds of the Timorese. They need to When an English traveller visited East about the Suharto financial empire's eco- be told about this constantly so that proper Timor's capital Dili in the mid-1800s, he nomic interests in East Timor and its re- communication between the government and described the territory as being in a state of sponse to the current situation there. It is the people could be established. This would "chronic insurrection." The Timorese were also an example of crude colonial arrogance put an end to the feelings of dissatisfaction. then in one of their periodic rebellions and racism. "I think not enough is being done there to give such explanations to the people." against the Portuguese, who had invaded the Because of the Nov 12 incident in Dili, eastern half of the island in 1642. In the last businessman Probosutejo is now suspending DILI TRADERS INCOME major war (1910-1912) against the planned investment in East Timor. Since last Portuguese, 3,000 died and 5,000 were year, he has been able to bring together the DWINDLING SINCE BLOODY captured. sum of Rp 1,000,000,000 (about half a 12 NOV. INCIDENT (JAKARTA Portugal ended its rule in 1974 after a million US dollars) for investment in East POST) coup in Lisbon ushered in an era of democ- Timor. racy and an end to colonialism, but peace He said that if the government had open Jakarta Post. 30 November 1991. Abridged. was not to come to Timor. In the vacuum communication with the people of East Restaurant owners and taxi drivers they left, three major political groups con- Timor, undesirable difficulties would not tended for power: the left-leaning Timorese complain their income has dwindled since have occurred. The boss of PT Mertju the Nov 12 Dili clash. Restaurant owner Social Democratic Association (later known Buana said that by this he meant having a as Fretilin), the pro- Indonesia Apodeti and Zulkarnaen from West Sumatra said his proper understanding of the people there daily revenue was now Rp. 150,000 a day the elitist but initially moderate Timorese and bringing about greater development, in Democratic Union (UDT). or Rp 100,000 down from the period before line with other provinces. The level of the tragedy. Ratna from East Java said that Trust between the parties broke down education was still low in East Timor. quickly, and in 1975 UDT took to the no customers had visited her restaurants at Saying that he had visited East Timor night since the incident. Dominggas, an East streets in a bid to avert a coup by Fretilin. some time ago, he felt the government The leftists, however, gained the upper hand Timorese restaurant owner, told JP his should change its way of handling things evening customers were beginning to return and established control across most of the there. "Not static, but having a policy that region. Displeased by the defeat of its but the numbers were less that before the benefits the people of East Timor." incident. A taxi driver from North Sumatra supporters, Indonesia on Dec. 7, 1975, He has long had plans to invest in tele- invaded Dili, claiming it was acting at the said his daily earnings had dropped from Rp communications as well as in cattle-rearing, 50,000 to Rp 15,000. Another taxidriver request of Timorese groups. The following agriculture and mining. year the territory was formally incorporated from Flores said his average earnings were He said that investment plans were also now Rp. 20,000 down from Rp. 50,000. as Indonesia's 27th province. The United hampered by the system of trading which is Nations has never recognised its status. The clash has also affected the relation- not yet open. Anyone wanting to import ship between East Timorese government The only lasting legacy of the Portuguese goods to East Timor had to do it through was the Roman Catholic Church, and priests officials and those from outside. "I cannot one pair of hands. It's the same with ex- work without feeling isolated," said a gov- continue to wield much power. Gov. Mario porting; the export of coffee is handled by Carrascalao accuses some priests of ernment official from outside East Timor. one pair of hands. "I am sure that if busi- "We had good relations with all the em- "playing politics". Responds Bishop Filipe nessmen could buy up coffee themselves, Ximenes Belo: "Show me the facts." ployees before." then trade it with other islands, many would A feeling of insecurity affests people Carrascalao admits, however, that no one be attracted." He said a change in the rules can govern East Timor without the using transportation. A woman getting of a about exporting goods would encourage bus from Manatuto said she was afraid of cooperation of the army and the church. "If them to invest there. [Some months ago, one of these elements is separated from the people with long hair getting on the bus Governor Carrascalao announced new because she related them to the clash. "The whole, forget it. If the church [is left out], regulations on the trading in coffee; perhaps you had better go away from East Timor." incident which involved a great number of they have not yet come into effect.] young people had been a traumatic one for He said investment would have to in- me," she said. volve the people of East Timor themselves, But the clash has brought bonuses for though he admitted that it was not easy to newspaper vendors. The price of a Jakarta do business with them. Their level of edu- paper has doubled. "We're reaping a har- cation is still low and if they get any money, vest," said two paper sellers. "You wont get they treat it as if it were theirs, not a paper if you are late," they said. something entrusted to their keeping. "They need to be educated properly," he said, adding that he had 30 Timorese [presumably, some of the Timorese enticed to go to Java some months ago by Suharto's daughter's Tiara Foundation] and was educating them. Their horizons need to be broadened and they should be made to understand that development under East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 11 Dec. 10-16, 1991

MINEWATCH CONDEMNS that talks could proceed only under the join a fact-finding mission they were at- auspices of the United Nations. tempting to establish. INDONESIA'S 'SAVAGE "There is no other way but an act of self- [Similar articles on the front pages of all COLONIALISM determination," Fretilin's special rep- major Australian dailies] resentative to the UN, Mr Jose Ramos The following is a letter written to the British Horta, said. MOTHER SEARCHES FOR Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd on "Any talk of a special region status, or December 3 1991 by Roger Moody of reconciliation, is either incorrigible naivete, HER SON (KOMPAS) Minewatch: ignorance or it is stubbornness in insisting, Kompas. 4 December 1991. [Extract only] Dear Mr Hurd by other means, on a failed policy." The East Timorese have created a diplomatic On Tuesday morning, a woman who said We are an organisation primarily con- quandary for Australia. Their comments are her name was Maria Judith FS Nevis Reis cerned with the rights of indigenous and an explicit rejection of Mr Hawke's (45 years) visited Mahkota Hotel to meet land-based peoples, to determine whether or proposition that Indonesia and the East the KPN (National Investigation not they want mining projects on their land. Timorese try to find a formula that would Commission). Maria, who lives in East As such, we do not usually address protest allow the province greater autonomy yet Timor, asked the KPN members to be al- letters to anyone. However, in view of our keep it within the republic. lowed to go with them to the hospital to commitment to ensuring that communities in Australia recognises Indonesia's incor- look for her son. Indonesia and Indonesian-occupied poration 16 years ago of the former Maria told journalists that it was very territories, regain control over their natural Portuguese colony. But after the Dili mas- likely that her sixth son, Emidio Roberto resources, we believe it is legitimate for us sacre on November 12, which claimed an Nevis Reis (20 years) was a casualty of the to protest against the massacres of unarmed estimated 75 lives, Mr Hawke said Santa Cruz incident because he attended the civilians which took place in Dili, East Indonesia's policy towards East Timor Mass at Motael Church. According to an Timor, last month. could not be sustained. eyewitness, Emidio also went on the Our prime concern is with the totally The East Timorese delegation was invited procession to the Santa Cruz cemetery and inadequate response of the British govern- to Canberra by Mr Hawke, who said the was shot. ment to an undoubted major violation of Suharto Government had to accept that She said that till now she did not know human rights, and the celebrate massacre of military occupation was not a solution to what had happened to Emidio. She had in- an unarmed people. the problem. The meeting revealed deep- quired about him with the security forces In our view it is wholly inadequate seated anger in the East Timorese resistance but heard nothing. Then she went to the merely to express "concern" and a blithe movement over what they regard as International Committee of the Red Cross expectation that the current Indonesian en- Australia's inept policy responses. but found no trace of her son's name there quiry will yield anything of significance - or "It was a futile exercise," said Mr Joao either. result in a radical change of policy by the Carrascalao, vice- president of the Timor regime. Democratic Union and a brother of East 52 U.S. SENATORS Complete and utter disregard for the Timor's Governor, Mr Mario Carrascalao. WRITE BUSH rights of the Maubere people of East Timor This differed markedly from Mr Hawke's has been implicit in the savage colonialism account. He said the East Timorese had which Indonesia has imposed for a decade U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop - Press expressed gratitude for Australia taking "a Release - December 5, 1991 and a half. very strong lead" in reacting to the massacre. The only way of ensuring that there is no Mr Hawke attended the meeting for 15 WASHINGTON -- Ongoing violations of repetition of this massacre, is for the British minutes, leaving Senator Evans to debate human rights in East Timor have raised the government (joined with other ad- the issues for another hour. ire of 52 United States senators who have ministrations worldwide) to insist, imme- Mr Ramos-Horta and four colleagues said asked President Bush to play a greater role diately and unequivocally, on the complete afterwards that Australia had let down the in resolving the conflict, and unconditional withdrawal of all East Timorese. In a November 25 letter to the President, Indonesian forces from East Timor, and for Citing their support for Australia during initiated by Senator Malcolm Wallop (R- your government to support the implemen- World War II, spokesman for the Timorese WY), the senators outlined their concerns tation of all UN resolutions on this matter. community in Victoria, Mr Abel Guterres, and advocated a stronger and more effective On behalf of the Minewatch collective, I said: "We never called meetings, never called U.S. stance in the region. am for resolutions, to support your people. Before its year-end adjournment, the Roger Moody 3 December 1991 We responded to friends in need, and did so Senate approved a resolution encouraging at a cost of 40,000 lives. "We are not asking the United Nations Commission on Human TIMOR REBELS SPURN you to send troops to East Timor. We want Rights to appoint a special envoy to assist HAWKE political action, industrial action, to redress in the resolution of the East Timorese con- your mistakes." flict in pursuit of the right of self-determi- The Australian - 4-Dec-91: Mr Carrascalao added: "We are not sat- nation of the East Timorese people. isfied with words. We are not satisfied with The former Portuguese colony has re- The East Timorese resistance yesterday ceived world-wide attention in recent weeks repudiated Australia's plea for negotiations tears. Our people are dying." The delegation also criticised Australia's decision to wait after a November 12 massacre of 75 to 100 with the Suharto Government to secure a civilians by Indonesian security forces. reconciliation between the two sides over on the report of the national commission of inquiry set up by the Suharto Government Wallop said that at least 100,000 people the future of the province. out of a population of 700,000 have died in In sometimes heated talks in Canberra to investigate the massacre. The East Timorese argued that the Hawke East Timor since it was invaded and occu- with the Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, and pied hy Indonesia on December 7, 1975. the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Government should support efforts to set up a UN inquiry. The senators’ letter. follows: Evans, East Timorese leaders accused the November 25, 1991 Government of naivete and ineptitude. They said they would nominate a They insisted their claim to self-deter- prominent Australian - possibly former Dear Mr. President: mination was not negotiable and specified Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen - to We have grown increasingly concerned about the human rights and humanitarian East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 12 Dec. 10-16, 1991 problems in the former Portuguese colony Indonesia will be responsive to these con- instructed his commissioners to find out of East Timor. Our concern has heightened cerns. what happened there Nov. 12. But half a in the wake of the massacre on November Sincerely, month after troops opened fire on an 12, when Indonesian security forces killed [52 signatures of Senators follow] opposition crowd, neither side was changing between 75 and 100 civilians during a its story. Jakarta said its men were funeral procession for an East Timorese VERY MANY VICTIMS OF THE provoked to fire by supporters of Fretilin, a youth killed by Indonesian troops on DILI INCIDENT ARE STILL IN violent and illegal independence group. October 28, 1991. We are aware that the Witnesses deny that soldiers were goaded to Department of State has acknowledged HOSPITAL (PELITA) shoot, though they don't deny the crowd's formally at least some aspects of the anti-Indonesian stand. Jakarta says 20 were problem in East Timor. Nonetheless, it Pelita, a Jakarta daily. 5 December 1991. killed; others claim as many as 115. appears that further action is warranted in Dateline: Dili.[Extract only.] Critics are quick to question the com- light of continuing reports of repression in Remember, as you read this, that the hos- mission's fairness. One member, foreign East Timor. pital visit took place more than three weeks ministry official Hadi Wayarabi, appeared Various disturbing reports had come to after the massacre. to have already made up his mind. "The Dili our attention even prior to the November 12 Chairman of the National Investigation incident was created by the government of massacre. Reliable sources in East Timor Commission of the Dili Incident (KPN), M. Portugal," he said. A group of Portuguese relate stories of Indonesian forces and those Djaelani, told journalists yesterday (4/XII) legislators cancelled a trip to their former under their control using razor blades to cut that very many victims are still being treated colony just before the shootings. It would the faces of young East Timorese dissenters. in hospital. He stressed the words "very have been the first official Portuguese visit Reports from Amnesty International and many", as he spoke. But he was not willing since Indonesia took Timor from Lisbon in Asia Watch in recent months detail torture, to say precisely how many people were still 1976. beatings, and other serious abuses of East in hospital. The weight of evidence from independent Timorese. These, as well as other reports of On the first day of their visit, the KPN eyewitness accounts and video footage atrocities, belie reports of improvements in was told that only 42 persons were in hos- suggests that the crowd did not attack first. the human rights situation in East Timor and pital. One source at the hospital who did One foreigner who watched the shooting lead us to conclude that the United States not want to be named said that the day be- told Asiaweek that there was little provoca- needs to take a stronger stand on this mat- fore the KPN visited the hospital, twenty tion from the 2,500 people around the Santa ter. We must make it clear to the Indonesian patients left. Cruz cemetery. But another observer says authorities that we are aware of and (KPN member) Clementino dos Reis he heard one military officer say: "Two of monitoring closely the situation in East Amaral would only say, after visiting the our men have been killed." After that, the Timor. victims of that bloody incident: "I feel very eyewitness said, came the order to fire. On the humanitarian front, we would like sad, extremely sad." As this member of Then came a burst from automatic weapons to register our concern over the inordinately parliament said these words, he looked very that cut down men, women and children. high rates of tuberculosis, malaria, troubled [wajah nampak kusut]. Jakarta is under foreign pressure to clear malnutrition, and infant mortality that exist The two KPN members were surrounded up what happened. The U.S. Congress in East Timor. Such problems are particu- by journalists as all seven KPN members threatened to halt arms sales. Holland said it larly worrisome when one recalls the cata- left the Wira Husada Military Hospital in would cut new development aid, though the strophic famine that occurred at the hands Lahane, East Dili after questioning and Dutch agreed to wait for the commission's of the Indonesian military in the late 1970s. visiting the victims in hospital. They were findings first. An expected condemnation The United States could be an effective and in the hospital from 2.00 pm and were came from Portugal, still considered by the positive force in this region by seeking ways escorted by Major Dr Sofyan Mali, United Nations the rightful ruler of East to insure that the Indonesian government commander of the Health Department of the Timor. After hesitating, Prime Minister cooperates with private organizations, both Military Hospital; they left at 3.30 pm. The Rabbie Namaliu of Papua New Guinea con- secular and religious, that are in a position to visit took place in conditions of great demned the shootings, though he said that help address these problems. concealment and secrecy [sangat tertutup Timor was part of Indonesia. In addition, we would hope that the dan rahasia]. The biggest diplomatic setback could be United States would be alert to any diplo- Djaelani in fact greatly disappointed the with Australia. After years of distrust, rela- matic openings that may present themselves journalists; he had promised them in the tions had been improving. The two coun- in the future, with an eye toward a political morning that they would be allowed to see tries have had joint naval exercises. Several solution that might end the needless for themselves the condition of the victims, planned visits to Indonesia by Australian suffering in East Timor and bring about true on condition that they took no photos. But leaders, including Premier Bob Hawke in self-determination for the territory. The when the visit was about to take place, it February, could be cancelled. Military Senate showed its support for any such was he who asked Sofyan Malik to forbid accords could be shelved. Timorese action by passing a resolution on November the journalists from going in. protested in Australian cities, forcing 21 which stated, "The President should After the visit, Djaelani would only say Indonesia to close its consulate in Darwin. support the immediate introduction of a that the patients were in a very bad state Jakarta said if the humiliation worsened it resolution in the General Assembly in- [sangat parah] because bullets had torn could recall its diplomats. In Sydney, structing the United Nations Commission through various parts of the body. "Some people burned an Indonesian flag. One on Human Rights to appoint a Special also have fractured legs. Maybe, that's be- diplomat said that Canberra could "see Rapporteur for East Timor to assist in the cause they fell," he said, smiling. reversed all the gains it has made with resolution of the East Timorese conflict in Indonesia." pursuit of the right of self-determination of WAITING FOR THE DILI At month's end there were signs that the the East Timorese people. tension had begun to ease. After much per- In conclusion, let us say that we are INQUIRY (ASIAWEEK) suasion, Red Cross workers were allowed to keenly aware of the value of close relations interview victims of the shootings without with the government of Indonesia. It is Asiaweek December 6, 1991 having military people present. In Jakarta precisely because of these close relations On Nov. 28 the Indonesian Commission 49 of 70 demonstrators arrested were freed. that we believe that the Goverment of of Inquiry was set to leave for Dili, the The rest face charges that include treason capital of East Timor. President Suharto had and showing hatred, and face jail terms of up East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 13 Dec. 10-16, 1991 to seven years. In Dili military commander anti-integrasi demonstration during the [I spotted this letter on a flight from Europe Brig.-Gen. R.S. Warouw ordered his troops Papal Mass. to Australia. When "eastern" authoritarian to shoot on sight the "ninjas", masked right- Since the 12 November incident, it seems regimes complain about lack of "eastern- wing groups that roam the streets at night. It that the fate of Externato Sao Jose has now mindedness" it usually means that a was the ninjas who allegedly killed Sebastio been sealed. "The school should conform to particular criticism strikes at the heart of Gomez, whose death the protestors were the [rules of the] Republic of Indonesia. The the matter. I submitted the following mourning when they were shot down Nov. Department of Education is taking the comment to the Nation. Don't know if it was 12. necessary action to deal with the school," published:] said Irvan. Sir, CLOSING DOWN A INDONESIA ATTACKS THE It is somewhat ironic that Husny LEFTOVER FROM Sunkar's letter which states that the PORTUGAL (TEMPO) NATION (BANGKOK) Indonesian government "does not harbour any intransi- gence towards the people of Tempo, Dec. 7, 1991. The facts regarding Letter to the Editor in The Nation East Timor" should appear in "The Nation" the school's history are as stated in Tempo (Bangkok), Dec. 7 .91: on the anniversary of the Indonesian and we do not vouch for their accuracy. Your editorial on Monday, December 2, invasion of East Timor on 7 December The Portuguese-language Sao Jose is clearly a very tendentious piece of writing 1975. 16 years of military occupation with a School, known as Sao Jose Externato, will which suggests or you might say "preach" loss of life of perhaps more than a quarter of soon be closed down. The school has been (sic) Asean how to conduct neighbourly the population must surely be the utmost shut since the 12 November massacre; ac- relations among its mem- bers. It is very of intransigence suffered by any peo- ple. cording to one source, "many Externato surprising how you try to make your point If however, as Husny Sunkar appears to pupils took part in the Santa Cruz cere- in teaching Asean a lesson on how it should suggest, the Indonesian government wants mony". The school has long been suspected act in cases which demand a high degree of to end its intransigence and "is determined of producing 'anti-integration' elements. "I caution and careful consideration. that such incidents would not happen again shall ask for the school to be closed down," Your editorial sir, I would say, has gone in the future" then the world may finally Major-General Sintong Panjaitan too far and too imaginative in trying to serve see Indonesia support the UN resolutions [commander of the Udayana Military your readers an interesting hot topic which on East Timor, withdraw its armed forces Command which covers the territory of East should be kept "warm" as long as possible. and allow a UN supervised act of selfde- Timor] told journalists last month. As I observe your writing, I find that it termination to take place in the territory. Irvan Masduki, chief of the Legal Affairs does not express the feeling of a true Dr M. Wagner, Canberra and Public Relations Bureau of the Eastern-minded paper which usually takes Education Department in Jakarta, said that to heart the background of events which WHO IS CIETACT? could lead to unexpected disturbances. The the Department is in favour of closing down We recently received a query as to who the school but had to proceed cautiously Timor incident has definitely hurt the feelings of 183 million Indonesian people. "cietact" is. Here is therefore a brief self- because it is under the protection of Bishop description: Belo which means that it falls within the We, like the international community, have competence of the Vatican. never wished such incident to happen, in Shortly after the Indonesian invasion of The school was founded in 1964 and had particu- lar not to our people, brothers and East Timor, a network of East Timor soli- a reputation for producing people who sisters, in East Timor. darity groups was formed in the capital cit- played an important role in society; many With sincere intention my Government ies of Australia. One of these groups is the were able to continue their studies in has immediately appointed a National Campaign for an Independent East Timor Portugal. The school curriculum follows the Investigation Commission to conduct a (A.C.T.) or CIET(ACT) which has now Portuguese model, the medium of in- thorough and is determined to probe into all been actively supporting the struggle of the struction is Portuguese with no Indonesian aspects of the incident, the results of which people of East Timor for 16 years. being used. The only languages used besides shall be announced in due time. The Specific activities of CIET(ACT) are the Portuguese are Tetum and English. Government of Indonesia also wished (sic) liaison with the Federal Parliament and the The school was closed down in 1976 but to know what had really happened and, as Commonwealth Government on East Timor, it reopened in 1983 to cater for young we are all aware, even the Australian Foreign liaison with the East Timorese community Timorese whose parents had fled to Minister has con- ceded that the Indonesian in Australia, liaison with national and Portugal and wanted to join their parents, so Government has had no hand in the international solidarity and human rights needed an education that would prepare incident. organisa- tions and the transmission of them for Portugal. It was intended that the My Government does not harbour any information to and from those bodies and to school would remain open for four years but "intransigence towards the people of East the national media. it continued to function as there were no Timor" as you have so eloquently expressed For the last several years, CIET(ACT) moves to close it down. At the latest count, in your editorial. has organised annual na- tional protest it had 537 pupils and 17 teachers. It is, however, suffice (sic) to say that demonstrations in Canberra against the Dr Wirjono, Rector of the University of my Government is deter- mined that such continuing Indonesian occupation of East East Timor, said he was surprised that there incidents would not happen again in the fu- Timor and the Australian Govern- ment's was a school that did not follow the national ture. complicity with Indonesia and it has re- curriculum. However, some Timorese Husny Sunkar, Minister- cently helped the East Timorese commu- officials wanted the school to continue. Counsellor nity to set up the "East Timor Embassy", Governor Mario Carrascalao for example Head of Information Section adjacent to the Indonesian Embassy in saw it as an important centre for language Indonesian Embassy, Bangkok Canberra. instruction because "much of the history of Within Australia, CIET(ACT) cooper- East Timor is written in Portuguese". ates with other solidarity groups in However, since the Pope's visit in 1989, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, the school has been regarded as a problem. Alice Springs, Perth and Hobart which form Many Externato pupils took part in the an Australian Coalition for East Timor. Michael Wagner CIET(ACT) East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 14 Dec. 10-16, 1991

