ARTICLES ON EAST TIMOR MASSACRE FROM PEACENET AND ASSOCIATED NETWORKS

Volume 7: December 17, 1991 - January 4, 1992

For more information or additional copies (please enclose US$5. per volume to cover costs): Charles Scheiner, Box 1182, White Plains, NY 10602 USA Tel.914-428-7299. Fax.914-428-7383 email IGC:CSCHEINER or [email protected] Reprinting and distribution without permission is welcomed. This material is also available on IBM-compatible diskette, in either WinWord or ASCII format. Much of this material is supplied by Task Force Indonesia or TAPOL.

Table of Contents FINALLY KPN 'SURRENDERS' AND AGREES TO ANSWER JOURNALISTS...... 3 EAST TIMOR QUESTION IN BUNDESTAG...... 3 KILLINGS BREED ANTIPATHY IN EAST TIMOR...... 4 RESIDUE OF RESENTMENT ...... 4 NECESSARY CHANGES...... 4 'PROSPERITY APPROACH'...... 5 UNITARY STATE...... 5 FEW HEADLINES...... 5 HASN'T WORKED ...... 6 INDONESIA, AUSTRALIA HIT OVER OIL EXPLOITATION ACCORDS...... 6 'DISTURBING NGO' TRAVEL BAN?...... 6 FOREIGN FIRMS KEEN TO INVEST IN EAST TIMOR ...... 7 AUSTRIAN, GERMAN MPS TO VISIT INDONESIA...... 7 CARRASCALAO SAYS NO SECOND DECOLONISATION IN EAST TIMOR ...... 7 EAST TIMOR DEMONSTRATIONS BANNED ...... 7 TROCAIRE CALLS FOR [IRISH] GOVERNMENT ACTION ON EAST TIMOR...... 8 EAST TIMOR: WORKERS OCCUPY PAPAL MISSION TO PROTEST MASSACRE...... 8 CHANGE IN EAST TIMOR -- NOW OR NEVER...... 8 EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICO (LISBON) - 19 DEC 91...... 9 PORTUGESE PROTESTORS OCCUPY PAPAL NUNCIATURE...... 9 CARRASCALAO ON BODY COUNT...... 9 SOARES CHRISTMAS CARDS HIGHLIGHT TIMOR ...... 9 AD URGES PRESSURE ON EEC...... 10 FOREIGN PRESS MAY BE REPRIMANDED OVER REPORT ON DILI...... 10 GARETH EVANS ARRIVES IN JAKARTA...... 10 EVANS, ALATAS MUM...... 10 POPE'S TIMOR 'STAND' UNCHANGED ...... 10 FIRST TIMORESE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT...... 11 THE 12 NOVEMBER MASSACRE AT SANTA CRUZ CEMETERY...... 11 WHY HAD THIS HAPPENED?...... 11 THIS IS HOW THE FIRST MASSACRE ENDED...... 11 INDONESIAN BISHOPS CONCERNED, OFFER HELP ON EAST TIMOR ...... 12 BISHOPS PLEAD FOR TIMORESE CLEMENCY...... 12 CHOFU CITY: 'LEAVE TIMOR'...... 13 BUSH 'CONVERSATIONS' ...... 13 EVANS REMARKS...... 13 EVANS ENDS INDONESIA VISIT ...... 13 'FRIEND' EVANS TREATED LIKE AN ENEMY...... 13 233 FRENCH STUDENTS SEND OPEN LETTER TO FOREIGN MINISTER ...... 14 EAST TIMOR JAPAN SPEAKING TOUR 1991...... 14 FROM TIANANMEN TO TIMOR...... 14 WHY INDONESIA MAY WANT TO LISTEN TO OUTSIDERS...... 14 THE POWER OF THE FOREIGN PURSE...... 15 East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 2 Dec 17,1991 - Jan 4, 1992

BBC SPEAKS TO EYEWITNESSES...... 15 ON THE MASSACRE IN SANTA CRUZ, DILI, OCCUPIED EAST TIMOR...... 15 ITEMS FROM PUBLICO 23 DEC...... 16 TIMORESE PRIEST DETAINED ...... 16 HIGH LEVEL TIMOR DETENTIONS...... 16 FOUR TIMORESE DETAINEES IN BALI SEVERELY TORTURED ...... 16 'EVERYONE THERE IS VERY TRAUMATISED' SAYS PAPAL ENVOY...... 17 JAPAN PM: AID & RIGHTS LINKED ...... 17 OFFICER DIRECTING THE MASSACRE IS IDENTIFIED ...... 17 XMAS AT EAST TIMOR EMBASSY IN CANBERRA ...... 17 DIET GROUP: STOP ECONOMIC AID...... 17 FORGET AND FORGIVE: BELO IN CHRISTMAS MESSAGE...... 18 PRELIMINARY REPORT: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY. (FULL TEXT)...... 18 INCIDENT OF 12 NOVEM BER 1991, DILI...... 18 I. INTRODUCTION...... 18 II. THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION...... 18 IV. CONCLUSIONS...... 20 V. CLOSING SECTION ...... 21 COMMISSION ADMITS 50 DEAD (WIRES) ...... 21 REUTER, JAKARTA, JONATHAN THATCHER, DEC 26 ...... 21 DPA, JAKARTA, DEC 26 -...... 22 KYODO, JAKARTA, DEC 26 - ...... 22 AFP, JAKARTA, DEC 26 - ...... 22 AP, JAKARTA, ALBERT SARAGIH, DEC 26 ...... 23 EXCERPT FROM REUTER, JAKARTA, DEC 27...... 23 TAPOL REJECTS THE FINDINGS OF SUHARTO'S INQUIRY COMMISSION ...... 24 VIOLATIONS AND DOUBTS REMAIN OVER OFFICIAL INQUIRY (AI)...... 24 KPN ESTIMATES DILI INCIDENT VICTIMS AT 50 ...... 25 FROM PUBLICO (LISBON) 27 DECEMBER 1991 ...... 25 JOSE RAMOS HORTA ON KPN REPORT...... 25 CAUTIOUS U.S. REPLY...... 25 BUSH ADMINISTRATION RESPONDS TO REPORT ...... 25 STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING BY JOSEPH SNYDER:...... 26 PORTUGAL REJECTS DJAELANI REPORT ...... 26 TIMORESE REJECT REPORT: KYODO...... 26 INDONESIAN REPORT ON TIMOR SHOOTINGS DRAWS CRITICISM ...... 26 ABRI 'ACCEPTS' REPORT ...... 27 TRY: 'SEPARATISTS' SHOULD 'GIVE UP...... 27 FOREIGN AID SAVED?...... 27 HOW THE FOUR EAST TIMORESE IN BALI WERE ARRESTED ...... 28 A CHRISTMAS FOR TIMOR...... 28 GENERALS SACKED ...... 28 SOEHARTO CREATING RIFTS IN ARMY?...... 28 TIMOR DEMO 'LEADER' TRIAL...... 29 AFP, JAKARTA, DEC 28 - ...... 29 TIMORESE ARRESTED IN MALANG...... 29 NEW UDAYANA, TIMOR COMMANDERS...... 29 REUTER, JAKARTA, DEC 30...... 29 A.I. USA ADVISES BUSH ...... 30 JAPAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY...... 30 TAPOL WRITES TO THE UN AND THE EC...... 31 TRY SEARCHES FOR BODIES ...... 31 BELO CALLS FOR TALKS...... 31 THE HAGUE WANTS UN TO INVESTIGATE...... 32 EAST TIMORESE BOY INJURED BY BRICK THROWN FROM INDONESIAN EM BASSY...... 32 EMBASSY STAFF THREW BRICKS AT PROTESTERS...... 32 KPN REPORT MAKES IMPACT (ASIA WATCH) ...... 32 INDONESIA WARNS AUSTRALIA, PORTUGAL...... 33 BISHOP BELO DENIES HE INVITED INDONESIAN OFFICIALS...... 33 East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 3 Dec 17,1991 - Jan 4, 1992

THERE ARE 41 TIMORESE AWAITING TRIAL...... 33 INDON EMBASSY PICKET THREATENED ...... 33

FINALLY KPN HS: If they are afraid, that's probably be- studying his information. Father Ricardo 'SURRENDERS' AND cause of the impact of the 12 November of Motael Church even showed us where incident. But you shouldn't draw the Sebastiao Gomes and Afonso were AGREES TO ANSWER conclusion that the fear is because of killed. JOURNALISTS pressure and restrictions. Q: What's the truth? Source: Surabaya Pos. 5 December 1991. Q: There are other difficulties. MD: We have to cross-check everything to Unabridged. MD (presumably these initials also apply discover the truth. We have to discuss it Comment: This includes some rare quotes to Djaelani): To be honest, we have all objectively, carefully and accurately. from the normally talkative and hard-hitting difficulty communicating because some We must be careful not to produce raw Interior Ministry Sos-Pol chief, Hari of the sources of information only speak data to society. The Commission's work Sugiman, who has kept very much in the the regional language, Tetum or is a state duty because it was set up by background during the KPN's stay in Dili. Portuguese. To facilitate things, we will the head of state. Perhaps he is unaccustomed to playing use interpreters. second-fiddle. EAST TIMOR QUESTION IN A: Have you received a lot of information? The National Inquiry Commission BUNDESTAG (KPN) led by M. Djaelani 'surrendered' and HS: Yes, a great deal. But we cannot work agreed to a request for dialogue with carelessly. We have to cross-check eve- The following question on East Timor was journalists. Since their arrival, they have rything. We must be painstaking and put to the German Government recently only said: 'No comment.' accurate in gathering together the in- (inofficial translation): But on Sunday, they held a meeting with formation. For instance, before coming German Bundestag 12th Legislative journalists at Hotel Mahkota, where the to East Timor, we asked for information Period Printed Matter No 12. December group is staying. The dialogue was attended from LB Murdani as ad interim Foreign 1991 by Djaelani and KPN member, Hari Minister, from the armed forces Minor Question by Dr Ursula Fischer, Sugiman. Seventeen journalists attended, 12 commander-in-chief and Interior MP, and the Parliamentary Group PDS/LL from Indonesian newspapers and five Minister Rudini. We also asked for in- Since 1975 the territory of the former foreign journalists (2 from Japan's NHK, 2 formation from other leading figures in Portuguese colony of East