NAIRN MASSACRE ACCOUNT Others joined the procession, from huts and hundred were killed and two hundred were from offices, and by the time it reached the wounded. (NEW YORKER) cemetery it had grown to several thousand. In its first acknowledgement that people The New Yorker December 9, 1991 Even when there was no chanting, and no had been killed, the Indonesian Army said banners nearby, the marchers were talking - on the day of the massacre, "There has been From the section: The Talk of the Town. audibly - to the soldiers and among them- unrest in Dili by people who had been Notes and Comment (Anonymously written selves. East Timor and its occupiers surely incited and influenced by remnants of the by Allan Nairn) hadn't witnessed such a bold public display Gang of Security Disrupters [but] the situ- One of our reporters writes: I was in Dili, in years. ation is now under control." Later that day, East Timor, on the morning of November When the procession got to the cemetery, it said, "Security officers tried to disperse 12th, when a large crowd of East Timorese no soldiers were in sight. Many people [the crowd] in persuasive ways, but they gathered in a parish church. They were there followed the family in, and the rest stood put up resistance and attacked the officers," to attend a memorial Mass for Sebastiao outside the cemetery walls, chatting and soon it expanded its story, saying that Gomes, a young man who had died just excitedly. All at once, somebody, looking some hundred-odd Timorese were carrying outside the church two weeks before. His up, noticed that one end of the street had guns, and that among the crowd was Xanana blood was still caked on the low stone steps been closed off by an Army truck full of Guzmao, the leader of the East Timorese at one side of the building, and mourners troops. People began to point, and then one nationalist movement known as Falintil. occasionally knelt and touched it and then man, looking back in the other direction, said Though no foreign governments tried to crossed themselves. Sebastiao had been shot "The Gestapo!" coming down the route maintain that those statements approached a when Indonesian soldiers stormed the marchers had taken ten minutes earlier was a true account of what had happened, several church, where he had sought refuge after column of soldiers, in dark-brown uniforms of them were conspicuously restrained in hiding from the authorities for several and carrying M-16s. The troops moved in their reaction to the slaughter. In months. Like many East Timorese, he was formation, walking slowly. There was a Washington, Canberra, Tokyo, and else- fearful of reprisal for speaking out against small collective gasp, and some of the crowd where, Indonesian Ambassadors were told the government. began to shuffle back. that the respective foreign ministers were East Timor, the part of the island long Another American reporter and I had a upset about events in East Timor, and colonized by Portugal, was invaded by camera and a tape recorder out and were Indonesia was asked to explain its actions. Indonesia in 1975, after Portugal withdrew standing in the middle of the street, between Our State Department advocated "a prompt from the country, and it has been occupied the troops and the East Timorese. We and complete investigation" by Jakarta, to ever since by ABRI, the Indonesian Army. watched in disbelief as the soldiers turned be "followed by an appropriate disciplining During that time, some two hundred thou- into the cemetery, raised their rifles, and of those determined to have used excessive sand people - a third of the population - took aim. Then, acting in unison, they force," but it rejected any reduction in have been killed by the troops or have opened fire on the East Timorese. Men and military training and arms sales, explaining succumbed to an army policy of forced women fell, shivering, in the street, rolling that United States military aid actually starvation. Dili, the capital, is dotted with from the impact of the bullets. Some were helped "expose" Indonesians to "democratic detention houses, where Intel, the Army's back-pedalling, and tripping, their hands ideas and humanitarian standards." Senator secret police, tortures people suspected of held up. Others simply tried to turn and Claiborne Pell, the chairman of the Foreign opposing Indonesian rule. The East run. The soldiers jumped over fallen bodies Relations Committee, introduced a Timorese, from rural farmers to senior and fired at the people still upright. They resolution censuring Indonesia and urging clerics and civil servants, often begin con- chased down young boys and girls and shot self-determination for the people of East versation with a warning to speak softly, them in the back. Meanwhile, some of the Timor, but suggesting only a partial because the Army is watching and "Intel is soldiers had begun beating my colleague and reduction in United States aid; it did not everywhere." me. They took her tape recorder and my address, for example, the sale of arms like On the morning of the twelfth, as the camera, and pounded the back of my skull the M-16. Proponents of the measure said Mass concluded and the worshippers filed with rifle butts. Then they forced us to sit that it was the strongest action that could be out onto the street, the Intel commander, down on the pavement and trained their M- hoped for, and, indeed, even this non- Colonel Gatot Pursuant, drove by the 16s at us, shouting "Politik! Politik!" binding resolution met quick opposition church in an Army jeep. Soldiers and police We shouted back that we were from both Senator Robert Dole and officers under his command were standing Americans, and maybe that's what saved our Representative Stephen Solarz, the chairman along the route from the church to lives. All around, other soldiers were of the Asian and Pacific Affairs Sebastiao's grave, in the Santa Cruz ceme- executing Timorese. Right in front of us, subcommittee. One Solarz aide said that if tery, about a mile away. They were holding they were kicking an old man in the face and Indonesia staged another massacre (as long, polished wooden sticks, and they eyed slamming him into a concrete sewer. unconfirmed reports were suggesting it the passing East Timorese carefully. Apparently because we were from the already had) a cutoff might be considered. Outside the church, a procession formed United States, however - a country that As I left Dili, the Army was marching behind the Gomes family, who were carry- provided Indonesia with fifty million dollars through the streets, storming into houses ing flowers in straw baskets draped with in outright aid this year, and sells it most of and detaining people. I later learned that woollen shawls. Some people unfurled its weapons, including M-16s - the soldiers hundreds of East Timorese had been ar- banners urging support for the Catholic decided not to shoot us. We escaped by rested and tortured - and many killed - in an Church and the cause of East Timorese in- hopping a passing truck. effort to control the massacre's aftermath. dependence. As the procession got under What we had witnessed was nothing less Indonesia's position was stated by way, first young men and then women and than an act of deliberate mass murder. There General Try Sutrisno, the armed forces older men began making V signs at the was no provocation: no stones were thrown, Chief of Staff. Of "disrupters" like the soldiers they passed. They shouted "Viva and the crowd was standing still. The mourners in Dili he said, "They are people Timor Leste!" At times, the younger boys soldiers issued no warning; there was no who must be crushed...Come what may, let broke into an exuberant job, and older confrontation, no hothead who got out of no one think they can ignore ABRI. In the youths reined them in, shouting hand. The soldiers simply shot several end they will have to be shot down." "Discipline!" Some of the marchers were hundred unarmed men, women, and children. weeping, but more and more of them were Out of a crowd of three thousand, some smiling and glancing around in astonishment. East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 15 Dec. 10-16, 1991

CHURCH URGES END TO ALP: ARMS SALES TO Investigation Commission (KPN) accomplishes it fact-finding mission. TIMOR SHAME (AGE) INDONESIA “MUST STOP” The mastermind has been on the gov- (AUSTRALIAN) ernment's black list of suspects. "Once the Sunday Age. 8 December 1991 Slightly investigation mission is accomplished, we abridged. The Australian 9 December 1991 Un- will clean up all the separatist elements who A senior churchman last night condemned abridged . by Justine Ferrari have tainted the government's dignity," Try Australia's "appeasement" of Indonesia and The Federal Government should suspend said Saturday, while addressing 1,500 called for self-determination for East Timor. all military aid and arms sales to Indonesia students in Medan. Monsignor Hilton Deakin, Vicar General of and defer signing further agreements on oil He told Antara that the Nov 12 incident St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne, told exploration in the Timor Gap unless was a planned political provocation by the 2,000 worshippers at a Timorese Mass that Indonesia agreed to the United Nations nation's enemy to destabilise Indonesia's many Australians felt shame at the way inquiring into its human rights record, the unity, and not just an ordinary demonstra- their country abandoned East Timor in 1975 NSW Labor conference agreed yesterday. tion by students and youngsters. and were now being told to "go slow" on the A resolution condemning the killing of Meanwhile KPN chief Djaelani told issue. East Timorese men and women in the capi- Jakarta Post's Yacob Herin in Dili that it had "The appeasement fact, for that is what tal Dili on November 12 was passed been informed by both Governor it is, is still there, governed it seems by the unanimously by the delegates, but, while Carrascalao and Bishop Belo about the size of the Indonesian population and the supporting the Federal Government's re- number killed during the bloody incident and loss of trade to our nation," he said. sponse, called for stronger action. that the Commission had also received He said Australia had gone out of its way The resolution said the Government information from other sources. to take a stand on South Africa, China and should propose a taskforce under the aus- Asked whether the KPN had been in- Kuwait, but had remained silent on pices of the UN Human Rights Commission formed about the 103 people who had been Indonesian aggression in East Timor. "to investigate the deaths, the circumstances reported missing by their families, Djaelani "Let us remember with equal passion and surrounding them and the observance of said he would carry on his investigation by moral indignation these events much closer political and civil rights" in East Timor since asking reliable sources and witnesses of the to home. Let us remember the event at Santa the Indonesian invasion n 1975. incident without any outside interference. Cruz cemetery. Let us remember the many The Government should also put to the Officials of the International Red Cross other sufferings the East Timor people have Indonesian Government "in the strongest told the Post in Dili that they had visited endured in the silence that we imposed on possible terms" that they should co-operate the people still being detained by the police them. Let us pray this silence is broken. fully in the inquiry. and those still in hospital. "We found those May God grant the East Timorese self- The resolution was passed after a day of in detention in good condition and those in determination, peace and justice at last," he mourning on Saturday with memorial serv- hospital are recuperating," one of them said, said. ices held around Australia for the people but both declined to say the number of Mgr Deakin said the commission estab- killed. About 2000 people marched to the people they had visited. lished by the Indonesian Government to Town Hall in Sydney, where the Labor investigate the Dili massacre last month was conference was held, after a service at St TIMOR: ALATAS ISOLAT ED "suspicious from the start. They are in- Mary's Cathedral conducted by the AT OIC? (LISBON CAPITAL) house, and their objectivity will always be Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Edward questioned and they have already admitted Clancy. Translated, digested, and forwarded by that witnesses are loath to come forward to Mr John Birch, who moved the resolu- [email protected] (Fernando Manuel give evidence out of fear of reprisal," he tion, said after the debate that the Federal Vasconcelos): NEWSPAPER : Capital said. Minister for Resources, Mr Griffiths, was (Lisbon) 9 December 1991 He called for an investigation into the due to sign a contract this week for oil ex- At the Organization of the Islamic killings by an outside body such as the UN, ploration with Indonesia. and said the whole question of the persis- Countries conference, the president of Both Mr Birch and Mr Laurie Ferguson, Guinea-Bissau [a former Portuguese colony] tent violation of human rights in East Timor who spoke in favour of the resolution, needed to be examined. "Violation of basic will speak on the Timor question, criticized government policy towards East comparing the reaction of the international human rights on the scale of what it going on Timor. in East Timor is the business of all fair- community in the case of the invasion of Mr Ferguson questioned the authenticity Kuwait and in the case of East Timor. minded people," he said. of the Indonesian inquiry into the shootings Mgr Deakin said Australia should re- Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas because it was run by the military, there has refused to speak about this question member the burdens the East Timorese were no reliable observers, such as Amenity shouldered during World War II, adding: during the meeting even if it is outside the International, and they had no experience in framework of the official program. "We have an unpaid debt to these largely running an inquiry. unsung heroes." Members of the PLO, Yemen, and Syria He also criticised the Australian embassy have tryed to speak in private with Ali * * * in Jakarta, saying it was quite obvious it had Student leaders throughout Java this Alatas about this question but with no suc- been "part of a protection racket in public cess. week condemned the (Indonesian) relations for the Indonesian authorities." Government over the massacre and called for self- determination for East Timor. In a GENERAL TRY "KNOWS THE According to Domingos Oliveira [General strongly-worked statement, the Forum of Secretary of the UDT], the clandestine Student Senates also called for a UN inves- MASTERMIND" (JAKARTA POST) network in East Timor has asked for the tigation and urged the international com- intervention of AI [Amnesty International] Jakarta Post. 9 December 1991. Dateline: since prisoners are being taken to unknown munity to exert pressure on Jakarta over its Jakarta. Abridged. human rights record. locations and have been accused of anti- Armed forces commander, General Try Indonesian activities. Sutrisno said the government already knows the mastermind behind the Dili riot but will not reveal the identity until the National East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 16 Dec. 10-16, 1991

LBH LASHES ARMY (TFI) women and children by the Indonesian against the East Timorese. There are army. continuing human rights violations Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, Mrs Chalker: The hon. Gentleman will against the East Timorese while that farce Jonathan Thatcher, Jakarta, Dec 9) probably know that we do not permit the of an inquiry is being carried out. The Government should freeze supplies of Indonesia's powerful military, interna- sale of arms or other equipment that could be used internally against the military equipment and aid to the tionally condemned for recent killings in Indonesians forthwith. East Timor, came under attack on Monday people; but I fully agree that it is neces- from the country's leading human rights sary to see the report of the commission Mrs Chalker: I am not prepared to take ac- group. of inquiry. I gather that a draft will be tion until the facts have been established. The military must stop over-reacting if presented to President Suharto at the end There is absolutely no whitewash as far life in the vast Indonesian archipelago was of this week. That inquiry is not being as this Government are concerned and to improve, Legal Aid Institute head Abdul carried out by the military or the police nor will there be. Right from the Hakim said. and when we see what it reports, we will beginning of that terrible saga, I have been He noted comments by Armed Forces decide, together with our EC partners, absolutely determined that the United Commander Try Sutrisno that not even the what to do next. Nations and any other body that it may smallest risk to stability in Indonesia's di- Sir Peter Blaker (Conservative): Is my right be necessary to involve in order to get to verse string of islands would be allowed. hon. Friend aware that she is supported the bottom of this and to resolve matters "There is a wide interpretation over the by our party in being circumspect about for the people of East Timor - they have level of disturbance and threats in that jumping to conclusions before an official gone on since 1975 - should have our statement," Hakim said. inquiry report to which she referred is support. We have told the UN Secretary- The general, a potential candidate to re- received? General of our support for his efforts to place President Suharto, is unrepentant Mrs Chalker: Together with our EC part- resolve the problems of East Timor. On about the November 12 shooting of ners on 13 November we condemned the this latest apparent atrocity, I see it as mourners during a memorial rally for a slain violence against the people in East Timor that; I have seen the film as much as separatist, saying the soldiers had been and urged the Indonesian Government to anyone has - I have to be absolutely provoked and were forced to defend ensure that the Indonesian armed forces certain of the facts before I take action. I themselves. and police stop using violence and that cannot act without facts. Hakim's call for a new attitude was ech- those responsible for these acts were Mr Alexander (Conservative): My right oed by Interior Minister Rudini, who said brought to trial. On 3 December, the hon. Friend's measured response will be Indonesia's approach to security could no European Community repeated its widely welcomed in the House and longer put stability above all else. condemnation and called on the elsewhere. Although all of us are deeply "It will lead to a condition where every Indonesian authorities to respond to the concerned to know precisely what hap- public activity ... could be suspected as a serious concerns expressed by the pened in East Timor, will she bear it in cause of instability," the official Antara international community. We supported mind that since Indonesia took over East news agency quoted him as saying at the the demands for a thorough and credible Timor a few years ago, there has weekend. investigation by independent and nevertheless been considerable devel- Analysts said the military approach was impartial experts. opment of the infrastructure in that often brutal. I believe that we are right to wait until country and that, although no-one con- In the East Timor incident, water-cannon the independent report has been received, dones that massacre, we must know what or tear-gas should have been used, not guns, but I assure my right hon. Friend and the has been going on before we adopt the they said. House that all EC partners who have language that we have heard from the Hakim said there had been an increase in worked well together on this are carefully Labour party. repression in the past year, including during considering future relations in the light of Mrs Chalker: As I said a moment ago, I will labour disputes in Jakarta. what appears to have happened, as wait until I have heard the facts, but I About 75 students were injured when the shown on the video which so many of us have already undertaken to review co- army crushed a protest against a con- have seen and which the families of the operation with Indonesia in the light of troversial state lottery in [Palu] Sulawesi people involved have had to witness in the response by the Indonesian late last month. the suffering. Government. My right hon Friend the "Facing the masses with guns has hap- Earl of Caithness called in the Indonesian pened many times," he said. Ann Clwyd (the Labour Party's Shadow Minister for Overseas Development): I ambassador and expressed our grave am puzzled by the Minister's reply to concern. We have taken action, indeed led EAST TIMOR DISCUSSED IN (Mr Evans). She continues to maintain action - at every possible turn, but we THE BRITISH COMMONS that we do not allow the export of arms must establish without doubt exactly and equipment that are likely to be used what is going on. On 9 December, Labour Party MP John against civil populations. However, in a Evans asked Lynda Chalker, the Minister letter to Canon Michael Doe, who wrote NGO’S INVESTIGATED IN for Overseas Development whether the to her, the right hon. Lady said: "it is not INDONESIA Foreign Secretary had any plans to visit practical to monitor their use once they Indonesia to discuss aid to East Timor. He have reached their destinations". How Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia(AFP, was told there were no such intentions, does she square her answer to my hon Jakarta, Dec 9): whereupon the following discussion (slightly Friend with her letter to Canon Doe? abridged) ensued in the House of Commons: Indonesian authorities are investigating It is incredible that both the Minister non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to John Evans: I suggest that the best aid that and the Prime Minister whitewash the find out whether any used foreign funding could be given to East Timor would be an inquiry by describing it as independent. for anti-government activities. arms embargo on Indonesia until an In no way can it be described as inde- The armed forces' Angkatan Bersenjata independent UN inquiry has been held of pendent when the chairman of that in- daily Monday quoted Coordinating the slaughter of many defenceless men, quiry is a former general who is respon- Minister of Political and Security Affairs sible for some of the worst atrocities Sudomo as saying that he knew of several East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 17 Dec. 10-16, 1991

NGOs which received large amounts of cash Indonesia, Canada is in violation of both ment heard testimony on East Timor from from foreign parties, some of them more these guidelines. Jose Ramos Horta (external representative than one trillion rupiah (500 million dollars.) In 1984, External Affairs even organized for CNRM), Li-liane Gibbons (sister of "There are some who use the funding for a military trade fair in Jakarta to cash in on murdered New Zealander Kamal activities against their own government," Indonesia's wars in East Timor, Aceh and Bamadhaj), Elaine Briere (national co-or- Sudomo said. West Papua. dinator, East Timor Alert Network), the Under Indonesian laws, all social organ- According to Jos Ramos Horta, the head of the Canadian Council for isations, including NGOs, should report overseas representative for the East International Co-operation, umbrella group funding received from foreign parties and Timorese resistance, Canadian-supplied for development NGOs, and others. Allan risk closure if they fail to do so. The gov- weapons "play an important role in the war Nairn and Amy Goodman are also in ernment can also ban any organization found in East Timor." Ottawa for a public forum on Dec. 10 on to disturb national stability. All in all, it's not an impressive showing Parliament Hill. Sudomo said that data on the NGOs were from a government that likes to talk about On Sat, Dec 7, the 16th anniversary of currently being gathered. controlling the weapons trade and a country the invasion of East Timor, vigils were held Authorities have in the past criticized that likes to be thought of as a voice for in Ottawa, Toronto, and Guelph Ont. (The several NGOs, especially those involved in international human rights. University of Guelph operates the largest human rights, for inciting mass protests in In Toronto this September, the partici- of several university programmes in various cases of labor disputes, land con- pants at the annual assembly of the Indonesia.) In Toronto, 30-40 in attendance fiscations and other issues. International Peace Bureau unanimously heard from Bruce McLeod, president of the called for a ban on arms sales to Indonesia. Canadian Council of Churches, New STOP ARMING INDONESIA The European Parliament echoed the call in Democrat MP Dan Heap, City Councillor (ACT) November. Where is Canada's voice? Martin Silva and Father Amadeo Pereira (in Portuguese). Following the vigil, an exhibit Editorial, The ACTivist, newspaper of the CANADA CUTS AID of photos from East Timor is on display in ACT for Disarmament peace coalition, the lobby of Toronto City Hall until Dec. Toronto, Canada. Vol. 7, #12 (December Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia(AFP, 23. 1991). Ottawa, Dec 9): Activists in the Toronto Portuguese It would be all too easy to look at East Canada said Monday it was suspending community are now planning a public fo- Timor and think of it as another tragedy in approval of development projects that pro- rum for next month and a boycott of Bata a far-off land: genocide, yes, but something vide direct assistance to the Indonesian Shoes, one of the major Canadian compa- we can do nothing about. Government, in order to protest an army nies operating in Indonesia. The Portuguese But East Timor isn't about itself. East shooting last month in disputed East Timor. Canadian campaign will run while Portugal Timor is about us. Ottawa said the decision would affect chairs the European Community, beginning Canada, when the invasion happened, projects worth some 30 million dollars at the end of this month. was one of the top investors in Indonesia. (about 27.5 million U.S.). In line with a decision to do more on Companies like INCO and Bata Shoes had Announcing the decision, External Affairs Indonesia, ETAN has just produced a re- more money tied up in the Indonesian Minister Barbara McDougall said: source kit on Indonesia, funded by the economy than even the United States. "Canadians were outraged at the recent Canadian Catholic Organization for Today, Indonesia trails only Bangladesh killings in East Timor. This decision reflects Development and Peace. A leaflet will be in the amount of Canadian aid dollars that our concern about the human rights situation produced soon with the support of Energy flow to its government. in Indonesia." Probe's Margaret Laurence Foundation. Canada has an economic pull in Indonesia However, Canada is giving an immediate Canadian Parliamentarians for East Timor that we don't have in Central America or grant of 150,000 dollars (132,000 U.S.) to is now an all-party group, with the South Africa. But successive governments the International Red Cross "for humani- membership of former cabinet minister and have refused to use it. tarian assistance in East Timor," she said. ambassador to Ethiopia David MacDonald Worse, we've even sold military equip- Canada also announced Monday that it from the governing Conservatives. PET is ment to Indonesia's military- dominated was supporting "international efforts, espe- campaigning for "an aid embargo and an regime, issuing military export permits cially in the United Nations, to ensure that immediate halt to arms exports to worth tens of millions of dollars directly the findings of the Indonesian Commission Indonesia, if not a complete trade embargo." (things like helicopter engines, electronic of Inquiry into events in East Timor will be Since the Nov. 12 massacre, media in- supplies, and the ammunition used in the objective and independent." terest in East Timor has soared - - there has 1975 invasion of East Timor). Through third been more coverage in the print media in the parties like Britain, the United States and ACTION REPORT: CANAD A past month than during the whole of the Australia Canadian companies have made 1980s previously. CBC Radio has been millions of dollars more. Prepared by East Timor Alert Network particularly good about covering East The worst offender is helicopter engine Today (Monday 9 December) Canadian Timor, with the current affairs programme maker Pratt and Whitney Canada. But there External Affairs Minister Barbara As It Happens playing interviews virtually are many other Canadian arms merchants McDougall announced a cut in Canadian nightly since Nov. 13 for three weeks. among the more than 300 Canadian bilateral aid to Indonesia from $46 million companies operating in Indonesia. to $16 million. Indonesia had been the sec- U.S. CONDEMNS ARMY Canadian government policy forbids ond-largest recipient of Canadian aid. AGAIN military sales to "countries involved in or ETAN and other groups have called for a under imminent threat of hostilities" and full suspension of non- humanitarian aid, State Department briefing, Dec. 9: "countries whose governments have a per- and for humanitarian aid sent through NGOs sistent record of violations of human rights, to be suspended unless the NGOs are given Q Yes. I'd like to talk about the situation unless it can be demonstrated that there is free access to East Timor. in East Timor. no reasonable risk that the goods might be In a hearing the same day arranged by the MS. TUTWILER: East Timor. used against a civilian population." By East Timor Alert Network, the foreign Q The Indonesian government has said allowing weapons-related sales to affairs committee of the Canadian parlia- that the military was deliberately pro- East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 18 Dec. 10-16, 1991

voked to shoot -- to fire on the mourners acknowledge the process is going on. I claring "open" the former Portuguese colony at the cemetery last month during a said we will be watching it very closely, which it unilateraly declared its 27th massacre there. My question is, what and we are. province in 1976. exactly is the US government doing in Q You don't actually express formally Carrascalao also said that he was against terms of being in contact with the com- your confidence on the commission of any foreign investigation into the Dili mission that is allegedly investigating the inquiry at the moment? Did I read you shooting. massacre? That's number one. correctly on what you said? "Their arrival will only cause unrest. As And number two -- MS. TUTWILER: What you read me cor- an individual, I am against it but as a gove- MS. TUTWILER: Wait a minute. Let me rectly as saying is that the United States rnor I will do whatever is decided by the do number one, okay? government continues to press the centre," he said referring to the central Q All right. Indonesian government for a complete government in Jakarta. MS. TUTWILER: It's basically the same and credible investigation by the WHITLAM CRITICIZES HAWKE question I believe you asked me last Interagency Investigatory Commission. week, and not a lot has changed on the Q Margaret, the ambience that surrounds From TFI : (Reuter, Sydney, Dec 10) United States' position, which I will be this investigation, the composition of the happy to restate for you. commission, does it satisfy, at the Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke moment, the United States? Are you has ignored Indonesia since coming to office As you have accurately stated, the in 1983 and so could not protest adequately Indonesian government's investigation into appeased that the thing is being conducted propertly -- at the killing of mourners in East Timor, the killings in East Timor continues. The says former premier Gough Whitlam. Interagency Investigatory Commission has MS. TUTWILER: I'll continue, sir -- "Bob Hawke's lack of interest in visited East Timor and interviewed persons Q -- or do you have reservations -- Indonesia prevented Australia making a knowledgable about what happened there. MS. TUTWILER: I will continue, sir -- prompt and effective approach to President The United States has repeatedly con- Q -- madam? Suharto himself," Whitlam said in a speech demned these tragic killings. At every op- published in the Sydney Morning Herald. portunity, here or in Jakarta, we continue to MS. TUTWILER: -- to characterize our "It should have been as easy for Bob press the Indonesian government for a position on this matter as I have. I've Hawke to telephone President Suharto as it complete and credible investigation by the restated it again twice today. The United has been for him to telephone (U.S.) Interagency Investigatory Commission. States condemned these killings. The President Bush," Whitlam said. This must include appropriate disciplinary United States, I have just told you again, Whitlam said that during his premiership action against those found responsible for will continue to press the Indonesian he had an influential relationship and the use of excessive force. government. I don't know how much lengthy telephone conversations with the As we have said before, the United States fuller I can be for you. This is our -- this Indonesian president. accepts Indonesia's incorporation of East is our policy. Hawke should visit Jakarta to rebuild the Timor without maintaining that a valid act Q (Off mike) -- the matter of the confidence relationship between the two countries, of self-determination has taken place. The or not that you have under -- on what's Whitlam said. United Nations General Assembly, in 1983, happening there, if you're satisfied with Hawke, who last visited Indonesia in instructed the Secretary General to resolve the way things are going? The last time 1983, is reviewing a visit scheduled for the East Timor issue. Our policy is to you addressed this was about 10 days February 1992. support the General Assembly's mandate, ago. Ever since, haven't you had any which continues in force, and the Secretary reports, progressive -- progressive -- WIRE SERVICE DIGEST 10 General's efforts. MS. TUTWILER: This investigation, sir, is DEC Q But the military has said they intend to continuing. It is no different. There is a wipe out those that they feel were re- current investigation, for instance, you Suharto leaves Senegal sponsible for deliberately provoking this haven't asked me about in Mexico that is action. Where does the US stand with going on concerning those killings. I do President Suharto has cut short a visit to regard to that? not stand here and interject myself in the Senegal, where he was due to give a speech MS. TUTWILER: I'm not aware of a mili- middle of investigations, whether it's to the Organisation of Islamic Countries tary statement like that. It's something I'd Indonesia, whether it's El Salvador, later on Tuesday, the official Antara news have to look into. whether it's Mexico, or wherever it's agency said. Q Margaret, on December the 4th you taking place. I'm acknowledging that this It quoted State Secretary Murdiono as actually said here that the Libyan com- is going on. (FNS, Dec 9) saying that one of the reasons was that mission of inquiry into the Pan Am ac- Suharto was needed to decide next year's cident didn't warrant your confidence TIMOR CLOSING UP AGAIN? budget. He made no mention of East Timor. because it was a Libyan commission in- Suharto had been due to leave on Friday. vestigating a Libyan affair. Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia(AFP, Antara did not say when he would now MS. TUTWILER: Right. Jakarta, Dec 9): leave. (Reuter, Dec 10) Q Why this Indonesian commission in- East Timor Governor Mario Viegas PORTUGAL: No Islamic Mediator vestigating an Indonesia affair justifies Carrascalao has suggested closing the former Translated, digested, and forwarded by your confidence as you have expressed it Portuguese colony to outsiders to prevent [email protected] Fernando Manuel so far? further unrest following the army shooting Vasconcelos): there last month. MS. TUTWILER: I didn't -- I don't believe NEWSPAPER : Publico 10 Dec 1991 that I expressed my confidence. I believe "Since the region has been opened, chaos what I expressed was the facts as they has come out. For myself, maybe it is better Portugal will not accept the mediation of are on the ground. I did express the that it be closed," the Jakarta-appointed an Islamic country in the negotiations with United States has continuous -- has governor told the weekly magazine Editor in Indonesia since these must be carried out in continuously condemned these tragic an interview published Monday. the United Nations, according to Portugal's killings. I have said, as I do in many Indonesia lifted travel restrictions into foreign affairs ministry. countries, when a process is going on I and out of East Timor in January 1989, de- East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 19 Dec. 10-16, 1991