Timor has been from Asahi Shimbun, and 1 from Reuter). Jakarta. The second principle is that we occupied by Indonesia. In order to integrate But as the meeting was about to proceed must be objective and impartial. The the predominantly catholic population of to a discussion about the information being third is we must be independent and free East Timor, the Indonesian government is received 'from the field', the meeting was to seek information from anyone. mainly relying on military means. On 12 ended because of the presence of a police Q: But the framework from Jakarta was November 1991, Indonesian soldiers in the intel agent. Said one Jakarta-based that you started off with statements capital Dili fired for several minutes into a journalist: "We had hoped to have the from the apparatus and only then went crowd of thousands of mourners at a freedom to raise things with the down to people below. memorial service with automatic weapons. commission and therefore it's better to According to the testimony of the catholic postpone it for another time." HS: That was just a technical matter. We bishop of Dili, Mgr Belo, and of several Here are questions and answers with went to some central officials only be- British, American and Australian eye Djaelani and Hari Sugiman: cause we wanted to make things easier witnesses, approximately 180 demonstra- Q: Can the Commission give security for us in the field. From there, we de- tors were killed during the massacre. guarantees to those who provide it with cided how to proceed. We ask the Federal Government: information? MD: One other aspect of our method of 1. Is the Federal Government aware that D (Djaelani): That was something discussed work is this, we must be thorough-going. according to reports by the human by the members of the Commission. As We must not only report the data and rights organisations Amnesty far as the information given to us is facts from the field but also make International, Tapol and Australian concerned, I guarantee that it will be proposals for future handling of the Coalition for East Timor, several hun- kept secret. But the Commission is not question. We shall make these recom- dred demonstrators were arrested during able to give any guarantee regarding what mendations to the president. the massacre and that approximately 80 of those arrested were executed at the happens to those who provide Q: What information have you received so information. edge of a previously excavated mass far? grave? HS: (Hari Sugiman): We shall check eve- HS: Quite a lot. Besides verbal reports, we rything given to us so as to reach the 2. Is the Federal Government aware that have received written reports. For ex- according to estimates by the above- objective truth. From the start the ample, Governor Carrascalao has Commission has worked on the basis of mentioned human rights organisations, submitted verbal information, 300 pages approximately 200,000 out of 700,000 being objective, just, painstaking and of written evidence and several photos. thorough. You can give your own answer East Timorese have been killed since the about security safeguards. Q: It is reported that Bishop Belo also occupation of East Timor by the submitted a written report. Indonesian armed forces on 7 December Q: But people are still stifled by the fear of 1975? submitting information without any HS: Yes, there was a friendly and open guarantees. meeting and he submitted information 3. What efforts is the Federal Government during a three-hour meeting. We are undertaking to obtain independent ac- East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 4 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

curate information on the continuing a peaceful solution of the East Timor the world map, sometimes referred to as a human rights violations in East Timor? conflict and an end to the continuing "disputed territory," much to Jakarta's human rights violations in East Timor? dismay. 4. Does the Federal Government share the The Indonesian government has con- position of the Portuguese government Dr Ursula Fischer, Leader of the structed roads, schools and hospitals in a that the recently commenced internal Parliamentary PDS/LL territory the Portuguese neglected during Indonesian inquiry into the Dili mas- more than three centuries of rule. But de- sacre is a farce, and does the Federal KILLINGS BREED velopment work hasn't nurtured wide- Government support the call by the ANTIPATHY IN EAST TIMOR spread affection for Indonesia, and last Portuguese government for an inde- month's shootings only strengthened feel- pendent international inquiry into the Asian Wall Street Journal December 9. ings of resentment and alienation among massacre by a UN commission of in- East Timorese. For some, the killings quiry? By Richard Borsuk, a Staff Reporter for the Asian Wall Street Journal, unabridged turned apathy into antipathy. "I feel like everything I tried to do for 5. Does the Federal Government share the (Dili, Dec 9) Like many people in this position of the government of Portugal nine years has been destroyed," says East seaside city, Anton is scared. Speaking Timor's outspoken governor, Mario Viegas that the catastrophic human rights furtively to a foreigner, he warns that in- situation in East Timor is caused di- Carrascalao. While remaining convinced that telligence agents are "everywhere". independence is "crazy" and that rectly by the 16 years of illegal occu- "My two younger brothers went with pation of East Timor by Indonesia? integration with Jakarta is best, the the group to the cemetery," he says. "I disheartened Mr. Carrascalao says he 6. Does the Federal Government share the don't know where they are. I'm afraid they senses that "practically everybody" in East position of the government of Portugal are dead." Timor is against Indonesia at present. that until now the people of East Timor The 25-year-old laborer is talking about have been refused to exercise their right the events of Nov. 12, when Indonesian NECESSARY CHANGES of selfdetermination, and does the soldiers opened fire on pro-independence As such, can Indonesia still hope to win Federal Government support resolutions demonstrators in a funeral procession. The the hearts and minds of East Timorese? 384 and 389 of the UN Security Council Indonesian government calls it an "incident" Brig. Gen. R.S. Warouw, the province's and the eight resolutions of the UN in which soldiers were forced to defend military commander, acknowledges that the General Assembly which demand the themselves against an armed mob. job will be "very difficult", but expresses withdrawal of the Indonesian oc- Eyewitnesses call it a massacre; they say confidence in Jakarta's ability to bring a cupation forces from East Timor and an the crowd was unarmed and only chanting better way of life to East Timor. Gov. internationally recognised act of anti-Indonesia slogans and waving banners Carrascalao says that for integration to be selfdetermination for East Timor? before the shooting started without accepted, Indonesia must make major warning. The government puts the death changes in the way it administers the 7. What active efforts has the Federal toll at 19; eyewitnesses say it's at least 100. province -- and he's skeptical that they will Government undertaken and what active RESIDUE OF RESENTMENT be made. efforts does it intend to undertake in A Timorese priest, who like many order to contribute to a peaceful Anton is unwilling to give his full name, people in Dili insists on anonymity, re- solution of the East Timor conflict on take a visitor home or go to the military flects a more pessimistic view. "It's too late the basis of the above-mentioned UN hospital to ask if his brothers are among the to do integration the right way. Some years resolutions? wounded being treated. He knows many ago, you could have done it. Now, after people who witnessed the shootings, but such violence, people want nothing to do 8. What is the