This was the reaction of the foreign af- ago, killing more than 100 by some ac- MASSACRE PROMPTS CUT fairs ministry to the possibility expressed counts, recreated the event on Tuesday at by Ali Alatas of accepting the mediation of the behest of government investigators. IN CANADIAN AID TO an Islamic country in negotiations about "All the soldiers were there," Djaelani, INDONESIA (TORONTO STAR) East Timor. the supreme court judge who is heading a Yesterday in Dakar in the Islamic government commission, told reporters. Toronto Star, 10, December 1991. Conference meeting, the pressure of several The reenactment was at sunrise, appar- By Tim Harper countries forced Ali Alatas to discuss East ently to avoid journalists who have been Timor. following Djaelani around Dili, the East Comment: when announcing the Canadian In an interview given to Portuguese Timor capital. He gave no details of what aid review, McDougall said aid was "very television, Ali Alatas again deemed as "not happened. much grassroots aid." She seems to have neutral" the reports about Dili's massacre One battalion involved in the shooting, backtracked and discovered that $30 mil- made by English and American journalists. the 303, is due to leave East Timor on lion -- two thirds of funds -- were in fact not Wednesday morning. humanitarian. The CCIC, which represents Soares talks with Belgian King "We just want to go home," said one humanitarian NGOs, is very split on the Mario Soares [Portugal's President] has soldier, dressed in military fatigues and a T- question of NGO aid. More details on what spoken with the King of Belgium about the shirt with the unit's crest of a skull with a the cuts mean will follow. East Timor problem. The King of Belgium knife clenched between its teeth. OTTAWA -- Canada has cut $30 million said he was "horrified" by the massacre, Below the crest is written "Setia sampai in funding for projects in Indonesia to according to Mario Soares. mati" (Loyalty until death). protest last month's massacre in East Timor, Portuguese Aviation union boycott "We are terribly sorry for the deaths, External Affairs Minister Barbara they were trying to snatch away our weap- McDougall says. Portuguese aviation labor organisations ons," a junior officer told Reuters. "Canadians were outraged at the recent are recommending to their associates to re- "We are combat soldiers, but we never killings in East Timor," McDougall said fuse to transport any merchandise or people had any trouble with the local people be- yesterday. to and from Indonesia, with the exception of fore." "This decision reflects our concern about anything or anyone involved in international Neither soldier, whose battalion is part of the human rights situation in Indonesia." initatives which have the objective of the elite Jakarta-based Kostrad or strategic The decision came after McDougall or- solving the East Timor problem. reserve, was involved in the November dered a review of bilateral assistance to Sintong Panjaitan defends commander incident. Indonesia, stressing that she wished to cut The entire battalion of 640 men was de- only programs that benefit its government. General Sintong Panjaitan was quoted in ployed near Dili eight months ago and two Canada, through the Canadian the latest issue of the Editor weekly as of its companies were sent there for 10 days International Development Agency saying that Infantry Colonel Binsar Aruan -- of training in riot control in October. (CIDA), is providing $46 million to commander of sector C where the November They were picked because of their repu- Indonesia this year. 12 shooting took place -- had acted tation for discipline to control possible dis- The minister said she was being careful according to procedure. turbances during a visit by a Portuguese not to slash programs administered by non- "The commander of the Sector C is not parliamentary team, senior military sources governmental organizations that were meant bad. A good work does not always yield said. to benefit ordinary citizens in that country. good results," Panjaitan said, adding: "I view Yosephina Maya, 22, and recently re- Also yesterday, the Canadian Council for that the action (Binsar's) was very much leased from hospital for treatment of a bullet International Co-operation (CCIC) told a according to the procedures. Therefore he wound, said the troops opened fire for parliamentary committee that it was cannot be said to be at fault. about two minutes from behind and gave no "extremely important" that any aid sus- Panjaitan said every commander, regional warning. pension based on human rights be evaluated or sectorial, had "to act immediately if there As she lay semi-conscious in the Santa carefully to protect independent, grassroots was any problem in their regions. They Cruz cemetery a soldier kicked her in the programs. should not wait for others. There is no head and called her a communist, she said. McDougall has been under fire for her question of violation. There is no question "I saw many fall to the ground at Santa slow response to a Nov. 12 massacre in of punishment." Cruz, at least 100." Dili, when Indonesian troops fired on un- "It could be, that after Binsar is with- Other soldiers helped her into a military armed demonstrators who had massed at a drawn from his position, he is promoted, ambulance heaped with bodies. Another van cemetery to mourn two people killed earlier who knows?" he said. at the hospital was unloading more dead, she by the military. Military chief General Try Sutrisno said said. (Reuter, Dili, Moses Manoharan, Dec The Indonesian military has acknowl- last month that, following evaluation of the 10) edged 50 deaths but independent witnesses incident, the Sector C commander and the have put the number closer to 200. 303 battallion involved would be replaced in McDougall's initial reaction came Nov. East Timor. 15 when she said she was "deeply con- Panjaitan said East Timor was an area of cerned." "military operation" where soldiers were given the "main task of wiping out the en- emy," but added that the commander in Dili WHITLAM BLASTS HAWKE had never issued orders to fire. However, he said self-defence was war- ON TIMOR (AUSTRALIAN) ranted in extraordinary situations, such as when troops risked losing their weapons. The Australian. 10 December 1991. Byline: (AFP, Jakarta, Dec 10) Tony Parkinson. Abridged Troops re-enact massacre [With Australian-Indonesian relations de- clining fast, some old hands at defending Indonesian troops who opened fire on Jakarta have re-emerged. Apart from unarmed civilians in East Timor a month Gough Whitlam, another stout defender of East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 20 Dec. 10-16, 1991 the Suharto regime has now spoken out: to establish a trusting and effective rela- According to ANTARA's sources, the Professor Hans Arndt, head of the Research tionship with his Indonesian counterpart," task force established by the military's op- School for SEAsian Studies at the Australian Mr Whitlam said. "The best foreign minis- erational command in East Timor had dis- National University has published an article ters and ambassadors however need the covered a clandestine Fretilin network op- (newspaper and date not legible on the fax) backing of their head of government." erating in Indonesian cities such as Jakarta entitled: "Dili a tragedy but hold fire on "It is Bob Hawke's fault that Australia as well as in Dili with overseas links in Indonesia". We cannot retype the item does not have more influence in Indonesia. Australia, Portugal and Angola. because of its length; it is also in places As a media and poll-driven politician he has unreadable because of poor fax quality. always distanced himself from Indonesia. DEMONSTRATION IN Arndt argues that East Timor's case for in- He can no longer leave it all to Gareth LONDON ON TIMOR dependence "is weak", he disputes the death Evans." toll in the war since 1975, says Fretilin is Mr Whitlam attacked the Australian A large crowd of people carrying plac- just as much to blame for the deaths as media for "outrageous reporting" on General ards and banners condemning the 12 Indonesia and alleges that East Timor could Suharto and Indonesia. "The Australian November Santa Cruz, demonstrated out- not have become an economically viable media have no credibility in Indonesia side the Indonesian Embassy in London on state. He concludes that it is "clearly because they have conducted a vendetta 10 December, Human Rights Day. They unrealistic" to expect Indonesia to give up against Indonesia over the deaths of two were joined by Ann Clwyd MP, Shadow East Timor.] television teams in Balibo on October 16 Secretary of State for Overseas 1975," he said, adding that some journalists Development, and Alice Mahon MP. The In an astonishing attack, Mr Gough were making a living as professional critics two MPs handed in a letter from a number Whitlam [Australian Prime Minister in late of Indonesia. "It is impossible to work out of London-based organisations, as well as 1975 when Indonesia was moving to invade what policies journalists, editors and two Motions that have been tabled in the East Timor] accused Prime Minister Bob proprietors believe Australian governments House of Commons condemning Indonesia Hawke of allowing relations with the should follow towards Indonesia." for the massacre. One of the Motions calls President of Indonesia to degenerate to the on the British Government to impose an point where Australia's protests over the AUSTRALIAN URANIUM TO arms embargo against Indonesia. Dili massacre could not be put forthrightly INDONESIA? James Gibbons, whose step-brother at the highest level. "It should have been as Kamal Bamadhaj was killed during the easy for Bob Hawke to telephone General (Radio Australia 12/10) massacre, was also present, carrying a Suharto as it has been for him to telephone Possible Australian uranium sales to placard: "Who killed my brother?" President Bush, " Mr Whitlam said. Indonesia are foreshadowed in a draft Timorese refugees lit candles and laid Speaking at a Labour dinner in agreement on peaceful nuclear science and flowers on the steps of the embassy. Some Melbourne, he condemned the idea of Mr technology cooperation between the two of the placards read: "180 Dead. Where are Hawke cancelling his scheduled visit to countries. Foreign Affairs Minister Gareth the bodies?", "Stop Arming Indonesia", Indonesia, and accused the Australian media Evans has confirmed the details in parlia- "Dili Massacre, Let the UN get the facts!", of "outrageous" reporting on Indonesian ment, though he says a nuclear treaty would "Dili massacre, the West must act now!" affairs. not provide for sale of Australian uranium The London-based Campaign Against After acknowledging that the Indonesian to Indonesia. Arms Trade also took part in the demon- military should have acted with far greater Evans said exports in uranium would stration. restraint, Whitlam launched into a piercing require negotiations of a safeguard agreement The two MPs were not allowed into the critique of Mr Hawke's reponse. "He should with Indonesia, and there had been no such embassy and had to hand in the documents have directly asked the President to clarify talks. He said there have been discussions to an embassy official who only opened the the events, condemn the abuses and punish since late 1990 between Australian and front door slightly to take the envelopes. those responsble," Mr Whitlam said. Indonesian officials on a nuclear science and The two resolutions, called Early Day "He risks marginalising Australia's in- technology cooperation agreement. Motions, have been gaining support since fluence by floating or countenancing the being tabled in the House of Commons possibility that he may not proceed with his INDONESIA THREATENS shortly after the Dili tragedy. planned visit to Indonesia. How many times The first Motion was tabled by six has he visited Indonesia? When did he last SUBVERSION TRIALS? Labour Party MPs and has already been make a visit? It is just the time, and not signed by a total of 83 MPs, all from the before time, for an Australian Prime (R. Australia 12/10) opposition Labour Party. It reads: Minister to visit Indonesia. (East Timor) Indonesia's official ANTARA news "That this House is appalled at the killing would have been a more harmonious society agency says that eight of the 26 people ar- and wounding of hundreds of unarmed if the administration had been progressively rested after last month's Dili massacre could civilians in Dili, in occupied East Timor; is placed in civilian hands in recent years. face trial on subversion charges. The dismayed that on the day of this latest Concerns about the military presence would maximum sentence for those found guilty massacre, the Foreign and Commonwealth have been effective and acceptable if of subversion in Indonesia is death. Office told the honourable Member for expressed regularly face-to-face with the ANTARA, quoting un-named police and Halifax that Britain has no plans for an arms President." prosecution sources in East Timor, said that embargo against Indonesia stating that 'such Bob Hawke has visited Indonesia only following initial inquiries eight of 26 people an embargo would neither be appropriate once in almost nine years in office, soon still being detained in connection with the nor effective'; calls upon Her Majesty's after his first election win in 1983. events of November 12 were clearly Government to immediately introduce an Mr Whitlam contrasted his three per- involved in cases of subversion. arms embargo to Indonesia and calls for the sonal meetings with General Suharto be- The report did not indicate whether a United Nations Security Council to be tween 1973 and 1975 and said he had had decision had been made to proceed with convened to discuss the latest tragedy in several conversations with General Suharto such charges. It said that the remaining 18 in illegally-occupied East Timor." since leaving government. detention would face general criminal The second Early Day Motion was ta- "(Foreign Minister) Gareth Evans is the charges the details of which were not bled by four Conservative Party MPs, one first politician since me who has been able specified. Labour MP and one from the Scottish East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 21 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Nationalist Party, and has all-party sup- Metodio Moniz* to be held incommunicado and there is port. It has already been signed by 49 MPs, Felipe da Silva concern for their safety. eleven Conservatives, 30 Labour MPs, 6 Fausto Bernardino* Amnesty International has learned that at Liberal Democrats and 2 Scottish Agapito Cardoso least two students earlier reported as ar- Nationalists. It reads: Jose Maria Belo rested in Yogyakarta were, in fact, detained "That this House condemns the shocking Mario Canelas* in Jakarta. Ilidio da Costa and Jose Luis de killing of over 200 innocent and peaceful Francisco Vasco Ramos Oliveira (named earlier as Elidio and Jose demonstrators on 15th (sic) November 1991 Sergio Dias Quintao* Luis) are among the 21 still held at the in Dili, East Timor, by soldiers and police of Benevides Cabral* Metropolitan Jakarta Police Station. There the Indonesian forces; recalls that almost a Ilidio da Costa* is no further information about those third of the civilian population of this Antonio Soares reportedly arrested in Bandung. unlawfully seized territory have suffered a Antonio Lopez Lawyers and relatives have been denied similar terrible fate at Indonesian hands Joao Sarmento access to all but a few of the detainees, in since 1976; and calls upon the United Joao "Travolta"* contravention of the Indonesian Code of Nations to take the necessary measures to Gregorio de Araujo Criminal Procedure (KUHAP) and interna- investigate this latest tragic massacre and Avelino Maria Coelho da Silva* tional law. Despite repeated requests to the prevent further repetitions in the future; and Egas Quintao Monteiro* police authorities by the Indonesian Legal to request the Indonesian authorities to in- Jose Luis de Oliveira* Aid Institute (LBH), lawyers have not been troduce a plan for self-determination." Joao Freitas da Camara* permitted to accompany any of the detain- The MPs also handed in a letter urging Domingos Barreto ees during interrogations. the Indonesian Government to allow an in- Virgilio and Antonio Goncalves (see On 5 December an LBH team went to the ternational commission of enquiry under original UA) Metropolitan Jakarta Police Station to UN auspices to find out the truth about the Denpasar: formally request information on the time killings in Dili on 12 November. "The team Jose Pompeia Saldanha Ribeiro and place of future interrogations so that should include people from recognised Clemente Soares they could accompany their clients. Though human rights organisations... chosen for Fernando de Araujo required by law to provide such in- their recognised impartiality, competence Antonio Matos formation, police officials did not do so, and independence as individuals. The bodies and several other students saying that the only officer with that of those who died should be properly Yogyakarta: authority was out of the office. The team examined by a doctor so that the cause of Nine students, including several who was able to meet two of the detainees - Joao death can be established before returning have been released: Freitas da Camara and Avelino Maria them to their families for proper burial." Jose Luis de Oliveira* (was Jose Luis) Coelho da Silva - but they were accompa- The letter also called on the Indonesian see under Ilidio da Costa* (was Elidio) nied throughout by a police investigator. authorities to enter into dialogue with the Jakarta The detainees told the LBH team that their Timorese people, including those resisting Diometrio interrogation as suspects had been com- Indonesian rule, and the Portuguese, aimed Rogerio pleted, and now they were being interro- at bringing the hostilities in East Timor to an Flavio gated as witnesses. end and allowing the people of East Timor Pedrito Amnesty International believes that most the right to self-determination. Bandung: of those detained are prisoners of conscience The letter was signed by the Catholic and is calling for the immediate and Institute for International Relations, the Nine students, including: unconditional release of those held solely for Christian Movement for Peace, Liberation, Agus Jaya Asep their non-violent political beliefs or the National Peace Council, the Women's Novi Daniel activities. It is deeply concerned for the International League for Peace and Freedom, Nurdin Pius safety of those held in incommunicado de- Pax Christi, TAPOL (the Indonesia Human *Please note corrections to names tention, and calls on the Indonesian Rights Campaign), the United Nations Twenty-one East Timorese students re- authorities to grant immediate access to their Association/UK, Conference of Major main in custody at the Metropolitan Jakarta lawyers and relatives in accordance with the Religious Superiors Social Justice Desk, Police Station, three weeks after they were law. Sisters of St Joseph of Peace and Michael arrested for taking part in a peaceful protest Campbell-Johnston SJ, Provincial of the against Indonesian human rights violations RECOMMENDED ACTION: Jesuits/Britain. in East Timor. Most are being held Telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and incommunicado and one, Joao Freitas da airmail letters: - expressing concern that 21 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Camara, is reportedly detained in an East Timorese students remain in custody in isolation cell. Antonio Goncalves, thought the Metropolitan Jakarta Police Station after ELECTRONIC URGENT to have been arrested at the same time, has being arrested at a peaceful demonstration ACTION since been reported missing and there is on 19 November 1991; - expressing concern concern for his safety. Amnesty that police authorities have denied lawyers From: Amnesty International International has learned the names of 49 access to the detainees in contravention of Subject: AI F408:Indonesia/Legal,to 01/21 other students who were arrested at the the Indonesian Code of Criminal Procedure (Paper reprints authorized. Electronic re- same time but released after questioning. and international law; - expressing concern distributors must request permission from They included six students from Semarang, about the reported detention of dozens of AIUSA UA Office by email or by calling 27 from Bandung, two from Jakarta, eight other students in Denpasar, Yogyakarta and (303)440-0913, 9-5 M-F.) from Malang and six from Yogyakarta. Bandung, for their alleged political or human Four East Timorese students arrested in 10 December 1991 rights related activities; - expressing concern Denpasar, Bali, on 23 November, and pos- that the students may be charged under Further information on UA 408/91 (22 sibly six others, are believed to remain in November 1991) and follow-up 29 legislation which appears to contravene custody. Military authorities confirmed that international human rights law guaranteeing November 1991 - Legal Concern/Fear of 6 students had been arrested in a raid on a Torture, Indonesia/East Timor: freedom of expression and opinion; - calling house in Dili, on 2 December, but did not on the government to release all those de- Jakarta: reveal their names. The students are believed East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 22 Dec. 10-16, 1991 tained solely for the peaceful expression of contact our national office at 322 8th Ave., East Timor was invaded by Indonesia on their political views or activities. NYC, NY 10001 (212) 807-8400. Dec. 7, 1975, nine days after it declared UAs are available from AIUSA on many independence from Portugal. Since then, an APPEALS TO: information services, through a planned estimated 200,000 people -- or nearly a Let. Ismail Saleh distribution system of direct deliveries from third of its pre-war population -- have died Jalan Rasuna Said, Kav 6-7 (Minister of AI and from UAN-approved redistributions through violence, famine and disease. Justice) by interested volunteers. Before making her announcement, Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia McDougall met Monday with Jose Ramos (Telexes: 796 44404 DITJENIM IA) CANADA CUTS OFF $30 Horta, the Australia-based chief overseas [Salutation: Your Excellency] (Telegrams: MILLION IN AID TO representative of the East Timorese resis- Justice Minister, Jakarta, Indonesia) (Faxes: tance movement. 011 62 21 32 1625) INDONESIA Ramos Horta, also a former official ob- server for East Timor at the United General Kunarto Sanctions against massacre leave some Nations, urged McDougall to stand up for Kepala Kepolisian RI programs untouched human rights on his island. (Chief of the National Police) Smuggled reports from East Timor in- Markas Besar Kepolisian RI Jl. By Dave Todd Southam News (Front page dicate that since the Nov. 12 massacre, up Trunojoyo 13 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta of Ottawa Citizen, 10 Dec.) to 500 more people have been rounded up Selatan, Indonesia (Telegrams: General Canada suspended $30 million in foreign and killed by the Indonesian armed forced, Kunarto, Kepala Kepolisian RI, Jakarta, aid to Indonesia on Monday to protest the Elaine Briere, director of the Vancouver- Indonesia) massacre of unarmed civilians in East Timor based East Timor Alert Network, told last month. Southam News. Sespri Kapolda Jaya But projects already under way -- plus According [to] Monday's statement from Letkol Tryono S. other new projects -- will still go ahead. External Affairs, the results of an official (Personal Secretary to Jakarta Chief of "Canadians were outraged at the recent inquiry into the Nov. 12 massacre and "the Police) killings in East Timor," said External actions of the Indonesian government" will Markus Besar Kepolisian Jaya Affairs Minister Barbara McDougall. "this be taken into account during the next annual Jakarta, Indonesia (Telegrams: Sespri decision reflects our concern about the country-by-country review of Canada's Kapolda Jaya, Kepala Kepolisian RI, human rights situation in Indonesia." total foreign-aid budget. Jakarta, Indonesia) On Nov. 12, more than 100 unarmed pro- The Indonesian inquiry has been independence demonstrators were slammed by several governments and hu- Prof Dr Baharuddin Lopa slaughtered by Indonesian troops at a man rights organizations as a sham. The Department of Justice cemetery in Dili, East Timor's capital. Indonesian military's high command has (Director General of Corrections) McDougall also announced that $150,000 said it will not allow court martials. Jl. Veteran No. 11, Jakarta Pusat, will be given to the International Committee The seven-man investigating team in- Indonesia (Telegrams: Director General of the Red Cross for humanitarian assistance cludes two retired generals, the chief of Corrections, Justice Department, Jakarta, in East Timor. Indonesian Foreign Ministry official resp- Indonesia) (Faxes: 011 62 21 32 The suspension of the $30 million in onsible for countering international com- 1625) proposed development projects -- of which plaints about human rights abuses in East COPIES TO: no details were given -- comes nearly four Timor and the inspector-general of the weeks after the mass killings in the former Indonesian armed forces. The other mem- Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Portuguese colony, and two weeks after bers are a top Justice Ministry official and Indonesia Jl. Diponegoro 74 McDougall pledged a review of Canada's aid two, East Timorese civilians. (Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation) Jakarta programs to Indonesia. 10320, Indonesia The Netherlands, Indonesia's former co- REPORT: DEMO AT lonial ruler, postponed new development INDONESIAN U.N. MISSION Jakarta Post PO Box 85 Jakarta aid the week after the East Timor massacre, 11001, Indonesia (Faxes: 011 62 21 549 while the European Parliament urged the DEC. 10. 2685) European Community and United Nations by Charles Scheiner Nov. 21 to ban arms sales. Ambassador Abdul Rachman Ramly Monday's announcement did not include On December 10, 17 demonstrators Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia 2020 a ban on Canadian military exports. picketed and leafletted outside the Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC NDP foreign affairs critic Svend Indonesian Mission to the United Nations 20036 Robinson has been pushing for the ban in in New York City from 1 to 2 pm. The light of previous deals involving Canadian peaceful demonstrators, carrying signs say- PLEASE SEND APPEALS military equipment believed to have been ing "Stop the Killing," "No More IMMEDIATELY. Check with the Colorado used against the East Timorese resistance. Massacres," "Indonesia out of East Timor,' office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Indonesia receives about $46 million a and "Stop U.S. Aid to Indonesia" also Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending year in direct government-to- government chanted and called out to passers-by. appeals after January 21, 1992. === assistance, making it Canada's second-largest Although press had been alerted, no Telexes, telegrams, and faxes can be sent "bilateral" aid recipient. It is also one of media showed up. The Indonesian Mission, through a number of electronic com- Canada's biggest trading partners in which had been asked a week earlier for a munications systems reachable by PC, such Southeast Asia, with two-way trade total- meeting at this time, was clearly bothered as MCI Mail, Easylink, Peacenet, ling about $500 million last year. by our presence. Although they refused to CompuServe, and Worldlink. You can find "Canada's aid to Indonesia concentrates let me in the door at 1:00, at 1:45 someone this information in the UA intro on your on human resource development and envi- came out to invite me in, and I had a cordial system or receive a copy from the UA of- ronmental co-operation. The projects that conversation with a Third Secretary who fice. are already under way will be allowed to gave me some press releases and explained If you would like general information continue," said International Development that nobody there was authorized to discuss about AIUSA activities and membership, Minister Monique Landry. substantive matters. The Ambassador is East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 23 Dec. 10-16, 1991 away until the 16th, and the ranking ORGANIZING U.S. -TIMOR switchboard and ask for the name of the Minister/Counselor had decided to stay at appropriate editor to send it to; make fol- the U.N. during the lunch break (not SOLIDARITY GROUP lowup phone calls. surprising, since she knew we were coming). Hold a public meeting. Have a speaker or The picketers, who came from the By Richard Koch, Dec.11. show a video. This is especially useful on Westchester People's Action Coalition I now have some more time, so let's get college campuses. (WESPAC), the War Resisters League, this group started. Set up an information table in a public Mobilization for Survival, Women's First, a report on the demo at New York. place. Make sure you have easily readable International League for Peace and Freedom, About fifteen people showed up. We signs (with BIG lettering) that say things SANE/Freeze International Office, and other picketed and leafleted outside the that catch people's attention; something like groups, are committed to further public Indonesian mission to the UN for about an "Help Stop US bullets for Massacres in action in support of East Timor and to hour. Prior to the demo, Charlie Scheiner East Timor". pressure the U.S. government to oppose had requested a meeting with the I mentioned before that lobbying Indonesia's occupation. Indonesians but could not get a response. Congress should be an immediate priority. The leaflet which was distributed had After about 45 minutes someone from the There is someone in the Washington D.C. Anthony Lewis' "Realism and Evil" column mission came out and asked for Charlie. area who has been lobbying Congress for on one side, and the following text on the Charlie talked to them for something like years on Timor. I'll be talking to him soon other: fifteen to twenty minutes but they didn't for advice on things like particular pieces of say much. He thought they were upset that legislation to mention, Congressmen to Today is International Human Rights we were having the demo. target, etc. I'm sure he'll like some help. Day. I'm going to try to hold a meeting in New I think we should put together a short There are no human rights for people in York City for the people who we've found resource list to assist in educating others East Timor, which the Indonesian military who are interested in Timor. I'll post details and ourselves about Timor. Things like has brutally occupied for sixteen years. once a time and place are set. books, videos, speakers, publications, etc. I On November 12, the Indonesian army I'm about to start to make a bunch of have a bunch of things I could already could shot their U.S.-supplied M-16's into an un- suggestions about activities. I'm not trying put on such a list; I'm looking for other armed, peaceful, memorial procession. to dictate, I'm only making suggestions. I'll suggestions. They killed over 100 mourners and se- check into setting up a mailing list to make Distributing action alerts about particular verely beat several foreign journalists. Since communication between people easier. human rights abuses in Timor. I know of then, they have killed and arrested dozens of Some suggestions I'll make are probably some possible souces. Does anyone else witnesses. They still refuse to allow very familiar to some people receiving this, have suggestions for reliable sources on in- impartial international investigators into but please bear with me since some people formation? I'd also appreciate if someone East Timor to see what happened. may not have much organizing experience. might be willing to coordinate distributing Since 1975, Indonesia has been respons- First, I think we should have a name. such alerts. ible for the deaths of 200,000 people -- one- Suggestions? third of the population -- in East Timor. Try to find other people who are inter- EAST TIMOR PROTEST IN Their Mission to the United Nations is at ested. Talk to your friends about Timor. GERMANY (TAPOL) 325 East 38 Street, New York City, 10016. Find organizations (or any place where Visit, write, or call them at 972-8333. people gather) where you think you may Ambassadors put on the spot Demand that they stop arbitrary murder and find sympathetic people, and ask to talk to imprisonment of people in East Timor. them (there are also some videos available TAPOL report, 11 December 1991 The United States provides Indonesia you could show). Good places to try are The Technical University in Aachen has with $50 million each year, including peace and justice groups (e.g. Amnesty educated more than a thousand Indonesian weapons and military training. International, Sane/Freeze, Central America engineers. Indonesia's Minister for Our government has not questioned their groups), church groups (especially Catholic) Technology, Bachtaruddin Habibie, is a occupation and genocide. Write Secretary of and Portuguese groups. Many people who graduate from TU Aachen and is proud of State James Baker III, 2201 C Street, NW, you will find sympathetic (maybe actively his alma mater. Young Indonesians studying Washington DC 20520. Insist that the U.S. involved in other causes) have never heard in Aachen with a Habibie scholarship have support U.N. resolutions calling for of Timor. Don't expect to get the entire good prospects of a bright career after Indonesian withdrawal and internationally- organization involved (but you can always graduation. supervised self-determination for East try) but try to find individuals to join you, On 4 December, a public meeting was Timor's political future. and always ask people to write to their con- organised at the TU Aachen on "Europe as a Our country needs money to help our gressman. Bring a fact sheet which you can bastion, as seen by Indonesia and other own people, not to kill others far away. hand out which includes basic facts about developing regions". The main speakers Write your Congressperson at House of Timor, and an address and a phone number were: Professor Korb from TU Aachen, a Representatives, Washington, DC 20515, where people can contact you. close associate of Minister Habibie, and two and Senators Daniel Moynihan and Alfonse Try to place articles, letters to the editor, Indonesian ambassadors: Hasyim Jalal for D'Amato, Washington, DC 20510. Call op-ed pieces etc. in newspapers, news- Germany and Asmono Soeryo, the envoy to them at (202)224-3121. Urge them to letters and magazines. In addition to daily the European Community. Indonesian offi- suspend all aid and weapons sales to newspapers look for alternative sources. cials seldom 'go public' but speaking in Indonesia until East Timor is safe and free. Its usually very easy to get things in college Aachen was like being on home territory; For more information, or to do more, newspapers. Churches sometimes have the place is hospitable and the Indonesian contact: newspapers and magazines. I've been told students are staunchly pro-government. The Emergency Action Coalition on East Timor (although I'ver never done it myself) that its room was packed with many sitting on the PO Box 1182, White Plains, NY 10602. easy to get yourself on radio talkshows. stairs. More than 50 Indonesian students (914)428-7299. When trying to place things in print media, were present. its usually easist to get something published But alas, the evening's discussion did not if you write it yourself. Also do not just go well; the Indonesian ambassadors were send something to addressed to "The asked many questions regarding the Santa Anywhere News"; call up the newspaper Cruz massacre. Student Pastor Johannes East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 24 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Kube said a discussion was needed, not one- "Europe must see what crimes Indonesia MILITARY “CONCESSIONS” way communication. Human rights activist is committing in East Timor every day and Liem Soei Liong then raise the question of do something about it: Cut off trade Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, East Timor. The ambassadors were trapped relations with Jakarta, withdraw aid and Dili, Moses Manoharan, Dec 11): and had no alternative but to respond. As is stop delivering arms." well known, Indonesian diplomats always Despite of the freezing cold most pass- East Timor's military commander said on refuse invitations to take part in discussions ers-by were stopped by the 6.5 yard high Wednesday that better training for his men about East Timor but, here, the issue was images of shooting soldiers and demonstra- might have prevented them from killing forced upon them and they could not tors stumbling over dead bodies. civilians in the Indonesian-ruled territory wriggle out. Remarkably the newly founded last month. The Bonn ambassador gave the official "Movement of Students for East Timor" "Maybe with (more) training it would version of the government, making accusa- came up with the idea for their display only have been a different situation," Brigadier- tions against the Portuguese and against ten days ago. It cost $10,000 to rent the General Rudolf Warouw said. foreign non-governmental organisations enormous "jumbotron" truck borne mobile The Indonesian government says 19 died. alleged to have been 'involved'. The screen for a day, the money raised by Challenged on that figure, Warouw said: Timorese demonstrators were carrying donations from many Portuguese "Until now I'm only 100 per cent sure that weapons and had provoked the military, he companies, politicians, students and indi- 19 are dead...Anybody can say 100, 1,000 said. "Be assured", said ambassador Jalal, viduals. or one million. I am just talking about the "the investigation of the National Inquiry Ana Maria de Sousa Tavares, a student fact of 19." Commission will reveal the truth". Before of psychology said: "many Portuguese feel He said "you have to provide the proof" sitting down, he said with confidence that guilty because after centuries of colonisation when asked about reports that soldiers had nobody in the room had been present in we left East Timor all of a sudden in 1975 buried many more victims outside Dili. Santa Cruz and could not make a proper and did nothing when Indonesia shortly When asked his reaction to the troops assessment. after invaded the island. opening fire on civilians, Warouw said: "The But unfortunately for the ambassador, Since 1975 200.000 Timorese out of a policy is no shooting, no shooting. (There Russell Anderson, an eyewitnesses, was pre-invasion population of 800.000 have were) no orders to shoot...yes, it was present and stood up to introduce himself; been killed. Last month EC foreign ministers disappointing." many people wanted to hear his account. issued a joint statement demanding an The men involved were experienced Much to the dismay of the Indonesian en- independent international inquiry on the troops, some from the elite strategic reserve, voys, Russell Anderson went ahead, giving killings in Dili in November. and were among the best in the world, he fact after fact, showing the version of The EC threatened unspecified said. But some had only had 10 days Hasyim Jalal to be false. "restrictive measures" against Indonesia if it training in riot control before the shooting. From then on activists took over. failed to allow the inquiry. Jakarta has Warouw said that if the security situation Members from the ESG (Evangelische promised its own inquiry but few foreign improved in East Timor all the combat Studenten Gemeinde) student union decided states accept its objectivity. troops deployed in the region since 1975 to to burn a hundred candles as a symbol of the The hopes of the students and the fight opponents to Jakarta's rule would be Santa Cruz victims. A group of concerned Timorese resistance are now set on the replaced. Catholics protested about German arms Portuguese, who take over the EC presi- Instead, Jakarta would send soldiers sales to Indonesia and the Indonesian dency on Jan. 1. trained in what Warouw calls the "territorial consensus started to crack as one student Though Portuguese Prime Minister approach" designed to win Timorese hearts mentioned the killings of one million people Anibal Cavacao Silva is careful about his and minds -- working with civilians to build in 1965 by the same government. A huge responses to the issue, observers say that roads, hospitals and schools in the banner was unfurled bearing 60 names, portugal is operating behind the scenes. impoverished territory. gathered by Amnesty International, of East Cavacao Silva reportedly wishes to avoid He realised there was still resentment Timorese killed in the Santa Cruz incident. the impression that the matter is of concern among young people against Indonesian Indonesian ambassadors will think twice to portugal alone and wants a joint EC rule, especially in Dili. "But Dili is not East before accepting an invitation to speak in policy on East Timor. (ends/ips/hr/ms/rj) Timor." public again. Two of the six combat battalions now in TIMOR GAP TREATY TO BE Dili will be replaced next year with those MAASTRICHT VIDEO DEMO trained in the territorial approach imple- SIGNED mented two years ago, Warouw said. IPS, Maastricht, Dec 11 Training in this method will be extended (R. Australia 12/11) for one year from the current six months. Portuguese students found a novel way Indonesia's Energy Minister is due in Tear gas and rubber bullets will become the of illustrating the horrors of the Indonesian Australia in the next few days to sign ex- main weapons in future for troops handling occupation of East Timor today, outside the ploration treaties for the sea-bed resources civilian unrest, he said. European Community (EC) summit here. of the Timor Gap, which will be jointly One battalion of combat soldiers, some Placing an enormous 302 square feet exploited by Australia and Indonesia. involved in the November 12 incident, video screen a few hundred yards from the Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans started moving to Dili harbour on EC summit press center here, they showed said the agreements cannot be deferred. Wednesday morning, peparing to depart for film of Indonesian troops massacring un- Evans repeated the Prime Minister's cue its base in Western Java on Thursday, after armed protesters in a cemetery in Dili, the that the massacre in East Timor was not di- being questioned by the government capital of the former Portuguese colony, last rected by the Indonesian state, but rather an commission set up to investigate the inci- month. aberrant action by certain elements in the dent. "We want to confront the population, the army. The commission's head, Djaelani, said the press and politicians in the EC countries investigations would end on Saturday. with these shocking images," said Luis Warouw disputed Carrascalao's charge Miguel Palmeirin, a management student that he was not in full control of all the from Portugal. military units in East Timor. And asked which side he would favour in the reported East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 25 Dec. 10-16, 1991 split in Jakarta over whether to take a hard Peasants, had begun to seize land. The see that the physical liquidation of the PKI or soft line in East Timor, the 48-year old powerful Communist Party (PKI), which was carried through ... " general said: was working closely with the then- presi- Kathy Kadane of the States News "I am the military commander here. I am dent Sukarno, was growing rapidly. In Service in 1990 interviewed former US responsible here for what the people do and August 1965, it had 3.5 million members embassy officials who boasted of the help for what the people don't do. I will not and the mass organisations affiliated to it they gave Suharto and his executioners in change my policies." were supported by 20 million more. the hunt for Indonesian communists. The The US government feared that revolu- officials told her they compiled compre- AID CUTS, 'NO EFFECT' tion like that unfolding in south Vietnam hensive lists of PKI members, from top was about to erupt in the world's fifth most echelons down to village cadres. Over 5000 Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Kyodo, populous nation. names were provided. Jakarta, Dec 11): Suspecting a US-backed coup attempt, a "It was really a big help to the army", The recent suspension of foreign aid by group of left-wing junior army officers said Robert Martens, a former Jakarta em- Canada and the Netherlands following the calling themselves the "September 30th bassy official. "They probably killed a lot of killings in East Timor will not effect the Movement" moved to head it off by kid- people, and I probably have a lot of blood Indonesian economy, Indonesia's state napping the generals they believed were on my hands, but that's not all bad." minister for national development planning involved in the plot. Six of the generals were The murders continued for many years. Saleh Afif said. subsequently killed (by whose hand remains In 1969, a journalist for Indonesia Raya "Foreign aid from Canada and the unclear). Suharto and the military command wrote about central Java: "I got tired of Netherlands is only a fraction of the whole seized the opportunity to launch a coup, writing down the names of villages where aid in the Inter-Governmental Group on take power and then drown the mass there were supposed to have been execu- Indonesia (IGGI), but let's just wait and see movements in blood. tions and burials ... There was an official what kind of project loans will be sus- With little evidence, Suharto accused the who told me that the arrests had gone for a pended," Saleh Afif said. PKI of being the force behind the September month from 27 July [1968]. When the IGGI is an international aid consortium 30th Movement. The Indonesian military prisoners had been collected, they took 75 on Indonesia which comprises 12 other in- and ultraright goons rounded up anybody away [to be killed] each night, in two lots. dustrialized countries beside Canada and the with the vaguest association with the PKI, Later this became less and they only took Netherlands. left groups and the mass organisations. away 75 prisoners every Saturday night." "I don't know whether the aid suspension Between 500,000 and 1 million people were A decade after the 1965 massacres, there by both Canada and the Netherlands could murdered. Accounts of the carnage at the were still at least 70,000 political prisoners affect other IGGI countries," Saleh Afif time sound like those that came out of Pol held in hundreds of prison camps. The said. Pot's Cambodia a decade and half later. deaths rates in these camps were Time magazine on December 17, 1965, astronomical because of the harsh treatment THE GENOCIDAL BEGIN- reported that "Communists, red sympathis- and lack of adequate food and medicine. ers and their families are being massacred by Prisoners were refused clothes, soap and NINGS OF PRESIDENT the thousands. Backlands army units are bedding. Torture was widespread. Many SUHARTO (GREEN LEFT) reported to have executed thousands of prisoners were forced to do forced labour. communists after interrogation in remote Amnesty International estimates that By Norm Dixon, Dec. 11. jails. Armed with wide-bladed knives called there are still at least 50 detainees from the “He might be a son-of-a-bitch, but he's parangs, Moslem bands crept at night into 1965 period. Since 1985, 22 "PKI" prison- our son-of-a-bitch” - US President Franklin homes of communists, killing entire families ers have been executed after spending 20 Roosevelt's description of Nicaraguan and burying the bodies in shallow graves. years in jail. Amnesty believes eight more dictator Anastasio Somoza also describes "The murder campaign became so brazen prisoners are in imminent danger of execu- the attitude the west has taken towards in parts of rural East Java, that Moslem tion. Indonesia's President Suharto. bands placed the heads of victims on poles Suharto and his henchmen have been and paraded them through villages. The STUDENTS TO feted as defenders of the "free" world for killings have been on such a scale that the MAASTRICHT, MARIO decades. Human rights organisations have disposal of the corpses has created a serious assessed his role far differently. sanitation problem in East Java and SOARES SPEECH (PUBLICO) Northern Sumatra where the humid air bears Earlier this year Amnesty International, Translated, digested, and forwarded by in newspaper advertisements to mark its the reek of decaying flesh. Travellers from those areas tell of small rivers and streams [email protected] (Fernando Manuel 30th anniversary, said: "In 1961 we be- Vasconcelos): lieved, didn't we, that the world would never that have been literally clogged with bodies." tolerate another genocide? Since then we've In Medan, north Sumatra, "For six NEWSPAPER: Publico Date : 11 had Suharto, Pol Pot, Idi Amin and Saddam months, no-one wanted to eat fish from the December 1991 Hussein ... Between them [they] have river because they often found human fin- Six students from universities in Portugal executed and tortured to death more than a gers inside the fish", said one resident in went to Maastricht in order to make known million people." 1990. what is happening in East Timor. They The United Nations Development In October 1990, the Jakarta weekly screened the film that shows the massacre in Program ranks Indonesia 77th out of 88 Tempo published a series of articles about Dili's cemetery on a giant screen near the countries in its index of human rights. In the "1965 affair". One CIA document indi- place where the Maastricht conference took terms of official corruption, it ranks cated the agency already knew in September place. They also contacted Dutch students. Indonesia, together with Zaire and the 1965 of the plans to kidnap the generals. They were surprised by the general level of Dominican Republic, as the worst. The US was not just a passive observer ignorance of the situation in East Timor. Suharto's bloodletting began in 1965 of the carnage. Professor Gabriel Kolko has when he seized power. Indonesia had been written that "no single American action in Portugal's President Mario Soares spoke experiencing a wave of radical agitation by the period after 1945 was as bloodthirsty ... in the national assembly in commemoration peasants demanding the implementation of for the US tried to initiate the massacre, and of Humans Rights Day. land reform laws passed by parliament. it did everything in its power to encourage In his speech Mario Soares said: Suharto, including equipping his killers, to East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 26 Dec. 10-16, 1991

"Timor will one day know freedom. I would like East Timor to be governed, tic growth in the infrastructure of the have no doubts about that." He also de- what kind of East Timor they want. At province. They've really brought it from scribed the events in Dili's cemetery as "a the moment what they want is Indonesia being a backwater to being on the way to crime against humanity." out, that's what they're emphatic about, becoming a modernised territory. They He called Indonesia "a cruel invader but beyond that, there doesn't seem to be have paved roads, they've built hospitals, whith no respect for international law or very much that's firm in their minds. they've built schools, literacy rates have human rights." Some people say, well why doesn't increased enormously. In those terms Generally, this was considered a very Portugal come back and finish the proc- there are tremendous benefits from tough speech against Indonesia. ess of decolonisation, because Portugal Indonesian rule, because the Portuguese In other speeches, some members of the just upped and left in 1975, and they feel did neglect it - there's no doubt about Portugal's parliament accused the United Portugal should really come back and that. But the people say that's all States and Australia of covering up the govern them through a period of irrelevant. We have these things but we're crimes of the Indonesian regime. decolonisation. Some say what about terrorised. Mentally we have no freedom, This session of Portugal's national as- another country - we could be part of we're not treated as human beings, and sembly on Human Rights Day was dedi- another country while we decolonise and that has now become more important to cated to East Timor. learn to stand on our own two feet. The them, much more, than the fact that they thing they're absolutely clear about is can travel around their territory more BBC ON THE TERROR IN that they don't want to be part of easily, and that they can go to better DILI Indonesia - that's what they're emphatic hospitals and get better education. In a about. And when I suggested that it per- way that has been outdone, that's become Transcript of Claire Bolderson, the BBC's haps was best just to take the army out irrelevant, because the people are so correspondent in Jakarta, interviewed on the of East Timor, that there was nothing concerned about their own security, their BBC World Service, on 11 December, wrong with the Indonesian government, personal security, and about there following a 4-day visit to East Timor: they said no, what we have now is colo- families, really. nialism, and we don't want colonialism. CB: I'd say the atmosphere is really one of We want to go through a process of de- JAPAN'S BISHOPS WRITE TO terror. The people are extremely fright- colonisation and stand on our own. ened, particularly in Dili, the capital of BISHOP BELO AND U.N. East Timor, which is where the shooting Q: And what kind of support did you find took place. They're really very, very in the people that you spoke to for Original documents, abridged frightened there. They're convinced that Fretilin, the guerrilla movement that has been fighting an armed struggle against At a meeting of the Catholic Bishops' if they talk to anybody - particularly to Conference of Japan held on 12 December foreigners - they will be visited by the the Indonesian occupation of East Timor? 1991, all three archbishops and 14 bishops army, and in fact there is evidence of that of Japan signed a letter of condolence to happening. A woman I spoke to, not CB: Well, there is support from some of the Bishop Belo, head of the Catholic Church of about political matters but just a casual people, the young people in particular. East Timor. They also wrote to UN conversation in the street, and she It's difficult to tell what kind of Secretary-General, Xavier Perez de Cuellar. introduced me to her family - later that connection they have with the Fretilin. The letter to Bishop Belo said: night she was visited by the army to ask Of course, the army says Fretilin mas- "We wish to express our great sor- what she was telling the foreigners. And terminded the demonstration that took row about this incident... and to con- that atmosphere goes all the way through place during the memorial procession in vey our heartfelt sympathies to you." Dili. People are very frightened, they Dili one month ago, which is where the On 20 November, a press conference was don't know what's going to happen next. shooting took place. They say the held in Tokyo by Father Stefani Renato, a But they're very angry as well, and that's Fretilin was behind that. It's really diffi- priest from Nagoya Diocese. Fr Stefani who important because that's making them cult to say what connection Fretilin has was in Dili on the day of the Santa Cruz determined. with the people in the city, although it is massacre, "told everything he witnessed and Q: How visible is the military presence in possible to say that the young people heard from the people. He stressed how East Timor? really admire Xanana, the leader of cruel the incident was because the Military Fretilin - they think of him as their fired on unarmed and helpless citizens." CB: Oh, it's extremely visible. There are leader. They carried flags with his picture many soldiers in Dili, there are check- After referring to the earlier incident at on them during the memorial procession. Motael Church where young people who points on all the main points out of Dili. So they do really feel some allegiance to There are checkpoints in all the big demand self-determination were taking him and his movement. Among the older refuge, the bishops said: towns, I'm told - I didn't manage to travel people it's less clear. They really just very far this time, but I saw many "We wish that this right of self- want peace. They don't want any more determination which is the right of soldiers myself. Within Dili itself, they're trouble. They've been through civil war, on every street, they're hanging around. every nation and one that is guarantee they've been through an invasion by by the UN Charter and the Universal There are trucks driving past, some with Indonesia, they've been through a lot of soldiers in them, some just military Declaration of Human Rights should suffering, and they don't really want be given back to the East Timorese vehicles - they have military number- trouble. They just want peace. plates on them so you can tell. So you do through appropriate ways and feel very much that the military is there, Q: You've spoke of the fear, you've spoken means." it's making its presence known. of the terror that the Indonesian military After reiterating support for Bishop inspires in East Timor. But has the Q: You say you spoke to a lot of people. Belo's call for a referendum in February Indonesian administration brought any 1989, and calling on the UN to carry out a Did they say they wanted complete in- kind of benefits at all to East Timor? dependence for East Timor, or would thorough investigation of the massacre while they just be happy with a greater degree CB: Oh certainly, and those mustn't be ig- doing its best to find a total solution to the of autonomy from Indonesia? nored. And I do put that on all occasions question of East Timor, the bishops ended to the East Timorese people. What the their letter: CB: It's very mixed, it's difficult to say. It's Indonesians have brought - and in "Japan occupied East Timor for difficult to pin them down on how they particular through the army - is a fantas- three years and a half years during the East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 27 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Second World War and destroyed its Indonesia is reminiscent of Indonesia's past East Timorese, call upon your Government beautiful cathedral. We remember this territorial attempt at Malaya and Malaysia to: crime committed by our nation and before. The United Nations have so far 1. invite a independent international in- sincerely repent of this action. refused to accede to the occupation of East vestigation into the November 12 mas- Because of this sad history we feel a Timor which has been condemned sacre as well as all previous human rights very strong solidarity with you. We worldwide and brought about a tragedy of abuses in East Timor; wish that freedom will be established immense proportion. It has been estimated 2. stop all transmigration program to East as soon as possible in East Timor and that 200,000 East Timorese or 1/3 of the Timor so as not to threaten the demog- pray for you and your people that our East Timor population has perished since raphy of East Timor; Mighty Lord will help you with all the military occupation beginning 1975, ac- 3. respect the rights of East Timorese to His great strength." cording to the speaker. their natural resources by revoking the The letter to the UN Secretary-General The meeting also resolved to set up a Timor Gap Treaty which ceded oil min- expressed deep concern as an ecclesiastical Kamal Bamadhaj Memorial Award to en- ing rights in Timor Sea to Australia; community in the same Asia-Oceania region. courage Malaysian students and youth to "Not only the church in Motael but live up to the ideal that Kamal had lived and 4. begin an immediate and unconditional many others throughout East Timor dies for viz standing up for the human rights withdrawal of all military units from East have been carrying out a humanitarian of fellow human beings irrespective of social Timor as a first step to facilitate self- role in protecting the citizens whose or national boundaries. A committee has determination in East Timor. fundamental rights have been and are been set up to look into the setting up of [This statement was signed by lecturers of continuing to be violated. Many of such an Award. the Science University of Malaysia (USM) in them have been in danger of losing Penang, individuals and members of Aliran] their lives. The reason why the Statement of Condemnation churches have acted in this way is To: President Suharto, Indonesia ‘SECRET MASS GRAVES’ because of the continuing violation of December 7th 1991 the various rights of the East Timorese Re: CONDEMNATION OF NOV 12th SEARCH people. In fact it was because of these MASSACRE IN DILI, EAST TIMOR violations that Bishop Belo felt com- Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, We as concerned people and organisa- Dili, Moses Manoharan, Dec 12): pelled to ask you, in a letter in tions in Malaysia who are committed to February 1989, to conduct a refer- peace and justice in the South East Asian A government commission investigating endum in East Timor. region, strongly condemn your Government the incident spent Friday in a hectic round "We support this demand made by over the massacre of over 100 unarmed of evidence gathering before it was due to Bishop Belo and we plead with you to civilians in Dili, East Timor, Nov 12, which return to Jakarta on Saturday. find a complete solution to the East involved a Malaysian student, Kamal It is still searching for secret mass graves Timorese problem. You expressed Bamadhaj. On today, Dec 7 - 16th reported to contain the victims but has not your intention to send a UN human anniversary of Indonesian Army's occupa- found any so far. rights specialists team to make a tion of East Timor we urge you to end the Commission members met officials of the thorough investigation of this illegal occupation, as urged by United International Red Cross and planned to visit massacre. We strongly appeal that Nations' Resolutions No. 1514 & 1541 on the nearby town of Baucau to talk with you quickly put this intention into East Timor, as a means to remove the root Father Locatelli, a leading Roman Catholic practice so that there will be no more cause of the East Timorese' incomparable priest in the former Portuguese colony precious lives lost in East Timor." suffering.... which Indonesia invaded 16 years ago. We learned the massacre occurred at the An independent foreign observer said the MALAYSIA PUBLIC MEETING end of a peaceful procession by over 3000 commission appeared to be sincere in CONDEMNS MASSACRE East Timorese through Dili, to commemo- seeking evidence though whether that would rate the death of an East Timorese youth emerge in the final report was yet to be On 12 December 1991 the following press which happened two weeks before. seen. release was issued in Penang, Malaysia: Hundreds were injured, including foreign PORTUGUESE MEDIA DEC.12 Participants at a public meeting last journalists, and hundreds more were arrested weekend signed a statement to President subsequently. This unfortunately Suharto of Indonesia to condemn the East represented only an episode in a long chain Timor Gap Oil Explorations to Start Timor massacre where a Malaysian student, of brutal repression and terror campaign (Publico) aimed at forcing the submission of East Kamal Bamadhaj, was killed among 100 over Translated, digested, and forwarded by casualties. The statement joined increasingly Timorese to Indonesia's occupation since 1975. We also learn that up to 200,000 East [email protected] (Fernando Manuel vocal international demands to ask for an Vasconcelos): independent international investigation into Timorese could have been wiped out the massacre and all past human rights through the military operations so far - NEWSPAPER : Publico (Lisbon): 12 abuses in East Timor. The meeting on Dec 7 either directly or through the widespread December 1991 was held by friends of Kamal to famine caused by it. This occurred while the One dozen enterprises will begin explo- commemorate the victims of the massacre as rest of the population live in daily feat - ration for oil in the sea off East Timor de- well as to join international observance of testifying to the dismal failure of the 16 spite of the claim Portugal presented in the the 16th anniversary of Indonesia's illegal years of Indonesia's military policy in East International Court of Justice. This claim occupation of East Timor. Timor. considers the Timor Gap treaty made be- The main speaker Mr. Ariffin Omar, also As a part of the peaceful and justice lov- tween Indonesia and Australia as illegal. new President of Aliran, cited the example ing international community we cannot Among the twelve entreprises are Shell of Kuwait to show how the international stand by such a long standing atrocity which (Dutch and British), Chevron (USA) and community including Malaysia don't have to happens in the proximity of our region. Enterprise Oil (British). accept armed aggression against the national Therefore we join the international sovereignty of any country or people. The community and in support of the cries of military occupation of East Timor by East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 28 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Portuguese Unions mourn Diplomats say the issue is unlikely to SCHOOLGIRL DESCRIBES affect assistance from Tokyo or from the The two Portuguese union federations two other major donors -- the World Bank SLAUGHTER organized today one minute of silence as a and the Asian Development Bank. tribute to victims of Dili's massacre. Many governments are waiting for re- Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, Portuguese Parliamentarians go abroad sults of an investigation by a government Dili, Moses Manoharan, Dec 12) Some members of the Portuguese par- commission which is due to return to "What the soldiers did has lost Indonesia liament will travel to the USA and Canada in Jakarta from the former Portuguese colony our generation," said a 13-year old East order to make clear what is happening in at the weekend. Timorese schoolgirl who was at the Santa East Timor. The members of the If the report is seen as a whitewash, there Cruz cemetery when the firing took place. Portuguese parliament will next travel to is likely to be strong reaction by several She told Reuters she had gone after some European countries and Australia. donors, diplomats said. school to her grandmother's grave when a Suharto blamed much of the fuss on ex- crowd of people surged towards the ceme- Resistance fears army threats aggerated reporting by the foreign press. tery. The East Timorese resistance is con- "Indonesian stability was not dis- They were mostly teenagers from cerned with statements by Indonesian army turbed...Everything is under control," he schools unfolding flags, others holding pic- leaders saying that they will exterminate the said. tures, shouting "Viva, Viva" -- the chant of resistance after the conclusion of the inquiry "But the foreign reports, they were in- East Timorese wanting to break from into the events in Dili. The East Timorese credible. So that people link it to sanctions Jakarta rule. resistance fears that this will mean another or whatever...I explained this to our Troops suddenly appeared in two trucks, massacre of the civilian population. friends...I showed them a map where East jumped down and began firing into the Timor is located. The tiny island called East crowd from behind, before it had entered the Portuguese Ambassador meets Ghali Timor. That small thing caused everybody cemetery, she said. In New York, the Portuguese to make a fuss. And they all laughed." She ran to the middle of the cemetery and Ambassador has met for the second time saw other teenagers jumping over the back with UN Secretary-General designate “NO MORE BODIES?” walls to escape. Butros Ghali. The Portuguese ambassador The soldiers then came up to the ceme- wants to know if the UN is still planning to Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, tery gate, put their guns through its holes send an inquiry comission to East Timor as Dili, Moses Manoharan, Dec 12): and opened fire on those who had run in. outgoing Secretary General Perez de Cuellar An Indonesian commission probing last "They got a lot of the people. I saw one announced. month's massacre by soldiers in East Timor man standing near me shot in the back. He searched for reported mass graves on ran to the grave of Sebastiao, sat on it and SOEHARTO: TO HELL WITH Thursday but found no new bodies. began to cry." "We didn't find any corpses there," The crowd on November 12 had been YOUR AID commission leader Djaelani (repeat Djaelani) mourning the death two weeks earlier of said on Thurday, after checking sites where Sebastiao Gomes, a separatist sympathiser Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, killed in riots between pro- and anti- Jakarta, Jonathan Thatcher, Dec 12): soldiers are said to have buried the dead. The government commission ordered one Indonesia factions. President Suharto said Indonesia would of the victim's coffins to be dug up at Hera She said she ran to the back walls and do without aid if donor countries tried to cemetery outside Dili where the military escaped from the cemetery after stepping link it to the killing of mourners by soldiers says the 19 who officially died are buried. around several teenagers lying on the ground in East Timor last month. Wearing surgical masks to block the with bullet wounds. "We are not going to accept it at all if stench from the brown sand graves, each "Not many escaped from the cemetery," there are political preconditions," Suharto marked by one small rock, the investigators she said. said in a televised news conference broad- told soldiers to shut the coffin and asked Her father, a member of East Timor's cast late on Wednesday. watching journalists to put away their legislature, said he had reached the cemetery "...if we get aid with a precondition that cameras and join a prayer service. about 20 minutes after the shooting to East Timor should be like this or that, we'd Djaelani said he would try to check every search for his daughter and saw a military better not (take it). Because it is a violation witness report before returning to Jakarta on truck with bodies parked at the gate. of...our principles," Suharto told reporters Saturday after three weeks in East Timor. "I counted 50 people, mostly men. When on a flight back to Jakarta as he cut short a He expects to hand over a preliminary I was there 35 bodies were put into the three-week foreign trip. report to State Secretary Murdiono on truck, 15 were on the ground." Another two Diplomats speculated that one reason the Monday. trucks stood nearby but he could not see president returned three days early was his Some of the troops involved in the what was inside. need to deal with the international criticism shooting on November 12, battalion 303, The huge crowd of about 3,500 people over East Timor, which Indonesia annexed were given an emotional farewell by East turned up mainly because of a broadcast by in 1976. Timor military commander Brigadier the military-run radio station in Dili, an- Indonesia, one of the fast growing General Rudolf Warouw, on Thursday. nouncing the memorial service for Sebastiao, economies of southeast Asia, relies heavily "I'm very proud of you. You have per- he said. on foreign aid from the West, Japan and in- formed excellently, beyond what was ex- He shrugged his shoulders when asked ternational agencies such as the World Bank. pected of you," Warouw told the soldiers at why the military radio would make this Last year donors pledged nearly five bil- a farewell ceremony at the end of their 10- announcement. lion dollars, and a similar amount is likely to month tour in the former Portuguese colony "Even Sebastiao's family did not want be needed this year. which Indonesia invaded 16 years ago. this," he said, adding that only relatives "If they don't give us any more aid we A crowd of East Timorese watched si- were told at church the previous Sunday to have to develop with our own capabilities," lently outside the barred gates of the har- come to the memorial service at the ceme- Suharto said. bour as the troops filed into the ship to take tery. Japan is the biggest donor but has made them back to west Java. no public reference to the East Timor inci- dent. East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 29 Dec. 10-16, 1991

INDONESIA LOSES Sea, Australian Resources Minister Alan SOEHARTO CALLED Griffiths said. 'CREDIBILITY' Areas, operator, other interest holders 'SOFTIE' and six-year commitments are: Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, 91-01, Broken Hill Propriety Co Ltd Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Kyodo, Sydney, Dec 12): unit BHP Petroleum, Jakarta, Dec 12): The Indonesian version of the massacre , 5000 km A former Indonesian security chief of mourners in the East Timor capital Dili a seismic, four wells, 33.36 mln U.S. dlrs. blasted President Suharto as being soft on month ago has lost all credibility, the human 91-02, Royal Dutch/Shell Group countries that have cut off aid over last rights group Asia Watch said on Thursday. unit Shell Australia month's mass killings in East Timor. The New York-based organisation said Ltd, Chevron Corp unit The daily Suara Pembaruan quoted re- the Indonesian version of events of the Chevron Asiatic Ltd, 2,500 km, one well, tired Gen. Sumitro as saying the President November 12 killings had been compiled 11.8 mln U.S. dlrs. could have responded to foreign pressure from second-hand information. 91-03, Woodside Petroleum Ltd with the words of Indonesia's first presi- "No soldier who was in the units which , Shell, BHP, British dent, Sukarno, "Go to hell with your aid." did the shooting has come forward to say Petroleum Plc unit British Calling the shootings an internal affair, why the troops opened fire," it said in a 29- Developments Ltd, 2,300 km, one well, Sumitro accused major countries of returning page reconstruction of events surrounding 8.19 mln U.S. dlrs. to "neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism the massacre. with threats and pressures to developing Asia Watch put the death toll from the 91-04, Woodside, Shell, BHP, BP, 2,300 countries through their financial aid." shooting at between 75 and 200, but added km, three wells, 19.77 mln U.S. dlrs. it could not confirm reports of subsequent 91-05 applicant withdrew, 91-06 and 91-07 TOKYO HUNGER STRIKE killings by Indonesian troops. no bids. It said that Indonesia's claims that the 91-08 Petroz NL , SAGASCO Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, march on November 12 was a well-organised Holdings Ltd , 6,000 km, Tokyo, Dec 12): protest, involving the separatist organisation three wells, 28.5 U.S. Mln dlrs. A small group of protesters began a sit-in Fretilin, were correct. 91-09 Enterprise Oil Plc , 4,500 and hunger strike on Thursday demanding However, Asia Watch described as im- km, three wells, 26.4 mln U.S. dlrs. that Japan take a tougher stand towards plausible the Indonesian excuse that the Indonesia over last month's army shooting shooting was sparked by a scuffle between 91-10 , Santos Ltd , , of mourners in East Timor. protesters and troops in which two soldiers The protesters, numbering fewer than 10, were stabbed. 4,000 km three wells, 21.48 mln U.S. dlrs. sat in front of the Japanese Foreign "Even if the Indonesian account is accu- Ministry with signs saying: "Indonesia, re- rate, these knifings took place almost an 91-11 Marathon, Santos, Korea Petroleum, turn the bodies (of the victims)" and "Japan, hour before the troops opened fire and in a 6,000 km, nine wells, 64.48 mln U.S. don't assist in East Timor massacre." very different part of Dili," the report said. dlrs. In the 30-hour action the demonstrators The report added that the troops involv- 91-12 Petroz, Western Mining Corp want Japan, the largest economic aid sup- ed in the shooting were different from those Holdings Ltd , 6,000 km, plier to Indonesia, to suspend new assis- involved in the scuffle. six wells, 47.4 mln U.S. dlrs. tance until Jakarta withdraws its troops Asia Watch said the use of troops armed 91-13 Phillips Petroleum Co , Oryx from East Timor. with rifles but no teargas to control a mass Energy Co , Hardy Oil and They also demand that Japan press for a demonstration they knew would occur was Gas Plc , Bridge Oil Ltd United Nations fact-finding mission to be "either a deliberate decision to use force or , 7,500 km, seven wells, sent to East Timor. incompetence of the highest order." 58.54 mln U.S. dlrs. Indonesian reports that a hand grenade MORE GRAVEDIGGING was thrown at troops just before the shoot- 91-14 Enterprise, Nippon Oil Co Ltd ing were misleading and did not justify a <5001.T>, 6,000 km, five wells, 42.4 mln UNWITNESSED? plea of self-defence, it said. U.S. dlrs. Griffiths said the contracts would be Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia(AFP, Asia Watch called for the immediate Jakarta, Dec 12): suspension of military aid and training to executed within 30 days between the suc- Indonesia until the Indonesian investigation cessful applicants and the Australia- An Indonesian team probing an army -- an inquiry it said was not independent -- Indonesia Joint Authority for the Timor shooting in Dili last month had a suspected was completed. Gap Zone of Co-operation. grave of one of the victims dug up It said that if the inquiry finds the mili- The agreement was made at a meeting of Thursday. tary responsible then the ban should remain the Ministerial Council for the Zone of Co- Five of the seven members of the in place until people are prosecuted. operation -- on which Australia and National Investigative Commission (KPN) It also called for all troops on East Timor Indonesia each have two members -- at- visited a cemetery in Hera, near Dili, East to be disarmed until an international tended by Griffiths and Indonesian Mines Timor, where the military said it had buried investigation has been carried out. and Energy Minister Ginanjar Kartasasmita. 19 people killed in the November 12 Griffiths said bids were received for 12 of incident. TIMOR GAP OIL CONTRACTS the 14 contract areas in area A when bids The grave, picked at random, was dug up were open between June 24 and October 7 and the coffin opened briefly before it was LET but one applicant subsequently withdrew. reburied, while journalists looked on from a Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, He said 55 oil companies, including some distance of about seven meters (23 feet), Sydney, Dec 12): that previously held exploration interests in Antara said. the area, lodged applications. The KPN members stayed on at Hera Eleven production sharing contracts were while journalists were ordered to return to approved for petroleum exploration in area Dili, the agency added. A of the Zone of Co-operation in the Timor KPN leader Jaelani later told reporters that commission members had also visited East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 30 Dec. 10-16, 1991 areas around Hera to look for signs of other for Indonesia," said Elaine Briere, national 300 Canadian companies operate there. graves. co-ordinator of the Vancouver-based East Indonesian trade consistently balances in Jaelani said the team had received in- Timor Alert Network. "But McDougall still Canada's favour. Until this week, the formation saying victims of the shooting hasn't done any of the things East Timor is Indonesian government was the third largest were buried at five or six other sites in ad- asking her to do." recipient of Canadian bilateral aid. dition to Hera. On Monday, Jos Ramos Horta, special During this period, Canada's international The Hera cemetery has been under mili- overseas representative for the East indignation was saved for countries where tary guard since the shooting. Timorese resistance, asked Canada to take a we've less stake in the way things are. Jaelani said that in the next two days, leading role in pressuring Indonesia to Twelve times the UN, condemning the team members may visit several other sites respect human rights in East Timor, the invasion, reaffirmed East Timor's right to where more victims have allegedly been former Portuguese colony it invaded in 1975 self- determination. Twelve times Canada buried, adding that journalists would be in defiance of international law. More than abstained or (more recently) voted against. barred from covering those visits. a third of the Timorese population has been As recently as September, McDougall said Two other members of the KPN went killed since the invasion. East Timor was a "fait accompli." Thursday to the Dili police headquarters "to In a meeting with McDougall, Ramos But then the Prime Minister's trumpeted complete" previous investigations. KPN Horta called on Canada to support an em- announcement tying foreign aid to human members said last week that they have bargo on the sale of military equipment to rights was followed by the November mas- interviewed the 26 people detained at the Indonesia, support for United Nations reso- sacres in East Timor. Over a hundred were headquarters since the shooting. lutions that call for a free and fair act of slaughtered in a cemetery on Nov. 12. self-determination for East Timor, and an Indonesian explanations that the army TRIALS FOR 21 TIMORESE international inquiry into a massacre of over was provoked by "agitators" were blown STUDENTS 100 Timorese mourners at a religious away by irrefutable British television foot- procession in East Timor last Nov. 12. age and eyewitnesses like The New Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia(AFP, Ramos Horta will be in Toronto tom- Yorker's Allan Nairn. Nearly killed himself, Jakarta, Dec 12): morow, Friday 13 December. He is avail- Nairn wrote, "there was no provocation, no able for interviews. stones ... thrown. The soldiers issued no Police will next week hand over to the "Canada has been silent through 16 years warning. (They) simply shot several state prosecutors' office the cases of 21 of genocide in East Timor," Ms Briere said. hundred unarmed men, women and children. East Timorese held since they demonstrated "Canada should take action that Indonesia They chased down young boys and girls and last month to demand self-determination. will have to listen to, both in international shot them in the back." Six days later, 80 Jakarta's Chief Detective Colonel forums like the United Nations and by Timorese witnesses were rounded up and Wagiman was quoted as saying the 21 moving towards trade sanctions if the killed beside a bulldozed grave. would be charged with publicly expressing people of East Timor are not given their The mask was off. World outrage de- enmity, hate or insults toward the lawful rights to choose their own future and live in manded an independent UN investigation, government, punishable by up to seven peace." and the ending of military trade. Our years' jail under the Indonesian penal code. External Affairs Minister spoke out at last, Police were continuing their questioning, CUT OFF ARMS TO and strongly; but she didn't go that far. the Suara Merdeka daily reported. INDONESIA (TORONTO STAR) Her officials assured us Monday "no The 21 students were among 70 who permits for the export of offensive military took to the street here November 19 to pro- equipment to Indonesia have been issued" test an incident in Dili, East Timor, a week Toronto Star, 13 December 1991. Weekly column by Bruce McLeod, a United Church for two years. Canada screens arms earlier in which troops fired on an unarmed exports, they said; "there's no reasonable crowd. minister and president of the Canadian Council of Churches. risk any might be used against civilians." They also called on the United Nations But terrorized Timorese can't distinguish to pressure Jakarta into allowing a process Two cheers for External Affairs Minister between their oppressors' offensive and of self-determination for East Timor, a Barbara McDougall. Not three; but two defensive equipment. Worse, External former Portuguese colony which Indonesia good ones. Her November condemnation of Affairs never screens indirect exports unilaterally declared its 27th province in Indonesia's cruel occupation of East Timor, through third countries (Garret Canada 1976. together with this week's announcement freely sends components, through the U.K., Wagiman said lawyers of the Legal Aid suspending aid to the occupiers, ended 16 for Indonesian mobile missiles). Arms sales Institute, a leading Indonesian legal aid and years of eloquent Canadian silence before a analyst Ernie Regehr reports "from 1988-90, human rights organization, would defend the major human tragedy. 42.4 per cent of Canadian military (exports) 21 students. McDougall's refusal, however, to stop went to countries engaged in frequent use of arms trading with Indonesia, and her pious official violence against the public." To AID CUT TO INDONESIA NOT hopes for an army-dominated "inquiry" into promote human rights in Indonesia, he ENOUGH, CANADIAN TIMOR recent atrocities, leave Canada still lagging says, choke off the arms trade first. embarrassingly behind the international SUPPORTERS SAY (ETAN) McDougall started with bilateral aid in- conscience on East Timor -- sadly, not an stead. Just starting deserves two cheers for unaccustomed position. In 1975 East Timor, raising Canada's voice at last. But write her; Press release, East Timor Alert Network, 12 being decolonized by Portugal, was invaded December 1991. tell her don't stop now. Face down the by Indonesia. By 1982, 200,000 people (a weapons-makers' lobby, Barbara, quit arm- Supporters of East Timor are welcoming third of the population) were killed or ing Indonesia's military regime. Get Canada the decision of the Canadian government to starved to death. Two years later, Canada, on the right side of UN resolutions on East cut $30 million in aid to Indonesia in firmly joining hands with the oppressors, Timor. Forget the local generals; call for protest over human rights violations by the hosted an arms bazaar in Jakarta. independent investigations into November's Indonesian military, but say the move does Canadian-built engines power Indonesian atrocities. Keep us cheering; bring Canada's not go far enough. army helicopters to this day. conscience back to world-class level at last. "By cutting aid, (External Affairs Sixteen years of terror in East Timor Minister) Barbara McDougall has moved were accompanied by growing Canadian light years from Canada's previous support business involvement with Indonesia. Over East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 31 Dec. 10-16, 1991