level of expenditure by the none who will talk to a national Federal Republic of Germany in terms with Indonesia," the priest says. "I'm afraid investigation commission now in Dili. He a lot more people will die. I'm scared." of military and non-military aid to also knows that the shootings have left him Indonesia? Indeed, fear stalks Dili, whose idyllic with strong anti-Jakarta feelings. "We don't beachfront belies the tension felt among the 9. For what specific purposes is that ex- want to integrate with Indonesia. We're city's 120,000 residents. Some people who penditure intended? very afraid of their soldiers," he says. were willing to meet a visitor on previous Indonesian officials say there are fewer visits now are afraid to for fear of being 10. Does the Federal Government believe than 150 hard-core rebels of the separatist that neither the military nor the non- questioned by the authorities. Secondary Fretilin movement still in the rugged hills of schools have many absentees. The streets military aid which Indonesia obtains East Timor. The exact number of from the Federal Republic furthers the are nearly deserted by 8 p.m. Indonesian troops and security personnel in It is apparent that at least until the fear illegal occupation of East Timor by the the territory isn't known, but foreign Indonesian armed forces? subsides, public sentiment toward inte- military analysts estimate it at more than gration won't improve. Emotions had been 11. Will the Federal Government consider 10,000. There was a substantial security running high for weeks before Nov. 12, as the suspension of both the military and presence in Dili during a visit late last East Timorese opposed to integration non-military aid to Indonesia while the month, including some armored personnel awaited a scheduled visit by a Portuguese Indonesian occupation of East Timor carriers parked at the port -- down the road parliamentary delegation. The trip was continues? from a cinema showing "Lethal Weapon 2." scrapped, but expectations the planned Among the casualties of Nov. 12 was visit had created ended in grief nonetheless. 12. Does the Federal Government support Indonesia's effort to smoothly integrate In Dili and Jakarta, there is agreement the call by the Chairman of the National with the rest of the country the impover- that if the national commission investigating Council of Maubere Resistance, Xanana ished former Portuguese colony it annexed the shootings produces a credible report, Gusmao, for "negotiations without in 1976. The killings have dealt a big blow the tough job of making integration preconditions" between Indonesia, to Indonesia's international standing and its acceptable to East Timorese will be eased. Portugal and the National Council of efforts to win support of the troubled But many doubt whether the team, headed Maubere Resistance under the auspices territory's 750,000 residents. After years of by a Supreme Court judge who is a retired of the United Nations in order to achieve being ignored, East Timor is once again on army general, can produce an objective East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 5 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 assessment that contradicts the powerful incident" and insists that there is "nothing firmed East Timor as an "inseparable" part Indonesian army's version of events and wrong" with the way East Timor is run. of the country. calls for officers to be punished. There is Gov. Carrascalao disagrees with his Even so, controversy lingers over the doubt that eyewitnesses will provide assistant, and his prescription is to reduce events that led to East Timor's incorpora- complete accounts for fear of reprisals from the number of soldiers stationed in East tion into Indonesia. In August 1975, soldiers or right-wing Timorese vigilantes. Timor and transfer more power to him from Portugal abruptly ended its rule of the The latter are said to have been coming out the military. Jakarta "gives more than territory, which covers half of Timor island. in Dili at night in recent months, harassing enough money, compared with our (The other half, colonized by the Dutch, and beating residents accused of opposing capability to use it," he says. "If they gave became part of Indonesia when the country integration. me more power, the money would be better gained independence.) After several months Gov. Carrascalao says that when he used." of watching three parties in East Timor asked an eyewitness of the Nov. 12 He says East Timor received "negative battle for control -- the Marxist Fretilin had shootings to meet him, the boy's mother special treatment" from Jakarta for 13 the upper hand -- Indonesia invaded in vetoed it. "They hid him from me, with her years, when the province was closed to December 1975, saying it was responding pleading 'He's our only son,'" the governor outsiders from 1976 to 1989. "Now we to an appeal from Apodeti. Annexation was says. According to Mr. Carrascalao, the should get positive special treatment," he formalized in July 1976. mother said she trusted him, "'but it's long says, suggesting that Jakarta implement tax Indonesia's intervention sparked heavy way from our place to your place.'" incentives to boost the territory's shaky fighting with Fretilin that uprooted many Asked about the vigilantes, Gen. economy and reduce high unemployment, East Timorese from their homes. Warouw says: "I don't know if it's true. I which has only fueled political trouble. Altogether, war and starvation -- as crops don't have any reports to show it." The went unplanted -- caused more than general says that in two years as com- UNITARY STATE 100,000 deaths in the late 1970s. Nearly mander, he has punished more than 200 Other East Timorese and Mr. Marzuki, every family lost at least one member. The soldiers -- discharging some -- for violating the member of Parliament, agree that scars remain today: many teen-agers, regulations and abusing residents. (In an granting greater autonomy to East Timor though literate, have been affected by interview in Dili 10 days ago, Gen. Warouw would help. But the idea runs counter to malnutrition. "Many of my students can't declined to discuss specifics of Nov. 12, Indonesia's highly-centralized political do more than basic math," says a teacher. saying he hadn't yet given his input to the system. In Jakarta, foreign diplomats and "They tell me they get dizzy and have to go investigating commission.) Indonesian political analysts say the gov- home." ernment worries that if East Timor were to 'PROSPERITY APPROACH' obtain some kind of autonomy, resource- FEW HEADLINES Many residents say Gen. Warouw is the rich Irian Jaya and other remote provinces More than 40% of the population is un- best commander to serve in East Timor, and would want to alter their ties to the capital der age 15, born after integration. "Our the commend the native of Sulawesi for as well. Says Gen. Warouw: "We have a children know nothing of Portuguese introducing a "prosperity approach" to unitary state, not a federation. If there's a times," a priest says, "but they don't like replace a "security approach" to running federation, then you'll have disintegration." what they see of Indonesian times." the territory. One Timorese social-worker Gen. Warouw says current troop Largely because of its isolation and a compliments the general for "bringing a strength in East Timor of 12 battalions -- calmer security situation, East Timor made needed softer touch and caring about six for combat and six "territorial" ones for few headlines during the 1980s, though it people." development work -- can be reduced step- remained an unsolved international issue. But he and others says Gen. Warouw by-step "when the situation is better." He Many governments had come to accept hasn't enforced strict discipline among his says East Timorese "love the territorial Indonesia as the territory's de facto ruler, ranks. One of the many theories circulating battalions" -- an assessment with which the but the United Nations has continued to about the shootings is that subordinates governor agrees. recognize Portugal as the administrative unhappy with the general's relatively soft The general puts the number of remain- power. Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali touch in East Timor sought an opportunity ing armed Fretilin fighters at 125, though Alatas promoted the planned Portuguese for a violent incident that would allow for a active supporters number "maybe more, parliamentary visit, for which negotiations return to hard-line administration. maybe 200," down from 350 several years dragged on for years, as a way to help Political analysts suggest that Indonesia ago. "If we have few troops, it will be more finally quell criticism of Indonesian rule. needs to make significant changes in the difficult to find Fretilin," he says. He and But with the Nov. 12 shootings, that ef- way it administers East Timor to undercut others, including Gov. Carrascalao, note fort backfired miserably. "Alatas thought he anti-Jakarta feeling. But they don't include a that Timor has had a history of clan conflict could get a monkey off Indonesia's back," security crackdown, which they say would and revenge-killings, and he says the troops' says a foreign diplomat in Jakarta. "Now worsen the situation. presence helps prevent civil strife. it's got an angry gorilla instead." "Certainly we're back to square one" on Still, the army's behavior angers the Indonesia's neighbors and partners in the making integration a success, says Marzuki governor. He says the military's abuses Association of Southeast Asian Nations Darusman, a member of Indonesia's House make it "play Fretilin's game." For every haven't commented on the shootings, of Representatives, in Jakarta. "The sooner person beaten, Fretilin's leader, Xanana reflecting a reluctance to get involved in one we recognize that fact, the better position Gusmao, "is going to get at least four or five another's "internal affairs." Japan, by far we're in to pick up the pieces and start people. We are creating his friends," he Indonesia's largest aid donor, expressed again." says. concern about the incident, but hasn't Among the few Dili residents who think While it isn't clear whether recent events overtly criticized Jakarta. Many other little has changed since Nov. 12 is Tito dos will prompt army chiefs to tighten the nations have condemned the shootings, and Santos Baptista, one of three assistant military's grip on East Timor, Jakarta will some have said future aid commitments will governors and a member of Apodeti, an remain firm on one point: East Timor is depend on the results of the government's East Timorese group that supported Indonesia's. Armed Forces Commander investigation. integration with Indonesia in 1975. He Gen. Try Sutrisno, in an emotional ap- As a result of Jakarta's development dismisses the shootings as a "small pearance in Parliament on Nov. 27, reaf- spending, per-capita income in East Timor has risen fivefold since 1975 to about $200. East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 6 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

But residents complain that many of the with them? Oppression, violence and the united states, japan and australia are economic benefits have gone to skilled abuse. Is it any wonder many don't love the preparing to exploit one billion barrels of migrants from other provinces who have Indonesians?" crude from the timor sea," said international arrived since East Timor was opened in analyst adelino gomes. 1989. To bring the province out of isola- INDONESIA, AUSTRALIA HIT "the australian labour government of bob tion, Gov. Carrascalao got the national OVER OIL EXPLOITATION hawke does not seem disposed to respect passenger shipping line to begin serving the sentence of the hague," he noted. Dili. Now, when the weekly liner arrives, ACCORDS the list of companies that signed the about 500 passengers disembark, but no accords with canberra and jakarta is led by more than 50 board. lisbon, dec 13 (ips) -- portuguese ana- royal dutch-shell, the world's biggest oil lysts have denounced indonesia and aus- firm controlled by british and dutch capital. HASN'T WORKED tralia for signing contracts with 12 com- others include the u.s. oil company "Who gets the benefit of the hospitals panies for the exploitation of oil in the ti- chevron, the australian firms bhp-petro- and schools? Mostly non- Timorese," a mor sea, even if the territory is legally still leum, woodside petroleum, santos ltd., sa- priest says. Even the governor concedes under portuguese authority. gasco, petroz nl and western mining. that the policy of openness he promoted they pointed out that the united nations also in the list are the multinationals hasn't worked well, saying, "What should never recognised indonesia's annexation of phillips petroleum (united states-norway- be a good thing has become a bad thing." east timor in 1975 and had given portugal britain), marathon oil (u.s.-brazil-britain- However, he says the province shouldn't be the mandate to administer its former colony egypt), enterprise oil co. (britain-italy- closed again. Instead, he favors restrictions until the holding of a referendum on the norway) and nippon oil (japan). on immigration and measures that would island's independence. at the start of an official visit to jakarta make it easy for East Timorese to obtain analyst antonio sampaio said the signing thursday, australian industry minister john land titles, thus preventing too much of the contracts thursday had been done "in button said canberra would avoid possible property from moving into migrants' hands. an atmosphere of great mystery and sanctions on indonesia, as requested by Openness has eased one of East Timor's secrecy". portugal. persistent problems: the military's domi- he said worldwide protests following the button said his country would not join nant role in the economy. The port, long nov. 12 massacre of demonstrators in the canada and the netherlands in imposing controlled by the army, is now under civil- east timorese capital of dili by indonesian possible drastic measures against jakarta ian authorities. In previous years, PT troops did not prevent energy minister because of the dili massacre. "australia has Batara Indra, a private company that Dili ginandjar kartasasmita of indonesia and alan to consider its business and economic businessmen say is linked to the army, had griffiths of australia from signing the interests in indonesia," he explained. a lock on nearly all trade and business in the accords. political circles, including those closest province, including the lucrative coffee the bishop of dili (the capital), msgr jose to the united states, have strongly criticised trade, through its PT Denok Hernandez ximenes belo, and foreign journalists who the positions of washington and canberra International unit. However, Dili busi- witnessed the incident said the dem- on east timor, constantly drawing parallels nessmen estimate that Batara Indra now onstration had been peaceful, refuting army with iraq's invasion of kuwait in 1990. accounts for slightly less than 60% of trade claims that the demonstrators had provoked portuguese president mario soares him- and construction work in East Timor. There the attack. self has noted that the international com- is competition where there wasn't before, as sources from the east timorese inde- munity has "double standards" as far as the in buying coffee, the territory's main crop, pendence movement said 183 people died relation between big economic interests and though farmers remain in a bad position. In in the massacre, contrary to the army es- human rights is concerned. the past, they were hurt because Denok timate of 19. (end/ips/trd/ip/md/ica-da/tt/ln) was in effect a sole buyer that paid low according to the contracts signed thurs- prices; now, they are hurt by low coffee