DENMARK CUTS OFF Portuguese Newspaper & Artists support Those who command world affairs Timor should put aside hypocrisy (which they call NEW AID diplomacy) and start helping the Timorese The newspaper Publico is carrying out an in practical ways. Like all other people, the Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, original project. The newspaper invites Timorese should have the right to determine Copenhagen, Dec 13): artists to come to a spot where they make their own future. Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen some drawings. Those drawings are then After sixteen years it is clear that talking has blocked new Danish aid to Indonesia sold and the money goes to support the at the U.N. will not halt their extermination. because of a massacre of mourners by East Timor cause. The newspaper also We Portuguese may have to take some troops in East Timor a month ago. sends faxes of these drawings to foreign blame for the colonial period. But in those Denmark, like other European governments, including presidents. Today days, we ourselves were not free. Community members, will review plans for the newspaper is sending the faxes to for- Rafael Prata future development aid when the official eign newspapers. Lisbon, Portugal Indonesian report on the killings has been AI Cannot confirm execution rumors completed, he told Denmark's Ritzau news ARMY DAMAGES INDONESIA Amnesty International cannot confirm agency on Thursday night. IMAGE "Our assessment will depend very largely rumors regarding the imminent execution of on the Indonesian authorities' own reaction five students who are prisioners on Bali. This allegation was reported by Joana Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (Reuter, to the report," he told Ritzau. He said Dili, Moses Manoharan, Dec 13): Denmark had already protested over the Saldanha Ribeiro from Sydney who said that killings, along with its partners in the EC the students had already been sentenced and A senior intelligence officer said Jakarta and the Nordic Council. could be executed over the weekend. Jose had ignored warnings of a planned dem- Denmark gives only small amounts of aid Manual Cabral from the Portuguese section onstration in East Timor last month which to Indonesia. Current projects include of Amnesty International said that AI had resulted in a massacre when soldiers fired backing for the cooperative movement, a no confirmation regarding any trials of those into a crowd of mourners. drinking water scheme and aid to training students. "We had warned long before November 12 that a demonstration was planned, but no centres. Planned 1992 aid totals 25 million Belo for Nobel Peace Prize? crowns (four million dollars). one listened," the intelligence officer, who Earlier this year Denmar froze aid to NEWSPAPER : O Jornal. 13 Dec. 1991 asked not to be identified, told Reuters on China in protest over Beijing's human rights Personal note: This is a weekly newspaper Thursday night in the East Timor capital of performance, and halted aid to Kenya generaly considered to be close to the Dili. because it said corruption was diverting the Socialist party. "But we did not anticipate such a big cash. demonstration." O Jornal is conducing a campaign to An Indonesian military analyst criticised promote the idea of proposing Dili's Bishop PORTUGUESE MEDIA DEC. 13 the East Timor army for allowing the crowd Ximenes Belo for the Peace Nobel Prize. to get so large in the first place. Translated, digested, and forwarded by According to the newspaper, it has allready Efforts by Indonesia to establish its cre- [email protected] (Fernando Manuel received a number of lists of signatures, dentials as a major voice in the Third World Vasconcelos): including the signature of former President have been severely damaged by the killings. of Portugal Ramalho Eanes. "They have handled it badly," said one NEWSPAPER : Publico 13 Dec. 1991 Asian diplomat who criticised subsequent DEATH IN TIMOR hardline comments by military commander- Commemoration in Santa Cruz cemete- in-chief Try Sutrisno that he would wipe ry Asiaweek December 13, 1991. Letter to out anyone wanting to break from Editor A source in the East Timorese resistance Indonesian rule. told the Portuguese news agency LUSA To the editors of Asiaweek His comments only worsened the image that the East Timorese people assisted The other day I attended a public debate of Indonesia as run by a brutal military, he yesterday in a religious commemoration 30 in Lisbon on the work of a controversial said. days after the massacre. The population architect. More than 1,600 young people then went to the Santa Cruz cemetery from arts colleges were there, representing a THERE MUST BE AN where they put flowers on the graves of the wide variety of political opinion and cultural INDEPENDENT TEAM victims of the massacre. trends. In all this diversity, one thing drew Portuguese unions’ minute of silence everyone together: a minute's silence for the Editor. 14 December 1991. victims of the Indonesian military in East Yet again, East Timor is the cover story in The minute of silence organized by Timor. Portugal's two union federations had the this week's edition of the Jakarta political A South African would describe me as a weekly, Editor. following consequences: single white southern European male. But 1) Portuguese television and Portuguese there are just two races in the world: those In its introduction to an interview with radio stations ceased to broadcast for who have and those who have not. Australia's Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans, one minute. As a Portuguese poet wrote at a time the journal points out that in an interview in 2) The Portuguese parliament also observed when my country was fighting one of its the previous week's issue, Prime Minister the one minute of silence. colonial wars, the tears of an African Bob Hawke said that there is no need for a special international investigation into the 3) In some factories, alarms were sounded. mother weeping for her dead child are as salty as any white woman's. I too feel the Santa Cruz massacre. Now, however, the 4) In some schools, students organized suffering of those who are in distress in Australian government has changed its meetings. In Alcobaca [city in the center Portugal, or who are hungry in India, or hit mind. The following interview with Gareth of Portugal], more then one thousand by natural disasters in the Philippines, or Evans was conducted over the phone by people gathered in front of the monastery imprisoned in China for political beliefs, or Editor correspondent, Francis Song: with burning candles. oppressed in Timor. Q: What is your opinion about the 12 November affair? East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 32 Dec. 10-16, 1991

A: We have proposed that the UN should ately whisked off to the Lahane seminary, warrants; nor were the accused or any send an investigation team to East Timor. the Jakarta Post said. They declined to lawyers present to confirm any findings. This is very important. The truth and the comment on the visit. The remaining twenty-two are East facts must be brought to light. If the The Jakarta Post cited sources close to Timorese students from a number of Indonesian Armed Forces do not feel Belo as saying that de Andrea came to get Indonesian universities who took part in a guilty and did not violate human rights, first hand information on the November 12 peaceful demonstration in Jakarta on 19 they should agree to a UN team (of incident when troops shot into a crowd ki- November when they protested against the investigation). It would be a different lling 19 people according to the official Santa Cruz massacre and called on the matter if the UN were to want to cover count. United Nations to arrange for an act of self- up things that have been concealed. If its The Berita Buana daily said the envoy determination in East Timor. Besides true that ABRI is not at fault, there had already been briefed on the Dili shooting demonstrating outside the UN office, they should no question about anyone by KWI Chairman Bishop Darmaatmaja in planned to visit several foreign embassies, investigating. Jakarta where he spent three days before including the British embassy, but were Q: Will Australia play a role in this matter flying to East Timor. prevented from doing so by the police. of an investigation team? Another forty-nine arrested during the A: The UN Commission has already ap- CAMPAIGN TO RELEASE 52 demonstration have been allowed home and pointed Amos Wako to carry out an in- EAST TIMORESE DUE TO GO are under house-arrest. The very fact that the authorities will lay vestigation into the bloody incident in ON TRIAL (TAPOL) Dili. We will give our full support to the charges against the 52 detainees underscores the irrelevance of Indonesia's Commission of discharge of this UN duty. We are ready TAPOL has today (Dec. 14) written to to help. Inquiry which has not yet submitted its Prime Minister John Major, calling on the report and recommendations. The Q: Prime Minister Bob Hawke said last British Government to intercede for the re- authorities appear to have made up their week that there was no need for an in- lease of 52 East Timorese due to go on trial minds already about where the "guilt" lies. ternational team and that he would wait shortly. TAPOL firmly believes that there are no for the results of the national team. TAPOL calls on all solidarity groups to grounds for any of these East Timorese to Q: After examining the matter again, we feel join us in a campaign to secure the release of be tried. They were all engaged in lawful that the national team is not 'fair' [English these East Timorese. pursuits and should be released without de- word used]. It must be an independent TAPOL's letter to John Major reads as lay. It would be wrong to argue that these team. The Australian government is not follows: trials should proceed on the grounds of due only concerned about the 12 November Dear Mr Major, process of the law. They are political trials Affair in Dili; we are concerned also We appeal to you as Prime Minister to and cannot be justified on any grounds. about reports of human rights violations, intercede with the Indonesian Government There is no reason to believe that the trials including charges of torture. on behalf of fifty-two East Timorese who will be fair. Already, there have been vio- Q: What is the aim of your visit to Jakarta are to be brought to trial on charges which lations of Indonesia's procedural code; for next week? relate to their support for East Timor's right instance, far from allowing them unhindered to self-determination. We urge you to call access to legal assistance, all fifty-two A: To discuss the possibility of re-opening for their immediate release. a consulate in Dili. [The consulate was detainees have been held in incommunicado Twenty-six of them are in detention in detention. closed in 1971.] I will propose that Dili, the capital of East Timor. The Dili Indonesia should agree to the proposal The British Government has made it clear prosecutor's office says they were that it does not recognise Indonesia's about a UN team. This idea also has the "involved" in the demonstration which took support of the countries of Europe. We'd annexation of East Timor. These East place in Dili on 12 November. This was a Timorese will go on trial because they refuse like to be the mediator. We want to peaceful demonstration to commemorate an cooperate. This week, Minister Griffiths to accept annexation. It is therefore East Timorese killed by Indonesian forces appropriate for your Government to inter- [Australian Minister for Resources] and two weeks earlier, and to express Minister of Mines, Ginandjar cede on their behalf and call for their im- opposition to Indonesia's illegal occupation mediate release. Kartasasmita, will sign an agreement for of East Timor. That demonstration ended in 12 Australian companies to carry out In light of the fact that the Council of a bloodbath at the Santa Cruz cemetery, Ministers of the European Community has exploration for oil and gas in the Timor when Indonesian forces opened fire, killing Sea. issued a number of statements on East up to 200 people and wounding many more. Timor, a copy of this letter in being sent to Eight will be tried for "subversion", a the Dutch Presidency, in the hope that the VATICAN ENVOY IN DILI! charge which carries a possible death sen- EC will also respond to this appeal. tence. The other eighteen will be tried for The names of the detainees in Jakarta and Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia(Reuter, "criminal" offenses. Yet, while these people AFP, Dec 14): Bali are appended to this letter; nothing is will go on trial, nothing has been done to yet known about the identities of the An envoy of Pope John Paul II has ar- bring to justice those in the army who were detainees in Dili. rived in the East Timor capital of Dili for a responsible for the massacre. Yours sincerely, three-day visit but declined to disclose the Another four to go on trial are East Carmel Budiardjo purpose of his stay. Timorese students under detention in Bali; Vatican envoy Monsignor Giovani de all are students at Udayana University, WHICH HEADS WILL ROLL? Andrea arrived on Friday, the leading Denpasar. They too may be tried for Kompas daily said. It quoted an East "subversion". According to press reports, by peg:dbourc Sunday 15 December 1991 Timorese priest, Alberto Ricardo da Silva, preliminary investigations sought to prove Well placed sources in Jakarta said today as saying the envoy's visit was purely a that they maintained contact with Dili, that the Commander of the Armed Forces "pastoral mission" and in no way linked to Lisbon and London to inform the outside General Try Sutrisno will shortly be the shooting in Dili on November 12. world of human rights abuses in East Timor. removed from office in the wake of the in- De Andrea was met at the airport by The authorities also claim to have found ternational uproar over the Santa Cruz East Timor Bishop Carlos Ximenez Belo grenades and anti-Indonesian posters in their massacre in Dili. and two other clergymen and was immedi- homes. But the searches took place without East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 33 Dec. 10-16, 1991

The decision is said to have been taken as competent and ruthless commando - best Analyst Antonio Sampaio said the sign- a result of strong pressure from the United known for his dramatic storming of the ing of the contracts yesterday had been done States administration, which has been hijacked Garuda at Bangkok airport in 1981. "in an atmosphere of great mystery and pressing Jakarta for a firm response to the Moreover, although Sintong is in charge of secrecy." massacre. Once Try Sutrisno has been the Udayana area command which covers "Despite Portugal's appeal before the removed, the United States and its allies East Timor, he has recently pointed out International Court of Justice in The Hague, would consider Indonesia's response as (Editor 7 Dec) that 303 is not an Udayana companies from the European Community, adequate and say no more about the mas- battalion. Battalion 303 is under Kostrad, the United States, Japan and Australia are sacre. and therefore the ultimate responsibility of preparing to exploit one billion barrels of If this is true it would indicate severe Wismoyo Arismunandar, the hardliner crude from the Timor Sea," said tension at the top levels of government, Suharto is said to favour as Indonesia's next international analyst Adelino Gomes. which would in turn open the way for a po- president. Suharto's choice will not be easy. At the start of an official visit to Jakarta tentially explosive shakeup among the sen- yesterday, Australian Industry Minister ior brass. But such a move would seem out TRY SUTRISNO IN PERIL? John Button said Canberra would avoid of character, especially since it could so Written 9pm 15 December 1991 by possible sanctions on Indonesia as requested easily be perceived as a response to foreign peg:dbourc, Melbourne by Portugal. "Australia has to consider its pressure. It would go against the spirit of Rumours are this evening rife in Jakarta business and economic interests in Suharto's recent statements about the mas- that Try Sutrisno will indeed be removed. Indonesia," he explained. sacre. Suharto has publicly scoffed at for- Suharto is said to be in a very tight posi- eign concern over the massacre and has said tion, primarily because his economists are EAST TIMOR: THE that he will reject any foreign aid which is unable to formulate a budget for next year. NOVEMBER 12 MASSACRE conditional on Indonesia responding to the Normally the budget is passed down in Dili massacre. Although Try Sutrisno is not early January. In the wake of the Dili AND ITS AFTERMATH (ASIA popular in the army, he has built a network massacre however, and before the WATCH REPORT) of political clients during his time as Commission of Inquiry delivers its report, Commander and it would seem suicidal for there is no certainty how much foreign aid 1. Introduction Suharto to sacrifice him at a time when he will be forthcoming. The budget situation is needs all the allies he can get. even more uncertain due to intensifying On November 12, 1991 in Dili, the capi- Several commentators have suggested domestic pressure to abandon the contro- tal of East Timor, anywhere from 75 to 200 that it would be easy for Suharto/the versial SDSB lottery, which is believed to be people are estimated to have been killed Commission of Inquiry to throw a couple of a significant source of indirect government when Indonesian troops opened fire on a low ranking officers to the lions for ap- revenue. demonstration. The demonstrators were pearance's sake. But this might not be as A meeting of IGGI (the Inter- calling for the independence of East Timor, easy as it sounds. The importance of the Governmental Group on Indonesia) due to the former Portuguese colony of some notion of 'kesatriaan' [soldierliness/chivalry] be held in Japan this week has been post- 700,000 people on the eastern half of the in Indonesia's 'military culture' should not be poned for one week. island of Timor, off the north Australian underestimated. The West Javanese 303 Faced with such uncertainties, Suharto coast. As of mid- December, the situation battalion, according to Sintong Panjaitan may have decided that Try's sacrifice as the in East Timor remained tense with hundreds (Editor 7 Dec), enjoys a very good repu- price he has to pay to guarantee Indonesia's of people still not knowing whether their tation. Only four months ago it is said to financial stability. missing relatives were detained, in hiding, or have captured a senior Fretilin commander If Try is removed, a host of questions dead. One local source reported that the at Emera near Dili. arise. On what grounds could he be re- atmosphere of fear and terror was worse To blame the massacre on the 303 troops moved? What will his supporters, such as than at any time since the 1975 invasion. would be to suggest that their commander, Major General Arie Sudewo, (the key per- There were reports of ongoing arrests and Lt Col Asril, was not in control. To blame son in the powerful strategic intelligence killings, but no international commission of Lt Col Asril would be to sacrifice the leader body BAIS) have to say about it? How inquiry had been put together to investigate of a battalion for doing what is widely many other important political clients does them. Even a month after the massacre took conceived of as being his duty. If we take he have? How will it affect Suharto's own place, the need for such a commission Try Sutrisno and Sintong Panjaitan's chances of survival? What might the po- remains urgent. In this report, Asia Watch account as the established 'truth' of the litical crisis mean for Timor? evaluates conflicting versions of the massacre then the 303 battalion only did massacre and its aftermath and recommends what would be expected of any battalion. measures which governments could take to Try Sutrisno has in a sense made it TIMOR GAP CONTRACTS try to ensure that the violence is stopped, a impossible for any of the local military thorough inquiry is undertaken and those involved to take the blame without himself DENOUNCED (IPS) responsible for the killings are brought to losing face. justice. Excerpt by Task Force Indonesia (IPS, Who else could get the chop? Perhaps the 2. Lead-up to the Demonstration East Timor commander Brig Gen Warouw is Lisbon. Dec 15): the most likely candidate, even though the Portuguese analysts have denounced The political atmosphere in Dili had been massacre was not his style and he was Indonesia and Australia for signing con- highly charged in the months leading up to reportedly with the United Nations envoy tracts with 12 companies for the exploita- the planned visit of the Portuguese Kooijmans at the time. Sintong Panjaitan? tion of oil in the Timor sea, even if the parliamentary delegation, and became even He might be an attractive candidate, as he is territory is legally still under Portuguese more so in the weeks just prior to its thought of as a Murdani man and a key authority. scheduled November 4 arrival. In an inter- contestant (against Suharto's preferred They pointed out that the United view published in the Portuguese newspa- candidate Kostrad commander Wismoyo Nations never recognized Indonesia's an- per, Publico, on October 22, Bishop Carlos Arismunandar) for the strategic position of nexation of East Timor in 1975 and had Ximenes Belo, the outspoken bishop of Deputy Army Chief of Staff. But this given Portugal the mandate to administer its Dili, said that Indonesian authorities were would also be difficult, because Sintong is former colony until the holding of a ref- warning East Timorese not to take part in celebrated in military circles as a highly erendum on the island's independence. demonstrations or say anything to members East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 34 Dec. 10-16, 1991 of the delegation; if they did, they would be that the motorcyclists were working in Gomes. A large group of demonstrators killed after the deputies left. Belo called for tandem with the military in a planned attack were already waiting outside the cemetery an international force to monitor the on the church.) As of the end of November, for the marchers to reach them. After the situation after the delegation left. Other some seven remained in a police lock-up in two groups had joined and people were sources have reported widespread intimi- Dili. milling about in and around the cemetery, dation of the populace prior to the visit. Soldiers also began searching the church some of them standing on the cemetery At the same time, it was clear that those and the homes of church staff, finding what walls and shouting slogans, additional troop active in the resistance movement in East they said were anti-government documents, reinforcements arrived. Their arrival, about Timor, consisting not only of the armed Fretilin banners, knives, Portuguese flags 8:00, apparently caused some panic on the Frente Revolucionaria de Timor Leste and brochures. Church sources said all of the part of the demonstrators, some of whom Independente, or Fretilin, but the two other material confiscated was found not in the ran out of the cemetery to the streets. pre-1975 political parties as well, had been church itself but in the home of domestic Troops opened fire and killed a still planning to use the Portuguese visit as a staff on the church grounds. unknown number of people. Most estimates way of demonstrating their opposition to The assault on the church was reported range between 75 and 100. Bishop Belo esti- Indonesian rule in full view of the interna- on Indonesian television news later on mated that 180 were killed, and some es- tional media. October 28 with the broadcaster saying that timates were over 200. As it turned out, the delegation's visit two people had been beaten up and killed was "suspended" by the Portuguese gov- by "anti-integration" youth. Governor 4. The Public Accounts ernment on October 26, after the Indonesian Mario Carrascalao was quoted in the Jakarta The killings have sparked two very dif- side refused to allow an Australian newspaper, Berita Buana, as saying youths ferent public versions of events. Foreign journalist, Jill Jolliffe, to take part in the against integration had hit "passers-by who eyewitnesses, all of whom were at or near Portuguese press contingent, calling her a backed East Timor becoming part of the Santa Cruz cemetery when Indonesian "Fretilin crusader." Many sources say the Indonesia. 'I think they wanted to show troops opened fire, report that a peaceful decision not to come left many of the young their disappointment. They are frustrated march to commemorate the death of a pro- activists in Dili feeling frustrated and because the Portuguese did not come to independence activist, Sebastiao Gomes, had exposed. They decided, these sources say, visit.'" The government version accused the ended at the cemetery and people were to use the visit of Pieter Kooijmans, the youth inside the church of "initiating the milling about when, without warning or United Nations Special Rapporteur on brawl" and later indirectly blamed the provocation, Indonesian troops began Torture who planned to visit East Timor on church for harboring political activists. An shooting into the crowd. The Indonesian November 10-12 as the focal point for a army spokesman in Jakarta, Brigadier government version is that elements of demonstration. If the resistance could not General Nurhadi Purwosaputro, said on Fretilin, the armed independence organiza- use the Portuguese parliamentarians and October 30 that the military was tion, deliberately organized a mass political accompanying journalists to get their investigating links between the Catholic demonstration using the pretext of a mass message across, it would focus on another church in Dili and Fretilin. Bishop Belo, for Gomes to do so, stabbed an Indonesian international figure. who arrived on the scene of the shooting at army officer, then lobbed a hand grenade But the day after the suspension of the the Motael church shortly after it happened, into the crowd, causing the Indonesian army Portuguese visit was announced, October condemned the military action and said of to open fire in self- defense. 27, the situation took a sudden turn for the the army, "They are treating our church like The Indonesian version, with numerous worse. A mass had taken place as usual that the enemy." variations depending on which government Sunday at the San Antonio church in the The Bishop later gave his own account of official or army officer is speaking, seems to Motael area of Dili, a church which had been the incident in a letter he sent to Portugal; be based on a single, detailed report used as a refuge by some activists since a his account is appended as Appendix 1. prepared shortly after the shooting took wave of arrests in October-November 1990. The November 12 massacre occurred place. Asia Watch has appended a transla- About midnight, according to one source, following a mass to commemorate a period tion of key excerpts from this report as the sound of motorcycles began to be heard; of 14 days after the funeral of Sebastiao Appendix 2. The report appears to be from by 1 a.m. on October 28, a group of Gomes Rangel who was buried in the Santa the perspective of someone who was gath- Timorese on motorcycles in civilian clothes Cruz cemetery on October 29. ering facts from subordinates; it is not an were riding by the church, throwing stones eyewitness account. We have obtained one and shouting insults. It was as if the church 3. The Massacre eyewitness account in a mixture of Tetun were under attack, according to one ob- All versions of the massacre more or less and Portuguese from an East Timorese, a server. Some of the youths living in the agree on the basic chronology of November member of the resistance, who took part in church went outside to fight the cyclists. A 12. At about 6 a.m. people began gathering the demonstration; the account has not been fight broke out, and shortly after 2 a.m., for a mass at the Motael Church which had made public. No soldier who was in the soldiers and police arrived, fully armed, then been announced over the radio. When the units which did the shooting has come reportedly opened fire and stormed the mass was over, they began to march down forward to say why the troops opened fire. church. One of the resistance activists, the street carrying pro-independence This leaves the only public sources as for- Sebastiao Gomes Rangel, 18, was shot dead banners and flags. When they reached the eign eyewitnesses, whom the Indonesian go- just outside the church. One of the men on district military command, it is not clear vernment has tried to discredit because they the other side, part of what one witness whether one group planned to turn toward were journalists traveling on tourist visas called the "assault force" on the church, was the Hotel Turismo where UN Special and therefore flouting Indonesian laws, and stabbed to death. His name was Afonso Rapporteur on Torture Pieter Kooijmans the anonymous official report which Henrique, 30, who was married with four was staying, but in any case, the way was reconstructs which troops moved where and children. At least two other participants in blocked by security forces and the marchers why. There is also the crucial visual the clash are said to have been seriously turned the corner to head for the Santa Cruz evidence in the form of a videotape shot by wounded when the military opened fire. cemetery. It was at this point that a scuffle Yorkshire television in the cemetery during The security forces then entered the took place between a small number of and just after the shooting. church and took away 40 youths for ques- demonstrators and security forces in which The original official account has been tioning. Of these, 18 were kept in custody two soldiers were stabbed. The marchers distorted as it is repeated by officials in- (no one from the "assault force" is known to proceeded on to the Santa Cruz cemetery to creasingly further in distance and rank from have been arrested and it is widely believed lay flowers on the grave of Sebastiao the soldiers who did the shooting. The East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 35 Dec. 10-16, 1991 ultimate distortion was Commander of the by a prominent Chinese financier) and at Second, none of the eyewitnesses can Armed Forces General Try Sutrisno's the old police station (Polwil Lama). recall hearing a single shot before the statement on November 27 before a par- The East Timorese who wrote down volley of gunfire started. If there were liamentary hearing: "It was a dangerous mob his account of the demonstration says such a shot, it is far more likely to have and forced the soldiers to take strong that he himself witnessed the stabbing of come from one of the hundreds of armed measures... [Foreign reports] said it was a the Timorese soldier. The incident took soldiers than from the crowd at the peaceful demonstration. What peaceful place in a scuffle in front of the district cemetery whom eyewitnesses attest had demonstration? It's bullshit...". military command (KODIM No.1627) as no firearms of any kind. The same If the original account is compared with security forces tried to take banners and Indonesian report, indeed, which men- eyewitness reports, however, it becomes posters away from a group of marchers. tions the shot, notes that it was impossi- clear that it is possible for many of the al- He says a "hot-blooded" demonstrator, ble to tell where it came from or who legations in the Indonesian version to be true angered by the soldier's actions as well as fired it. without in any way discrediting the by the fact that he was a Timorese The report of the hand grenade is also eyewitnesses or lessening the culpability of working for the Indonesian military, misleading. The official report says, "A the Indonesian army for excessive use of pulled a knife and stabbed him. hand grenade was thrown in the direction force, at best, or deliberate execution of We have as yet no eyewitness ac- of officials." It does not say where; the civilians, at worst. The Indonesian version counts for the stabbing of Major Gerhan, implication was that it was in the middle makes the following points: but the Indonesian account charges that it of the crowd by the cemetery. But a. The demonstration was planned by GPK took place in the same scuffle. A local according to the Associated Press, (the Indonesian acronym for "gang of government official in East Timor was Bishop Belo in a letter on November 18 security disturbers", a catch-all phrase quoted in the Jakarta newsweekly Editor indicates that someone lobbed a grenade for independence supporters) to take as saying Gerhan was stabbed only after at the local police station, not in the place during a visit by Portuguese par- he slapped a woman marcher. An official midst of troops at the cemetery. There liamentarians scheduled for November 4. account, published in the newspaper have been no other reports to When the visit was "suspended" by the Jayakarta, noted that the officer was substantiate the grenade-throwing at all. Portuguese government, activists decided wearing civilian clothes at the time, Certainly the Indonesian version does not to focus the demonstration around the suggesting he may have been in justify the army's plea of self-defense. visit of Kooijmans and used a memorial intelligence. Even if the Indonesian The Indonesian version has become mass for Sebastiao Gomes as the pretext. account is accurate, these knifings took wildly distorted in subsequent state- On this point, the Indonesian inter- place almost an hour before the troops ments by officials, however. The army pretation seems largely correct. Sources opened fire and in a very different part of spokesman, Brig. Gen. Nurhadi in Dili confirm that the demonstration Dili. (The Indonesian report says the Purwosaputro was quoted in the was planned for the Portuguese visit, that stabbing occured at 7:20, the shootings at November 23 issue of Tempo as saying young people had gone to great risk to 8:10). The troops present when the firing of the demonstrators, "They just charged make banners and other preparations, and started were from different military units like that, throwing grenades." And a that elements of Fretilin were involved in than Major Gerhan, and it is not even statement issued by the Indonesian the reorganizing of the protest for clear that they knew about the stabbing. embassy in Washington, DC on November 12 to coincide with the visit of If they did not, then the knifing cannot November 17 says, "Instead of re- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, have "provoked" them to shoot; if they sponding positively to the appeal [no Pieter Kooijmans. It is also clear that did know and they deliberately opened indication of what appeal] and persua- large numbers of East Timorese took part fire in retaliation, then shooting on the sion of the police and security officers, of their own volition, especially as the crowd is not so much responding to the crowd became even more violent and mass for Gomes was announced over the provocation as wreaking vengeance, and started to attack the police and security radio, according to Governor Mario the deaths are still wholly inexcusable. officers, resulting in the death of a Carrascalao in an interview with c. When troop reinforcements arrived at the security officer." No such death occurred. Kompas, the Jakarta daily, on November cemetery and some of the thousands Another explanation for why the 16 as well as other sources. gathered there tried to run out, a stray troops opened fire, quickly abandoned It may have indeed been disingenuous shot rang out and someone lobbed a hand by officials perhaps because it acknowl- for some press accounts to suggest, as grenade that did not explode into the edged fallibility, was that a junior officer some did, that the march was nothing crowd. The army was convinced it was shouted "Don't shoot," and the order was more than an outpouring of sympathy under attack and opened fire. misinterpreted for its opposite. "It was a for a youth killed by Indonesian forces First, if the army command knew its misunderstanding by the soldiers, and two weeks earlier. But whether the march troops would be confronting thousands they shot because of the tension," was planned long in advance or not, of people they wished to disperse, they General Warouw was quoted as saying. whether Fretilin had any role in or- should have been equipped with tear gas, He said at the same time that there would ganizing it, is ultimately irrelevant to the not guns. There have been enough be no courts martial. Such a "mistake" use of force by Indonesian troops. The demonstrations in East Timor in recent would at least explain why eyewitnesses only relevant question is whether the years, and enough expectation of a major reported the methodical way in which the marchers posed a security threat to one during the Portuguese parliamentary troops took aim and fired, at odds with a Indonesian troops, and as will be seen visit, that a supply of non-lethal methods situation of mayhem or pandemonium below, there is no evidence to suggest of crowd control should have been an that might lead a trigger-happy soldier to they did. elementary precaution. Since the shoot. The alternative, of course, is that b. The brutality of the marchers and their Indonesian report acknowledges that someone very deliberately gave orders to violent intent was demonstrated when officials believed such a mass shoot to kill. they stabbed Major Gerhan Lantara, demonstration was planned, the fact that One question is why the firing ap- deputy commander of Battalion 700 and they sent troops with guns shows either parently went on for so long. General an East Timorese soldier, Private a deliberate decision to use force or Warouw, in an interview on November Dominggus. They also threw stones at incompetence of the highest order. 19, acknowledged that the soldiers could the Dili branch of Bank Summa (owned have fired for up to ten minutes but said East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 36 Dec. 10-16, 1991

he did not think ten minutes was too commander of Sector C troops, Binsar Cruz cemetery than the military hospi- long. Aruan, would be changed. The newsweekly tal.) They were then able to visit 89 pa- d. Various weapons, including three hand Tempo on December 7 also reported that tients and speak to 32 in private. In a grenades, a Mauser pistol and a shotgun Battalion 700 from Ujung Pandang, blatant untruth, General Try Sutrisno were found in the cemetery, indicating Sulawesi, had returned to barracks. told a group of 30 editors summoned to the Defense Ministry to discuss report- the crowd was armed. 6. The Immediate Aftermath Weapons are easy to plant, and there ing on East Timor that the ICRC had no No explanation, however questionable, difficulties visiting the victims of the has been no evidence brought forward about how or why the shooting started can thus far by the Indonesian government to November 12 incident. The ICRC, adequately justify what happened in the af- however, reportedly continued to en- indicate when or by whom the guns and termath of the killings: grenades were left in the cemetery, if counter obstructions and restrictions -- the Yorkshire videotape clearly shows even after November 25. indeed they were. But even if Indonesian soldiers in green fatigues bending over soldiers searching the cemetery after the -- There is a strong likelihood of further ar- and beating people with sticks and rifle rests. General Warouw was quoted by massacre did find the arms, one could not butts. conclude that therefore the marchers Associated Press as saying, "Quite a lot intended violence or that it was not a -- by the Indonesian government's own es- of wounded would be questioned as soon peaceful march. The shooting took place timate, some 300 people were arrested as they are well in order for us to before the arms were found; there can be immediately after the shootings. All ac- determine whether they are involved in no justification for opening fire based on counts, including that of Governor the incident or not." what was found after the killings had Carrascalao, say people were rounded up -- traces of the shootings at the cemetery already taken place. in trucks; an Asia Watch source says that were reportedly cleaned up almost im- people were taken to the district and mediately, making it difficult for any 5. Troop Movements regional police commands and the investigative team to determine the exact From the Indonesian account, it is clear regional and district military commands circumstances of the killing. that there were security forces already sta- (Polres, Polwil, Korem and Kodim). So tioned at Santa Cruz cemetery. As the many people were arrested that according 7. The Death Toll crowd grew larger, reinforcements were to one report, the wounded were fearful The Indonesian figure given in the original called in, with one platoon from the mobile of seeking medical treatment for fear it report which Asia Watch obtained was 20 police brigade (Brimob) and one company would lead to arrest. One man inter- dead and 91 wounded. That seemed to have each from army battalions 303 and 744, viewed was in a group of some 200 taken been based on a hasty, on-the-spot both combat units normally stationed out- to the West Dili police station (Polres assessment which was never updated to in- side Dili. One interesting question is who Comorro) and held until 19:00 when the clude those who died of their wounds. It ordered that those reinforcements be sent in, village head came to identify him. Others was later amended to 19, far below inde- since according to the Indonesian account, were held for almost two weeks at the pendent estimates ranging from 75 to over they were not called until 7:50, by which Polwil; the Indonesian government says 200. time General Warouw was presumably 42 remain in detention at the Polwil and The East Timorese account gives at least already in his meeting with Professor KODIM. Asia Watch is concerned for one plausible explanation for how the figure Kooijmans. the welfare of all those in custody in 19 was arrived at. He says 19 bodies were According to eyewitness accounts, there connection with the demonstration, as buried in Hera, the area on the northeastern were hundreds of armed troops following torture during interrogation is routinely shore of Dili, on November 13 and 14, behind the marchers. It was after the practiced by Indonesian security forces. including Kamal Bamadhaj, the New marchers were already at the cemetery that -- roadblocks set up by the military pre- Zealand citizen who was killed. According the reinforcements arrived. The Brimob vented the wounded from reaching the to that account, 13 bodies including those of troops arrived in two open vans; they car- hospital in time. It reportedly took the two women were buried on November 13 ried batons and riot shields but not guns. ICRC vehicle carrying the severely and five, including those of Kamal, one The two army companies, however, were wounded New Zealand citizen, Kamal woman and four men, the following day. It not only armed, but the names on their Bamadhaj, some 20 minutes to get to a may be that there are only 19 bodies the jackets were covered over, according to one hospital in what should have been a five army can readily account for, having, ac- source. They were reportedly followed by minute trip, because of these barricades. cording to still unconfirmed reports, an open van filled with a "garnezun" or -- bodies of the dead were apparently bur- dumped others near Tasitolu on the north- garrison patrol --that is, soldiers stationed in ied immediately without attempts to western shore and in the Faiduma area of a the local KODIM -- in camouflage uniforms, identify the dead or inform the families. village called Tibar. The latter site was vis- white helmets and yellow shoulder insignia. Families in some cases were afraid to ask ited by an Australian journalist, Dennis It was this last group which opened fire, about their relatives for fear of being Schultz. according to one account Asia Watch arrested and interrogated themselves. To Maj. Gen. Sintong Panjaitan, commander received, and the other troops, including our knowledge, no final list of the dead of the Ninth Regional Command from Battalion 303, joined in. More has been compiled, and many families are (IX/Udayana) said that those who died were investigation is needed, however, to unaware of the fate of their relatives. buried in a religious ceremony in Hera after determine conclusively who fired first. -- despite repeated requests, the ICRC was families had been given the chance to view In late November, General Try Sutrisno not able to hold confidential interviews the bodies for three hours prior to burial. ordered Battalion 303 immediately with- with prisoners or the wounded in the This statement both lends credibility to the drawn from Dili but said the withdrawal Wirahusada military hospital in Lahane East Timorese account and tends to should not be construed as wrongdoing. until November 25, almost two weeks strengthen the possibility that the official Battalion 303, from the Army Strategic after the shooting. (All of the wounded death toll reflects only those victims who Reserve Command (KOSTRAD), was said who sought treatment at the civilian could be identified before burial. to consist of 544 persons altogether. It was hospital, Toko Baru, immediately after Asia Watch has been unable to verify responsible for territorial operations in the shooting were forcibly transferred to reports of subsequent killings by Indonesian Sector C of East Timor, encompassing the the military hospital. The Toko Baru troops in the first two weeks after the city of Dili. It was also announced that the hospital was much closer to the Santa massacre. There were widespread reports East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 37 Dec. 10-16, 1991 of executions of witnesses to the massacres wholly identified with the government; by version of events. Thus, the head of on November 15, 17 and 18 and thereafter no stretch of the imagination could they be information for the Ninth Regional into early December. One source says that called independent. The team arrived in Dili Command (Kodam IX/Udayana), Lt.Col. 40 people were taken by soldiers from on Saturday, November 29, but East Anton Tompodung, told reports, "They battalions 700 and 744 from the place where Timorese were reportedly fearful of coming started it. One hundred GPK came down they were detained and shot at Alto de forward to give information. from the jungle with arms, including G-3s, Comorro, a flat, dry riverbed area some nine knives and so on. They began to oppose the miles west of Dili. The source, however, did 9. Domestic Reaction military. The army tried persuasive methods not witness the killings and has no names of There was a striking contrast in reactions such as urging them to surrender. But they those allegedly killed. Another report, also to the killings between Indonesian officials responded with shots and throwing unconfirmed, said that seven people were and non-governmental bodies in Indonesia grenades. After seeing their own comrades shot dead on November 18 in Dili, including on the one hand, and between officials in fall, security forces were forced to respond Maria Castro, 35; Maria Fatima, 19; Jakarta and the governor of East Timor, with guns, killing dozens of GPK." Just as Gaspar, a one-year-old child; Joao Soares, 4; Mario Carrascalao, on the other. the word peristiwa or "incident" became the Terezita, 16; Ines de Silva Soares, 30; and In an extraordinary interview published operative government term instead of Liberto Mendes, 17. Yet another killing of in the daily Kompas on November 16 "massacre" to describe November 12, the 10 people was reported on November 18. (extraordinary for the honesty of the feel- adjective quickly adopted by all official These reports and others remain ings as well as the fact that Kompas pub- spokesmen to describe the demonstrators unconfirmed, but they appear to be widely lished the interview at all), Carrascalao, said, became brutal. The army seemed more out believed in Dili, contributing to the "Maybe it was our fault. Those who are for vengeance than for finding out the truth; atmosphere of fear. It is imperative that an against us were in fact able to touch the Reuters quoted Major Sintong Panjaitan as independent investigation, not linked in any hearts of many people -- this is the crux of warning that now in East Timor, the army's way to the Indonesian government or the problem...If before people slept with "Operation Smile" would be replaced by military, which includes experienced knives to protect themselves from those "Operation Combat". forensic specialists, be sent to East Timor to working against us, now they defend them- Rather than acknowledging, as investigate allegations of executions, to selves against us... Carrascalao did, that actions of the excavate reported mass gravesites and to We need a special approach now, because Indonesian government and military might conduct exhumations as necessary. the Timorese value justice so highly. All have caused the problem, the official reac- guilty parties must be disciplined...People tion was stout defense of past and present 8. Investigations must see that we are being just and honest, policies. According to Minister of the On November 14, following a cabinet- the guilty must be called guilty, the innocent Interior Rudini, for example, it was wrong to level meeting led by Coordinating Minister innocent. Anyone who has done wrong, say that the November 12 incident was for Politics and Security Admiral Sudomo, it anyone, must be punished. We cannot any caused by enmity between ABRI (the armed was announced that a military team led by longer play God...We must be courageous to forces) and the people, because the army Maj.Gen. Arie Sudewo, deputy director of face the mistakes we have made and honest was very close to the people. Lessons the intelligence agency, BAIS, would enough to admit our faults, so that we keep drawn from the incident by members of the undertake an investigation. Sudomo prom- the trust of the people. Indonesian parliament such as Imron ised the results would be made public, and The [military] preparations prior to the Rosyadi or Clementino dos Reis Amaral, a there was no need to convey them via the Portuguese visit cancelled out any positive pro-Indonesia deputy from East Timor, United Nations or any other international inroads the army might have made before were that the Indonesians had failed to give body because the incident was an internal then. In the last two or three months, peo- sufficient "guidance" to the East Timorese affair. ple in the cities have felt unhappy, so much or that those involved in the demonstration When it was clear that a military inves- so that a strange thing happened. As the were too young to understand how far East tigation would not be enough to satisfy in- Portuguese visit approached, the people Timor had progressed under Indonesian rule. ternational demands for an impartial inquiry were no longer afraid of Fretilin; they were Finally, the government lashed out at the into the killings, President Suharto on afraid of us. We have to understand why, foreign press, and the lashing became November 18 ordered the establishment of and find the proper medicine to cure it. harsher as time went on. Initially, the reac- another investigating team through We must be honest and fair in facing this tion was just a distinct lack of sympathy -- Presidential Decree No.53/1991 on the situation; we must ask the forgiveness of if they got hurt, it was their own fault, since Formation of a National Commission of innocent families. We won't ask the pardon they never should have been posing as Inquiry into the November 12 Incident in of GPK [Fretilin] because they are our journalists on tourist visas. Gradually the East Timor. Supreme Court Justice M. enemies. But to their families, who are criticism became much more pointed. The Djaelani, a former military judge, was ap- innocent, who unwittingly became victims, videotape shown on Yorkshire television pointed to head the panel. Other members we must beg their forgiveness." constituted propaganda, said General Try, are Drs. Ben Mang Reng Say, vice-chairman Carrascalao offered to resign if he is un- filmed to fit a scenario that had already been of the Supreme Advisory Council (Dewan satisfied with the findings of the National sketched out. Moreover, the five foreign Pertimbangan Agung); Clementino Dos Reis Commission. His honesty and frankness, journalists present in Dili on November 12 Amaral, a member of the national parliament which led to his being called in for nine made the whole incident suspicious. "It's from East Timor; Harisugiman, Director hours of discussions with General Try not impossible that they themselves were General for Social and Political Affairs of Sutrisno on November 20, stand in stark involved or used by anti-Indonesian ele- the Ministry of the Interior; Hadi Wayarabi, contrast to the belligerent tone taken by ments to spread tendentious stories and Director of International Organiations in the Indonesian officials in Jakarta. The gov- sway world opinion for political reasons." Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Anton Suyata, ernment spin on events of November 12 had But outside the government, the enor- SH, Inspector in the Ministry of Justice and three points: the demonstrators were mity of what happened in East Timor reg- Rear Admiral Sumitro, Armed Forces responsible for the incident, there were no istered with Indonesian individuals and or- Inspector General. No time limit was set for fundamental problems in East Timor, and ganizations in a way that no incident in the the completion of the investigation, but the foreign journalists present in Dili at the territory had since the invasion in 1975. The Judge Jaelani assured reporters that the time were there illegally and interested only Legal Aid Institute in Jakarta, the country's commission's conclusions would be made in propaganda. Officials distorted basic in- largest human rights organization, began public. All members of the commission were formation to further the propagation of that issuing a series of press statements, East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 38 Dec. 10-16, 1991 demanding an investigation, and sent a staff against Indonesia and possibly economic BAKORSTANAS, on November 20 and for member to investigate. The moderate sanctions as well. several days thereafter, although they were opposition group, the Petition of 50, allowed to return home each night. The criticized the behavior of government troops 10. Demonstrations and Arrests questioning initially focused on the role of and noted the similarity between what had Consistent with the government effort to the two men in the demonstration but happened in East Timor in November with blame the demonstrators, security forces shifted to an examination of the full range of what happened at Jakarta's port area of proceeded to arrest East Timorese outside their human rights activities. Indro Tjahjono Tanjung Priok in September 1984 when East Timor who protested the November 12 was asked about transcripts of telephone army troops opened fire on a Muslim killings. Seventy East Timorese students conversations he had had from the demonstration, with an official death toll of were arrested on November 19 after a march INFIGHT office, clearly indicating that all 30 and unofficial estimates far higher. (No in Jakarta. The students, from universities calls in and out had been monitored. investigation was ever conducted into those all over Java and Bali, had gathered at about Government actions in arresting the 70 killings, and members of the Petition of 50 10:30 a.m. in front of a United Nations East Timorese marchers on November 19 group who called for one were prosecuted building in central Jakarta, and marched were put in perspective by the treatment on subversion charges.) passed the embassies of the Soviet Union, accorded several pro-government demon- The Indonesian Catholic Bishops' Japan, Britain and Australia, under the strations in subsequent days. Some 50-60 Conference of Indonesia issued a short watchful eyes of security forces. members of the Indonesian National Youth statement on November 14 that it was going They carried banners, some of them with Organization (KNPI) held gathered in front to study the situation in Dili but then slogans such as THE MASS MURDER ON of the Australian embassy on November 20, almost immediately sent two separate NOVEMBER 12 WAS ONLY A SMALL carrying posters protesting anti-Indonesia delegations there to talk with members of PART OF THE MASS MURDER demonstrations in front of the Indonesian the Church and others. The Bishop's CARRIED OUT FOR THE LAST 16 embassy in Canberra. And on November 22, Conference, known by its Indonesian acro- YEARS; INDEPENDENCE IS THE a government-organized crowd variously nym KWI, has been by and large a conser- RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLES, WHERE ARE estimated at 80 and 200, representing vative voice in Indonesia; it is all the more OUR RIGHTS?; BETTER DEATH THAN different youth organizations, marched in important, then, that it produced such a INTEGRATION; and WHERE ARE THE front of the Australian embassy. No one in strong statement following the two visits. CORPSES? these demonstrations was arrested or in any The statement of November 28 noted that Shortly after noon, in front of the Hotel way harassed. the data obtained by its delegates was far Indonesia, security forces broke up the East Timorese students were also ar- different than the official data: demonstration with force, loaded the dem- rested in Bali. One of them was Fernando "For example, many families do not onstrators on to a truck and took them Araujo. About 7:00 on Sunday morning, know whether their husbands, brothers or away. November 24, one of his housemates children are alive or dead because many The Indonesian government initially opened the door to leave for church, and people are still being treated in the military denied that anyone was detained. It was not military intelligence agents in civilian clothes hospital and they are not allowed to receive until November 27, over a week later, that rushed in. Four students living in the house any visits. No one knows where the graves the government acknowledged the de- and two friends were arrested and taken of those who died are. Some say that the tentions, releasing 49 and keeping 21 others away in four vans by some 30 men, treatment of the corpses taken away by in custody. They were expected to be according to one account. The agents trucks was inhumane in the extreme -- they charged under Article 154 and 155 of the searched the house and confiscated were just picked up and thrown into the Criminal Code, spreading feelings of hatred Fernando's diary, notes, photo albums and back of the trucks. Families were not told or enmity toward the government, which some videotapes. Four of the six, Fernando when the burials took place. Nor is it known carries a maximum penalty of seven years. Araujo, Clemente Soares, Antonio Martus whether the burials were accompanied by The names of the 21 are listed in Appendix and Domingus Bossa were still in incom- any religious ceremony. As for the number 3; as of early December,they were still municado detention as of early December; who died, some say three truckloads, some detained at the Metropolitan Jakarta Police Jose Paulo and Joaquin de Costa were re- say more than 100 people. The identities of Station on Thamrin Avenue in Jakarta and leased after questioning. All were reportedly those who died is not known; it is thought had not been allowed access to counsel or asked to sign statements that they do not some were Fretilin, some were provo- family. Police said they were being support Fretilin. The four still in custody cateurs, and some were the faithful who "intensively interrogated" -- a phrase which are apparently suspected of anti-gov- came on the basis of the radio announcement can often indicate physical abuse or torture. ernment activities and may be charged under aired beforehand. Many people ask why the The youth suspected of being one of the the same Article 154 as the students in armed forces open fire, with so many leaders of the demonstration, Joao Freitas Jakarta. Some 270 East Timorese are casualties, when the shooting took place at Camaro, was being kept in isolation from studying in Bali, most of them strong na- the Santa Cruz cemetery, far from the place the others. According to the Legal Institute tionalists. where the two soldiers were stabbed. If in Foundation, he had not had a change of Arrests of East Timorese also took place fact the purpose was to defend themselves, clothes or soap since he was arrested, and in Yogyakarta. was it necessary that the death toll be so no one had been able to go into his house to high?" get additional clothing for him as security 11. International Reaction Indonesian university students from all forces had prevented anyone from entering The international reaction to the Dili over Java attending a meeting of student it. massacre was one of outrage over the kill- senates at Parahiangan University in In addition to those arrested in the ings and concern for the East Timorese, but Bandung on November 20-21 also issued a November 19 demonstration, two leading with a few exceptions, governments and statement condemning the killings, urging human rights activists in Jakarta were called governmental organizations by mid- that the National Commission of Inquiry be in for interrogation on charges of having December had not backed up their anger dissolved because of its lack of inde- helped organize it. H.J.C. Princen, director with concrete measures. pendence, and demanding the release of the of the Institute for the Defense of Human The United Nations East Timorese students detained during a Rights, and Indro Tjahjono of the Outgoing UN Secretary General Javier protest march in Jakarta on November 20 organization called INFIGHT, were Perez de Cuellar quickly issued a statement (see below.) The student statement also "invited" for eight hours of questioning by regretting the loss of life and said he had called for the imposition of an arms embargo the internal security apparatus, East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 39 Dec. 10-16, 1991 asked for a report from Pieter Kooijmans, nomic aid to the human rights situation in Resolutions condemning the killings the Special Rapporteur appointed by the countries receiving that aid. passed both houses of Congress. The Senate UN Human Rights Commission who was in Bilateral European actions version, Concurrent Resolution 77 passed Dili when the killings occurred. On Strong protests came from most West on November 21, called for a reassessment November 30, Perez de Cuellar told jour- European capitals. The Netherlands on of a military training program known as nalists in Portugal that he was sending a November 21 decided to postpone all new IMET or International Military Education special envoy to "negotiate conditions for a development assistance in the strongest and Training to "ensure that these training UN mission to visit East Timor," according unilateral action taken by any country to programs are advancing effectively human to a November 30 report from Reuters. date. Foreign Minister Hans van den Broek rights." The $1.9 million program under the Amos Wako, the Kenyan Attorney-General said he would consider asking the UN to Foreign Assistance Act is used for training who is concurrently the Special Rapporteur conduct an international investigation into senior Indonesian military officers. The on Summary and Arbitrary Executions, was the killings. Sweden, Norway and Denmark Senate also called for the US to seek a initially designated as the envoy, but pre- made official protests via the Indonesian resolution in the United Nations General vious commitments on Wako's part, and ambassadors in their respective countries Assembly instructing the UN Commission obstacles reportedly raised by the and had their own ambassadors in Jakarta on Human Rights to appoint a Special Indonesian military, had by mid-December deliver the same message to Indonesian Rapporteur on East Timor "to assist in the delayed this "mission to negotiate a mis- officials on November 25. Portuguese resolution of the East Timorese conflict in sion." President Mario Soares strongly denounced pursuit of the right of self-determination by The European Community the killings on November 12 and as of mid- the East Timorese people." The House Foreign ministers of the EC, meeting in December was continuing to press the EC to version, Concurrent Resolution 240, passed the Netherlands, issued a statement con- send an independent investigating mission to on November 23, called for the provision of demning the killings on November 13, the East Timor. The British government was IMET to be "contingent on the government same day the news reached Europe. In more cautious, saying it would look into of Indonesia conducting a thorough and im- Brussels, the European Parliament on how humanitarian aid might be provided for partial investigation" of the killings. Both November 21 adopted a resolution by a vote the East Timorese people but that any arms versions call on the US to work with the of 167 for, seven against and four ab- embargo "would be neither appropriate nor UN, Indonesia and Portugal to "develop stentions, condemning the "brutal murder of effective." policies to address the underlying causes of theses latest victims of Indonesia's illegal the conflict in East Timor." State Japan Department spokesman Richard Boucher, occupation of East Timor", urging Japan, in an unprecedented move, sent prosecution of those resonsible, and asking however, said that IMET should be contin- two diplomats from the embassy in Jakarta ued because it can "contribute to the pro- for the release of all those detained for non- to East Timor on November 14 to "get the violent political activity and that they be fessionalism of the military and expose it to facts straight." They returned on November democratic and humanitarian standards." granted full access to lawyers, family and 21 saying their visit was "inconclusive," and doctors while in detention. The resolution, On November 25, 51 US Senators joined that it was unclear who provoked the Wyoming Senator Malcolm Wallop in which is not binding on governments, also massacre. However, a government called for the EC and the United Nations to writing a letter to President George Bush, spokesman suggested that Japan, too, might urging the US government to take a stronger declare an embargo on the sales of weapons link its huge aid program to Indonesia to the to Indonesia and for a review of cooperation stand on East Timor, particularly in light of results of the government-appointed reports of continuing repression. agreements between Indonesia on the one National Commission of Inquiry. Japan is hand, and the EC and member states on the Indonesia's largest donor, having given some Canada other. $867 million in Official Development Canada's Secretary of State for External On November 25, the Parliamentary Assistance in 1990. Affairs, Barbara McDougall, announced af- Assembly of the Council of Europe passed ter the massacre that Canada's $52 million Order No.470, demanding that the The United States aid program would be reviewed. The State Department called the Indonesian government "withdraw the Australia armed forces from the territory of East Indonesian ambassador, Abdul Rachman Ramly, in to express deep concern over the Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke Timor so that the governing authority can strongly condemned the massacre and called fulfil the mandate recognised by the United killings and sent a team to Dili on November 15 which included the Washington-based for a full, genuine and open inquiry and the Nations and create the political conditions punishment of those responsible. In a necessary for the free exercise of the right to desk officer for Indonesia in the State Department as well as embassy officials in policy shift, he threatened to review self- determination." The Council order Indonesian-Australian relations of the supported the call for a "detailed, impartial Jakarta. The team returned on November 17, having concluded that the death toll was Indonesian investigation did not address the and internationally supervised inquiry" into concerns of the international community. the killings and called for an arms embargo closer to the 75-100 range than to the 19 claimed by the Indonesian government. Foreign Ministery Gareth Evans is going to to Indonesia and suspension of all military Jakarta on December 19-20 with the specific support for Indonesia." On November 18, five leading members of the House of Representatives' Foreign brief of explaining Australia's concerns over On December 2, at an informal meeting of any investigation. As well as calling for the the EC foreign ministers in Brussels, the Affairs Committee sent a letter to Ambassador Ramly, expressing concern establishment of a consulate in Dili, Hawke ministers issued a declaration calling for a said that the Indonesians had to hold talks "thorough and credible investigation by about the "excessive, indiscriminate and highly disproportionate" use of lethal force with the Timorese including the resistance, impartial and independent experts" and said and that there should be United Nations in- the review of economic cooperation urged by the Indonesian military both on November 12 and on October 28. The letter volvement in the search for a resolution to by the European Parliament would take the conflict. place. They also reiterated their support for applauded the appointment of a "non- a "just, comprehensive and internationally military investigating commission" and Guinea-Bissau acceptable settlement of the East Timor called for the prosecution of those respon- The President of Guinea-Bissau an- issue." Such a review would be in line with a sible and the release of those arrested for nounced on December 5 that he would policy adopted on November 28 to link eco- participating in the November 12 demon- speak out on East Timor during the stration. Organization of the Islamic Conference East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 40 Dec. 10-16, 1991 summit meeting in Senegal beginning the 7. All persons detained after November 12 the streets, with an occasional late following week. for participation in peaceful demonstra- member of the civilian population. tions to protest the killings, such as the 12. Recommendations 6. In the early hours of 28 October, a group East Timorese students arrested in Bali, of individuals on motor-cycles began to 1. All those countries which have expressed Yogyakarta and Jakarta, should be im- circle the perimeter of the Presbytery and concern over the killings, including the mediately and unconditionally released. the Church of Motael, shouting abuse. United States, Australia, the European 8. Concerned governments, including the This time, from mere words they moved Community, Canada, Japan, the Nordic US, should work together at the to action, throwing stones against the countries, Venezuela, Guinea Bissau, Commission on Human Rights meeting in front of the Church and at the side Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique and February 1992 in Geneva to support the known as "Taman Mini", and entering others should join forces to press for a appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the grounds of the Church. Physical genuinely independent inquiry which East Timor. contact was inevitable (2 a.m.). would meet the standards set forth in the Meanwhile, a number of individuals with "Principles on the Effective Prevention APPENDIX 1:BISHOP BELO'S pistols drawn began to advance, coming and Investigation of Extra-Legal ACCOUNT OF THE 28 OCTOBER from the beach and entering the front Arbitrary and Summary Executions" INCIDENT door of the Church, where the young adopted in May 1989 by the United man, Sebastiao, was killed, riddled with Nations Economic and Social Council. The following is an unabridged transla- bullets he was found dead some 18 The investigation should be an tion from Portuguese of Bishop Belo's metres from the door of the wall of the international one and include trained, statement: Church, on the verge of the other side of experienced specialists in forensic Diocese of Dili Diocesan Secretariat Jl the road. The other victim, Afonso, was pathology and human rights Governador Alves Aldeia 25 Dili, Timor some 23 metres distant from the corpse investigations, as well as people who can Timur of Sebastiao. Following the signs of speak Portuguese and Tetun. OFFICIAL STATEMENT blood on the road, a pool of blood was 2. To ensure that a proper, thorough inves- found some 57 metres from Afonso's tigation takes place, all suppliers of mil- As the public is aware, on the 28 October body, killed by stabbings and wounded itary aid and training to Indonesia should on the TVRI broadcast "DUNIA DALAM with a blunt instrument. suspend that assistance until the results BERITA", the official news was given concerning the lamentable events of the 7. Later on in the morning (6 a.m.), the of the investigation are concluded; if the police proceeded to search the residence investigation concludes that particular early morning of 28 October 1991, within the Motael Church and surroundings, which, of the Parish priest, in adjacent property military units were responsible, the (the parish polyclinic, office and hall and assistance should remain suspended until for the good of the Church and for the Timorese People, must not be repeated. the house of the parish domestic staff the commanders responsible for those where the youths were gathered); the units are prosecuted. For the most part, the points made in this official communique, widely reproduced search inside the Church was only carried 3. The Indonesian government must ac- throughout the press (Angkatan Bersenjata, out after eight in the morning with the knowledge the inaccuracy of its first Kompas, Jawa Pos, Surya, Suara Jawa authorisation of the Bishop, who death toll and ensure that a list of all Timur...) seem to be attempting to make the accompanied the policemen who were those killed, detained and receiving ends justify the means. allowed to enter, in a number no more treatment in government hospitals is In these terms, the following should be than four. immediately compiled in a central regis- known: 8. During these Searches were found anti- try to which families, lawyers and others 1. Since November 1991, a group of youths Indonesia pamphlets, Fretilin and can have access. When a final list of those took refuge in the premises of the Portuguese flags, as well as some objects killed is compiled, families of the dead Presbytery of Motael, on the basis of (knives, sticks and iron bars) in the house should receive compensation. personal security. of the domestic staff and outside of the 4. All military units involved in the East 2. Contacts were set up between the civil parish offices, but not inside the Church Timor killings should be disarmed until and military authorities and the Bishop as has been tendentiously broadcast. the results of an international investiga- Apostolic Administrator of Dili and the Within the Church three individuals were tion are completed, and any soldiers or Parish Priest of Motael, to seek a solu- captured - two in a corner of the Church units found to be responsible for the tion for the situation of these youths. and one in the tower - who had taken shootings and subsequent abuses should refuge there in the midst of the confusion. 3. The military authorities, especially, were be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the 9. Finally, after the Bishop spoke to the law. The commanders of those units determined that these young people should leave the Presbytery before the people who had gathered after hearing the should also be held accountable for the ringing of the Church bells (2 a.m.), actions of those under their command. visit of the Portuguese Parliamentarians and the delegation of the United Nations. everyone returned to their homes (9 a.m.) 5. All impediments to the work of ICRC going in groups to different areas, the should cease immediately, and ICRC 4. In these last weeks, and most intensely Bishop taking those who lived furthest staff should be given full and unhindered in the week of 21-26 October, culminat- away in his own car. Of those who access to prisons, military hospitals and ing in the attack in the early hours of 28 stayed, fifteen persons were handed over suspected places of detention on their October, there was a notable presence in to the police, who picked them up in a own terms. the area of individuals on motor-cycles truck. The people handed over to the keeping watch on the Presbytery, gener- police were eighteen in total: the other 6. Concerned governments should send of- ally after the "dead hours" of the city. ficials of their Jakarta embassies to Dili three were accompanied by the Parish on a frequent and regular basis to ensure 5. In this official statement we call "dead priest of Motael to the Police (POLRES), that the above recommendations are being hours" the time from midnight to four in more than an hour earlier. carried out and that the violence and the morning, when the city of Dili is These are the facts that the Diocese be- human rights abuses have ceased. A joint practically without life. Normally, be- lieves should be made known to the public. policy might be worked out so that there tween these hours, there are only police, Dili, 2 November 1991 Diocese of Dili was a constant diplomatic presence in military, information agents of INTEL in Signed Dili for the next three months. Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo SDB East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 41 Dec. 10-16, 1991