day, the initial phase will cover six years, 'DISTURBING NGO' TRAVEL prices world-wide. during which the oil firms will drill 45 oil To tackle widespread unemployment, wells within a 52,100 sq km area. BAN? oil experts say there are about one billion East Timor needs rudimentary industrial (AFP, Jakarta, Dec 16) development, but prospects for drawing barrels of offshore oil deposits in the area. investment are dim. "Nobody will come to the democratic military that overthrew Indonesian Armed Forces chief Try East Timor in conditions like this," the the regime installed in portugal in 1926 by Sutrisno has called for a ban on foreign governor says. antonio de oliveira e salazar decided in 1974 travel by employees of private organiza- Underlying the problems besetting East to dismantle portugal's vast colonial empire tions that use foreign funds for what are Timor is a sensitive struggle between the in africa and east asia. seen as anti-government activities. Catholic church and Indonesian authorities. when the decolonisation process began "Several NGOs (non-governmental or- The overwhelming majority of Timorese are in east timor a year later, indonesia invaded ganizations) provide profitable assistance Catholic, while Indonesia's total population and annexed the island, killing 200,000 of to the society. However some others seem is about 90% Muslim. Somy army generals its 650,000 inhabitants. working against the country's stability," suspect that clergy men have been helping the portuguese protest over oil exploi- General Try was quoted as saying by the anti-Indonesia activists. Gen Warouw, a tation in the timor sea is based on two Berita Buana newspaper. Christian, says that if the Vatican, which resolutions passed by the u.n. security "We need to publish a list of the dis- doesn't recognize Indonesian sovereignty council and the u.n. general assembly, turbing NGOs and the men behind them over East Timor, told the local bishop to demanding indonesia's withdrawal from east should be banned from going abroad," he cooperate with Jakarta, there would be "no timor. said. problem" in church-military relations. despite these u.n. resolutions, however, The military commander-in-chief, Timorese clergy men are generally far the united states and australia recognised speaking to participants in Youth March more critical of Indonesian administration the island's annexation in 1977. 1991, said NGOs that raised negative issues than foreign ones based in East Timor. Says "despite portugal's appeal before the about Indonesia were "selling the country." one Timorese priest: "Yes, we get the international court of justice in the hague, "Those organizations might merely be roads, schools and clinics, but what comes companies from the european community, financially oriented," he said, referring to East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 7 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 several NGOs that are believed to receive Austrian Ambassador Herbert Kroell, CARRASCALAO SAYS NO large amounts of cash from abroad. after a meeting with the speaker of the DPR (House of Representatives), Kharis Suhud, SECOND DECOLONISATION FOREIGN FIRMS KEEN TO on Friday afternoon, said his country's IN EAST TIMOR INVEST IN EAST TIMOR speaker of parliament would bring a high level delegation here on a visit from Jan 19 Source: Jakarta Post. 16 December 1991. Jakarta Post 16 December 1991 to 21. They will have meetings with Dateline: Dili. Byline: Yakob Herin. News Dateline: Jakarta, unabridged Indonesian government officials and will story, abridged. Comment: Possibly the first visit the DPR. time on record that anyone has claimed Three companies from Japan, South He said the delegation was interested in there was a referendum in 1976. Korea and Australia have expressed interest the general situation in Indonesia and in investing in the fields of fishery and The decolonisation of East Timor was Southeast Asia, economic development, the completed when the territory integrated livestock husbandry in Lautem regency, coming general elections and the recent 255 kilometres to the east of Dili, the with Indonesia in 1976, governor Mario events in East Timor. Carrascalao said. capital of East Timor. Austria has expressed great concern Lautem Regent Jase Valente told re- "There can be no second decolonisation," about the Nov 12 incident in Dili and the Carrascalao told reporters, commenting on porters in Dili over the weekend that the hope that those found responsible will be Japanese and Korean companies would calls by foreign governments or institutions punished. Austria has welcomed the set- that there should be an act of self- establish joint ventures with Indonesian ting up of the commission to investigate the counterparts to process canned fish prod- determination in East Timor. incident. He said the referendum in 1976 which ucts, while the Australian firm would de- "Now we are waiting for the results" velop a cattle raising project, also in co- led to the integration of East Timor with said Kroell, "I hear they are to be pub- Indonesia "sufficiently reflected the wishes operation with domestic firms. lished." "The three companies have studied the of the people although it was not one man, German Ambassador Walter Lewalter, one vote" since the UDT party represented possibility of entering the fishery and who talked with Suhud an hour after Kroell, livestock businesses in Lautem since May," 60 per cent of the people. said his country's parliament would be The fact that some people have since he said. returning the visit Suhud made to Germany Valente expected that the plan to es- changed their mind did not mean that one several years ago. should change history, he said. tablish the three joint venture companies The exact date for the visit is not yet set. could be implemented as soon as possible He said the integration still had its "It is up to the Indonesian legislature to shortcomings and that some people were to help speed up the development process decide," he said adding that it would in the region. not content with the present situation. "If probably be early next year. they were content, the 12 November inci- "The establishment of such projects is Lewalter and Suhud did not talk exten- badly need to absorb as much local labour dent would not have happened." sively about East Timor, but Lewalter said The governor said it could take one or as possible and to enable the local people to he mentioned briefly that in his country raise their standard of living," Valente was two years to restore the situation in East there was a lot of attention being paid to Timor back to the state it was in before 12 quoted by the Antara news agency as the situation there. saying. He said that actually many foreign November. "The public reaction in our country to Meanwhile a group of East Timorese companies were interested in doing the incident in Dili was very strong and business in this regency, but most of them who fought for the 1976 integration pre- whatever the Indonesian government does sented a statement to the government on had withdrawn their plans due to security will sound an echo in our country," he told reasons. Saturday urging it to be firm in its dealings The Jakarta Post. with the perpetrators of the 12 November He guaranteed that there was no need to He acknowledged the right of the worry about security in the regency. He incident. The group, representing 387 Indonesian authorities and politicians to people, in its 17-point statement also asked how it would be possible for repre- have the first say on the incident because it sentatives of foreign interests to freely visit deplored Portugal, saying that it had no was "a question which happened inside claim at all in the affairs of East Timor. Lautem and other cities in East Timor if the your country." [sic] security situation were not stable. But he also implied that Indonesia EAST TIMOR Valente said that the intention of the should