Titular Bishop of Lorium direction to evade security forces who CONCLUSIONS Apostolic Administrator of Dili were preventing the movement from reaching the Hotel Turismo. At that 21. The vist of the team of Professor Pieter APPENDIX 2: EXTRACT FROM point, the mob began to show its Kooijmans was successfully carried out FOREIGN MINISTRY REPORT brutality by throwing stones at people in accordance with his request ...... Excerpt from "Report on the Visit to who stood along the road and at nearby 26. With regard to the November 12 incident Indonesia of Professor Pieter H. Kooijmans, buildings. and the facts compiled, we can draw the Special Rapporteur on Questions Relevant to e. At 7.20, the crowd attacked two security following conclusions: Torture, UN Commission on Human officers, Major Gerhan Lantara (Deputy a. The GPK [acronym for security dis- Rights" Commander of Battalion 700) and Private turbers, a euphemism for Fretilin--tr] had planned this incident for the visit INCIDENT OF NOVEMBER 12 2nd Class Dominggus. They received stab wounds that were quite bad in the of the Portuguese Parliamentarians. 17. The incident broke out as members of chest, head and arm. The postponing of the visit caused the group were getting ready to go to a f. At 7.25, security forces received infor- great frustration among the GPK so meeting with the commander mation that about 2,000 people were they were searching around for another (pangkolakopskam) about 7:30-8. A gathered at the Santa Cruz cemetery. To target, including the team of short round of gunfire could be heard by prevent them from gathering strength, Kooijmans. the group when they were still in the ho- security forces sent one platoon of b. The GPK groups took advantage of re- tel Turismo, but there was no increased Brimob (mobile brigade police.) ligious activities as a tool for gathering activity of security forces or security g. At 7.40, the Brimob unit arrived at the crowds together who in fact for the disturbances either around the group or in most part were ordinary citizens who the city, and the meeting with the Santa Cruz graveyard to act as a barricade for the people advancing from the Motael were not guilty. The issues used by commander went as planned and en- the GPK to heat up feelings of the countered no hindrance whatsoever. Church. But they still moved forward, shouting and pushing until in order to people were: 18. At lunch, about 12:30, the commander avoid a confrontation, the forces had to -- Islamicization gave a short summary of what happened give way. The result was that the two -- Economic disparities between the to Professor Kooijmans. But it seemed massed mobs were able to join forces in local people and the newcomers Kooijmans couldn't understand the the Santa Cruz graveyard. translation clearly; over and over again he -- harassment/arrests/unjust treatment complained about the quality of the h. At about 7.50, the masses in the Santa by soldiers of the local people translation. Several times the Liaison Cruz cemetery reached 3,500, and were c. In truth, the incident happened as a re- Officers (consisting of members of the becoming more brutal. To prevent the sult of provocation by the demonstra- Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry and action from spilling over into other areas, tors in wounding the members of the BAIS, the intelligence agency) had to the security forces added two more armed forces who were on duty, caus- intervene to clear the atmosphere. companies, from Infantry Battalion 303 ing victims from their side. The warn- and Infantry Battalion 744. Seeing the ings given by security forces were not 19. At the dinner program at the official arrival of these additional forces, some of residence of the Governor, Kooijmans got obeyed, rather the GPK responded the group who were in the cemetery with shots and throwing a hand gre- a short summary of the incident from complex tried to run outside, where they Governor Carrascalao. nade. The threat posed to the safety of ran into the security forces. the security forces pushed them into 20. Based on the information that could be i. At 8.10 in the middle of the confusion, a take the necessary steps, in accordance compiled about the incident, the chro- shot was heard from a source that could with established procedures. nology unfolded as follows: not be determined together with move- d. the fact that foreigners were among the a. about 5:30, waves of youths could be ments and shouts to advance and attack victims was by and large their own seen heading toward the Motael Church, and grab the guns of security forces. A fault. Tourist visas are often used by Dili to attend a memorial mass for the grenade was thrown in the direction of them to enter Timor whereas in fact two victims of the October 28 incident, the troops but it didn't explode. Because they aren't ordinary tourists but foreign some walking, some using public vehi- the situation was getting out of hand, the journalists who are trying to carry out cles. seucirty forces were forced to fire their tasks surreptitiously. Surveillance b. To prevent any unwanted occurrence warning shots in the air but it didn't re- of "foreign tourists" in Eats Timor from taking place, security forces strain the mob, they kept moving for- must henceforth be tighter and if it is stepped up their city patrols, particu- ward. Facing this critical situation and proven that they are not ordinary tour- larly around the Motael Church at the with the goal of defending themselves, ists, they should be prevented from top, and in certain positions army units the troops were forced to fire on the enetering the territory (wilayah) of were placed to prevent the possibility of crowd. The result was that a number of East timor. a mass action which it was thought might victims fell and the final death toll was 20 e. the fact that ordinary people fell victim head toward the Hotel Turismo where dead including one New Zealand citizen was in fact desired by the GPK with Kooijmans was staying. of Malaysian origin and 91 wounded, in- the hope that this would diminish c. At 7 am, the mass in the Motael Church cluding a tourist from the United States sympathy among the people for the finished and a large proportion of the and 41 arrested. government of Indonseia, especially the participants in the mass, especially j. At 9.00 the situation in Dili was under armed forces, so as to keep the East youths totalling about 1,500 people control and after an investigation in the timor issue alive. poured out into the streets and lined up Santa Cruz cemetery, security forces 27. Recently the city of Dili has been used carrying banners, Fretilin flags and cloths found 1 G-3 rifle, 1 Mauser, 1 FN pistol frequently by the GPK as a focus for with the portrait of Xanana Gusmao and and four hand grenades. their anti-government activities, to the the Vatican flag. k. to determine the main perpetrators, a point that it can be said the GPK has d. When the demonstrators reached the preliminary investigation was conducted changed its guerrilla strategy from the KODIM 1617 (Dili District Command of and the suspects were turned over to the hills to the city, making GPK elements the military) around 7.15, they changed police for further investigation.. more difficult to detect. Most of their East Timor Document Collection, Volume 6. Page 42 Dec. 10-16, 1991

members are now intersperesed among 15. Joao Travolta Udayana, Den inhabitants of Dili which has a popula- Pasar tion of about 200,000. The change in 16. Agapito C. Udayana, Den strategy is the consquence of their set- Pasar backs suffered from military and territo- 17. Gregorio de Araujo LPPU, ITB, rial operations launched by the armed Bandung forces working together with the people. 18. Jose Maria Belo Polytechnic, ITB, 28. There is a tendency for the GPK to take Bandung advantage of visits by foreign guests to 19. Avelino Maria Satya Gama, create insecurity in the city and give the Jakarta impression that they have the support of 20. Mario Canecas Surabaya the people. 21. Egas Q. Monteiro 29. Based on the above, we suggested that Surabaya each visit of a foreign visitor to East As all 21 were arrested for peacefully Timor be carefully considered and un- exercising their rights to freedom of ex- dertaken selectively to prevent these pression and freedom of assembly, Asia visits from being used by elements of the Watch calls on the Indonesian government GPK to discredit the government both to release them immediately and uncondi- domestically and abroad. tionally. It also notes that the Indonesian government has violated domestic and in- 30. Visits should be handled by an interde- ternational law by preventing them from partmental team and visitors should be having access to counsel and family. accompanied by officials from each agency involved who are given the For More Information authority to take steps/decisions on the Sidney Jones (212) 972-8400 spot if the situation requires. Asia Watch was founded in 1985 to 31. With respect to the report of the team, monitor and promote internationally rec- Prof. Kooijmans said that the problems ognized human rights in Asia. The Chair is behind the outbreak of the November 12 Jack Greenberg and the Vice Chairs are incident would not be mentioned because Harriet Rabb and Orville Schell. The it was not within the mandate of the team Executive Director is Sidney Jones and the he led to do so. But given the fact that he Washington Director is Mike Jendrzejczyk. was there when the incident happened Asia Watch is part of Human Rights and there have already been several Watch, which also includes Africa Watch, arrests, Kooijmans will mention the Americas Watch, Helsinki Watch, Middle incident in general terms and exhort the East Watch and the Fund for Free government of Indonesia to investigate, Expression. The Chair of Human Rights respecting the human rights of the Watch is Robert L. Bernstein and the Vice suspects in accordance with domestic Chair is Adrian DeWind. Aryeh Neier is law. Executive Director and Kenneth Roth is Deputy Director. Holly Burkhalter is APPENDIX 3: EAST TIMORESE Washington Director. STUDENTS ARRESTED AFTER NOVEMBER 19 Those still detained are as follows: STUDENT UNIVERSITY 1. Joao Freitas Camara unknown 2. Benevides C. Barrol Satya Wacana, Salatiga 3. Domingos Barreto Atmajaya, Jakarta 4. Metodio Muniz Diponegoro, Semarang 5. Francisco Vasco Ramos Atmajaya, Jakarta 6. Joselius De Oliveira API, Yogyakarta 7. Sergio Dias Q Atmajaya, Jakarta 8. Judio da Costa IKIP Santa Dharma,Yogyakar ta 9. Antonio Lopez IPI, Malang 10. Virgilio Nat'l Inst. of Technology, Malang 11. Antonio Soares Malang 12. Felipe da Silva Ikopin, Bandung 13. Joao Sarmento Polytechnic, ITB, Bandung 14. Fausto Berhading IKOPIN, Bandung