hear what the world has to say. three foreign companies to invest in Lautem "The world opinion is commenting on DEMONSTRATIONS BANNED was expected to support the provincial human rights everywhere, not only about government's plan to make the regency the Indonesia, but about human rights in (R. Australia 12/17) production centre for fishery and livestock Germany," he said. "So the Indonesian The Indonesian military authorities in in East Timor. public and politicians should be aware of East Timor are reported to have banned The provincial government of East the fact that whatever the human rights demonstrations in the province and warn Timor has so far implemented small scale situation is here, it will be reflected in world that firm action will be taken against any- cattle raising projects by procuring young opinion." one violating the order. The ban was re- cattle from East Nusa Tenggara to help ported by the Jakarta newspaper Media facilitate the implementation of the live- Indonesia, which quoted the East Timor stock program in the regency. military operation command. The command referred indirectly to the massacre in the AUSTRIAN, GERMAN MPS East Timor capital, Dili, on Nov 12, when TO VISIT INDONESIA troops fired into what Jakarta described as a group of unruly demonstrators. It was Jakarta Post 16 December 1991 quoted as saying that several protest Dateline: Jakarta. unabridged demonstrations in Dili had not been Delegations from the parliaments of expressions of aspirations, but actions Austria and Germany will visit Indonesia which breached regulations and were aimed early next year. at undermining government authority. East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 8 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

TROCAIRE CALLS FOR the catholic church regarding human rights versities have added to the world reaction, violations in east timor. which has been swift and strong. On [IRISH] GOVERNMENT the five, who denied any political mo- November 19, for example, the twelve ACTION ON EAST TIMOR tivations, were arrested one hour after European Community states told the starting their action. General Assembly that they "vehemently The following is a News Release issued by their spokesman jose ramos dos santos, condemn such violence which is in clear Trocaire, the Catholic Agency for World who stayed outside to speak to the press, contravention of the most fundamental Development, on 18 December 1991. said the occupation was meant to "expose human rights." "The Indonesian government is imple- not only the vatican's hypocrisy, but also Human rights groups, church agencies, menting policies in East Timor which are international hypocrisy on the situation in government, labor unions, solidarity or- close to genocidal," Trocaire's Chairman timor", that was occupied and annexed by ganizations and the media in many coun- Bishop Eamonn Casey said today in a ref- indonesia after gaining independence from tries responded to the slaughter, which only erence to the recent upsurge in violence in portugal in 1975. differs from years of Indonesian genocide in the former Portuguese-controlled territory "a stone must be thrown into the pond" that it was witnessed by foreigners. Several situated northwest of Australia. to awaken people's consciences on "the countries cut back aid, Congress passed a "When Indonesia invaded East Timor in massacre of timor, where the indonesians resolution, and Australian labor actions 1975 there was a native population of 680 have assassinated 200,000 people, caused the Indonesian national airline to 000. Since then, 200 000 people have died, equivalent to almost one third of the popu- suspend flights. Indonesia's painstaking either at the hands of the army or thorough lation", he noted. efforts to convince the world that the starvation. This is a far worse situation the case of timor only became front-page situation in East Timor had become than that of Cambodia in the Pol Pot news "because last november 12 a british peaceful and stable were dashed by a ten- years," said Bishop Casey. journalist happened to film indonesian minute orgy of machine-gun fire. "Trocaire sources in East Timor indicate troops while they opened fire on a peaceful On the morning of November 12, 3,500 that the atmosphere of terror there is now demonstration for independence", he said. Timorese were outside the Santa Cruz worse than at any time since the 1975 the massacre, which left up to 183 cemetery in the East Timor capital of Dili, invasion. Just a month ago, hundreds of people dead, was also revealed to the whole preparing to disperse following a mass and young Timorese, including schoolchildren, world by two american journalists. memorial march for a Timorese student were gunned down in cold blood by the "had the foreign journalists not been killed by the Indonesian military two weeks military. In the light of these atrocities present, the indonesians would have calmly earlier. All of a sudden, the Army came Bishop Belo of the diocese of Dili is continued their genocide, and the great down the street -- "a column of soldiers, in pleading for support from the international powers would have followed it in silence, dark brown uniforms and carrying M-16s," community, asking specifically that action placing their economic interests before according to New Yorker correspondent be taken by the United Nations, the United human rights," said ramos dos santos. Allan Nairn. "We watched in disbelief as States and other powers in the region to the nuncio gave no reaction to the reason the soldiers turned into the cemetery, raised ensure that his people are protected from for the occupation. a spokesman only told a their rifles, and took aim. Then, acting in the Indonesian forces who appear to have a local radio station, that he would ask the unison, they opened fire on the East free hand to do what they please there at portuguese government to explain the Timorese. Men and women fell, shivering, the present time," Bishop Casey noted. unauthorised police action against the in the street." After ten minutes, between "Such attacks against a defenceless occupiers on vatican territory. 100 and 200 Timorese lay dead or dying. people cannot be allowed to continue," he (end/trd/md/da/hr/tt) The Indonesian government admits only said. "These people are calling in des- 19 fatalities -- but the bodies have peration to the international community in CHANGE IN EAST TIMOR -- disappeared and there is no casualty list. their hour of need and we cannot look the NOW OR NEVER Many Timorese don't know if their rela- other way with the excuse that the territory tives are dead, in hospital, or in prison. is so remote that it does not concern us in For the Guardian Newsweekly (NY) by Hundreds of witnesses have been arrested, Ireland." Charles Scheiner, December 19, 1991 tortured, terrorized, and perhaps killed. Indonesia is trying to tough it out -- refus- "Surely in this, the season of peace and For the first time since Indonesia in- goodwill to all men, we should be in soli- ing to allow an impartial investigation and vaded East Timor in December 1975, world continuing to blame the slaughter on the darity with those who are subjected to such attention is focussed on the tiny Pacific harsh and inhuman treatment." unarmed crowd. The head of Indonesia's island. Several international journalists military, General Try Sutrisno, has called Bishop Casey called upon the Irish watched and filmed as Indonesian troops Government to make representations the universal observation that the massacre shot into an unarmed gathering on was directed at a peaceful demonstration through the United Nations and through the November 12, killing over a hundred EC to have the massacres and human rights "bullshit;" he has called for the people. Their reports are a sharp reminder "extermination" of Timorese separatists. abuses urgently investigated by an of the double standard inherent in George international commission. Among Western activists, outrage over Bush's New World Order. the genocide in East Timor had ebbed until For further information contact John In the aftermath of the massacre, the last month, with little hope that the 16- Heuston at Trocaire Press and Information, Indonesian government began covering up, year struggle for justice would ever succeed. Dublin: (01) 288 5385 refusing to allow outsiders in and staging a The issue had become Quixotic esoterica for widely publicized 'investigation.' They most U.S. progressives, with a few people EAST TIMOR: WORKERS blamed the slaughter, by turns, on Fretilin still working hard while most put Timor OCCUPY PAPAL MISSION TO (the guerilla independence movement), out of their consciousness. foreign journalists masquerading as tourists, Now, everything has changed. The New PROTEST MASSACRE misunderstood military orders, and York Times, CBS TV, USA Today, and Portugal. lisbon, dec 18 (ips) -- five portuguese even Congress are paying attention. The Few believe the official fabrications, Washington Post editorialized against workers occupied the papal mission here even in tightly- controlled Indonesia. wednesday to protest "the hypocrisy" of "Indonesia's Tienanmen," describing "mass Unprecedented protests at Indonesian uni- terror -- soldiers everywhere, roundups, East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 9 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 shootings," and Indonesia's efforts to "stiff- Director of WBAI/Pacifica Radio. While largest funder), Europe, and the U.S. are arm foreign concern." The editors being beaten with rifle butts, M-16's successful, he may have to eat those words. continued "But can it? More to the point, pointed at their heads, Goodman and Nairn An Emergency Action Network on East will the United States let it? Until recently, (whose skull was fractured) held up their Timor is being formed in the United States, the answer might have been yes." passports and shouted "America, America, which lags the world in awareness about Many American supporters of East we are Americans." Wary of antagonizing Asia in general and East Timor in particular. Timor feel that the time has never been their patrons, the Indonesian Army let An organizational meeting will be held on more ripe for a change in U.S. policy, and them go. New Zealander Kamal Bamadhaj January 26 in New York City. For more progressive North Americans are seizing was killed in the firing, but other information, write PO Box 1182, White the moment. Demonstrations have been international observers escaped, including a Plains, NY 10602. held at the Indonesian Embassy in British TV cameraman who buried his tape Washington and its U.N. Mission in New in the cemetery and retrieved it in the EXTRACTS FROM PUBLICO York, community meetings are happening middle of the night. That video, shown (LISBON) - 19 DEC 91 around the country, including one which worldwide (and eventually on the CBS drew 250 people to Cornell University Evening News), brought the reality of cold- December 9. blooded mass murder into homes around Portugese Protestors Occupy Papal Conservative Senators like Jesse Helms the globe. Nunciature and Alfonse D'Amato have jumped on the The reaction was strongest in Portugal. Five young Portuguese yesterday bandwagon, seeing an opportunity to For 300 years, Portugal had colonized East peacefully invaded the Papal Nunciature in grandstand for human rights. Wyoming Timor (while the Netherlands occupied Lisbon and chained themselves to a table. Republican Malcolm Wallop wrote the West Timor and the rest of Indonesia), They were in turn peacefully unchained by White House, urging Bush to work to "end converting the population to Catholicism the police who had to cut their chains to the needless suffering in East Timor and and Portuguese language. After the collapse free them. The five young men carried with bring about true self-determination for the of the Salazar regime in 1975, Portugal them a piece of tissue on which one could territory," and 52 Senators signed the letter. precipitously withdrew from all its read "Timor" with simulated bloodstains. Although the Concurrent Resolution passed colonies. In East Timor, a coalition of These men don't belong to any political in Congress' closing days is non- binding, independence movements came to power, organisation although they consider them- many are optimistic that the $1.9 million with Fretilin (the Front for the Liberation selves to be "left wing." They distributed a the U.S. gives Indonesia annually in of East Timor) heading a progressive, text which protested against the hypocrisy military training and over $50 million in nonaligned government. Indonesia invaded of the Vatican in the Timor case. economic support can be used to pressure a month later. Although the United The former Portuguese Minister of Indonesia to allow international observers Nations still recognizes Portugal as the Education who had an interview with the and self-determination for East Timor. administering power, Portugal says that Vatican nuncio was asked what he thought The United States is uniquely obligated conditions prevailing in the territory about this demonstration. He said, to help end the occupation, which has killed prevent them from exercising their "Whatever can be done to agitate the in- close to 200,000 of the 750,000 residents of responsibilities. ternational conscience is justified." East Timor. President Gerald Ford and Last year, Portugal challenged the Secretary of State Henry Kissinger left Australia-Indonesia Timor Gap oil treaty in Carrascalao on Body Count Jakarta the day before the invasion, and the World Court. The case is still pending, In Dili, East Timor Governor Mario Kissinger illegally approved the use of but oil companies are not waiting -- several, Carrascalao, appointed by Indonesia, U.S.-supplied weapons in the takeover, and including the U.S.- based Chevron, will commented on the remarks by the inquiry CIA collaboration in the murders of shortly begin exploration. Portuguese commission chairman Djaelani. "I have no 300,000- 1,000,000 so-called Communists President Mario Soares called the massacre doubt that the number of victims is larger in Indonesia a decade earlier indicated "a crime against humanity" and labelled because I saw a truck loaded with corpses; Washington's approval of General Suharto's Indonesia "a cruel invader with no respect what I don't know is where the corpses are brutal methods. Kissinger justified his for international law and human rights." In buried. " realpolitik by U.S. desires not to antagonize spite of the strong words, Portugal is "The number of victims is greater than the staunchly rightist military government reticent to take further leadership, wary 19. But it's not the number of dead that which rules over 195,000,000 people -- the that East Timor will be seen as a historical worries me. Rather, it is the measures fifth largest population in the word. obsession belonging only to them. which should be taken to avoid another The genocidal Indonesian occupation of Finally, other countries are getting in- 12th of November" East Timor -- which has killed a higher volved. The European Community has "If those measures are not taken, I will proportion of its people than the Khmer issued several strong statements. After a resign." Rouge did in Cambodia -- has met with nationwide campaign organized by the East verbal international criticism, but recog- Timor Alert Network, Canada cut de- Soares Christmas Cards highlight nized "de facto, but not de jure" by most velopment aid to Indonesia by 60%, and Timor countries. Only Australia, which has signed gave an immediate grant to the International Portuguese President Mario Soares has joint oil exploration agreements with Red Cross for humanitarian assistance to started to send the traditional cards Jakarta for the Timor Gap waters between East Timor. Denmark has suspended all wishing a merry Christmas and a happy Timor and Indonesia, recognizes it legally. new development aid, and the Netherlands new year. But this year those cards reflect Annual U.N. General Assembly resolutions (Indonesia's largest Western donor) has the concern of the President regarding the urging self-determination have had no frozen aid at current levels. As Jakarta's East Timor question. The illustration enforcement and no effect on Jakarta, at repression and stonewalling continues, the shows a young East Timor child, and the least until now. pressure will increase. Indonesia receives text is a statement made by Mario Soares Ironically, the fact that the November 12 more than $5 billion in foreign aid each when he officially became President in massacre was carried out by U.S.-made M- year, and President Suharto just declared 1986. 16's probably saved the lives of the two that they will not accept aid "if there are The last part of the card is a poem titled American journalists who witnessed it, political preconditions." If rapidly growing "Death in Timor" by Ruy Cinatti: Allan Nairn and Amy Goodman, News public movements in Japan (Indonesia's East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 10 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

first in covering or giving opinions about Murdoch of the Melbourne Age, travelling Sobre Timor um fogo fino paira the Dili clash. with the foreign minister from Cambodia. alastra, crepita quando da terra se aproxima The foreign media, including radio sta- "That is an unhelpful step...it is against e crescente, envolvente, cerca os montes tions, made insinuations when reporting the Indonesia's own interests," he said. e coroa se afirma incident; they obtained their reports from Australian embassy spokesman Gary ... irresponsible persons. "But fortunately Gray said Jakarta had denied Murdoch a Minha imaginacao em vao procura listeners in Indonesia now have a strong visa, noting reports in the local media that deter com astros e outras maos a sina moral defense and would not be influenced Indonesia considered his reporting inaccu- insidiosa qual a morte de homem by the negative reporting," he said. rate and unfriendly. He said the government ancorado na arvore que sobre a terra se had not given any reason to the embassy. persigna" GARETH EVANS ARRIVES IN Translator's note: Sorry, but I don't dare JAKARTA EVANS, ALATAS MUM translate the poem. I'll give the idea. The poet says that over Timor a fire is burning. (Excerpt from Reuter, Jakarta, Moses (AFP, Jakarta, Dec 19) He wishes to stop the killing but only has Manoharan, Dec 19) Australian Foreign Minister Gareth his imagination to do it. Be warned that Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans met his Indonesian counterpart Ali this is a rather personal interpretation. Evans arrived in Indonesia on Thursday to Alatas on Thursday for talks focussing on Others can see it differently. discuss East Timor, insisting he had come the disputed territory of East Timor and the recent shooting of civilians there by Ad urges pressure on EEC neither as an international human rights commissar nor as representative of a lame Indonesian troops. The newspaper Publico today has an duck prime minister. "We had a very long, very substantial entire page with an advertisement asking Hours before Evans' arrival in Jakarta for discussion," Evans said after his two-hour the Portuguese to send a letter to the EEC a three-day visit, Prime Minister Bob meeting at the Foreign Ministry. building in Brussels condemning the East Hawke announced in Canberra his decision "Mr. Alatas gave me the opportunity to Timor massacre. to quit as leader of the ruling Labor Party spell out at very considerable length the The advertisement says: "The survival and seek immediate re-election by Labor reactions, the ideas that we have on the of a people depends very much on you." parliamentarians. If he loses he will cease to situation," he said. The advertisement is an initiative of the be prime minister. [He lost. Paul Keating is "We had a quite wide exchange of movement of university students and is the new Australian Prime Minister.] views," Alatas added. supported by several business companies, The main objectives of his visit were to "I also gave him our views, what we are among them RTC [the company that takes convey Australia's deep concern over the currently doing through the investigative cares of publicity in television, Videoarte, shooting, to encourage Indonesia to conduct commission and comments on several of and the newspaper itself]. a fair inquiry and to try to work out a long- their ideas or suggestions," he said. term resolution of the issue, Evans told The two declined to say more. They FOREIGN PRESS MAY BE reporters. were to have a working dinner later REPRIMANDED OVER "Obviously, when a people's army turns Thursday to continue their discussions. REPORT ON DILI its guns on its own people, something has gone very badly wrong," Evans said. POPE'S TIMOR 'STAND' Jakarta Post. 19 December 1991. News He said failure of an official commission UNCHANGED item, abdridged. to produce a report considered fair by the international community would revive the (Kyodo, Jakarta, Dec 19) Comment: Besides showing Suharto and debate over East Timor. Harmoko at their moralistic and chauvin- Pope John Paul II will not take a stand "Questions will arise about international whether the predominantly Catholic dio- istic best, this signals that we can expect a confidence in Indonesia. Questions of change in the almost saturation reporting of cese of East Timor should be part of particular difficulty will arise in resolving Indonesia or not until the international events in East Timor by the Indonesian the East Timor question in the United press. dispute over the territory is resolved, Nations once and for all," Evans said. Catholic bishops in Indonesia said President Suharto has asked the press But Evans said his country's recognition Thursday. council to discuss the possibility of rep- of Indonesia's sovereignty over East Timor Following a meeting with Indonesian rimanding foreign publications which have was not in question. President Suharto, Monsignors published negative reports about the Nov "We recognise, as we have done since Darmaatmaja and Sukoto said the Roman 12 incident in Dili, says Minister of 1979, Indonesia's de jure soverignty over Catholic Church leader will not agree that Information, Harmoko. The council is to East Timor. What we want to explore is the diocese is part of Indonesia until its hold a plenary session on Jan 10 -12. that within that framework, it is possible to government can "assure" the world East Harmoko told reports that the President develop economic, social and political Timor is part of the country. said the foreign press reports were damag- strategies which will give East Timorese Darmaatmaja, Chairman of the Bishops' ing and biased. "Foreign press reports will greater confidence, greater comfort," he Conference of Indonesia, said, "The Pope be evaluated," he said, after a meeting with added. has a principle that the church as a religious the president. Evans said the difficulties faced by institution will not interfere in politics." "We want the foreign press to act with Hawke would not affect his visit, during Sukoto said in the meeting they also noble qualities and honesty. They should which he will meet President Suharto, discussed the november 12 incident in East not have entered Indonesia disguised as Defence Minister Benny Murdani and Timor's capital of Dili. tourists," he said, referring to a number of armed forces commander-in-chief Try journalists who slipped into East Timor Sutrisno. He met Foreign Minister Ali days before the incident occurred. Alatas in the morning. The minister said the government had He regretted Jakarta's decision to refuse called on the local press to discipline entry to Australian journalist Lindsay themselves and to put national interests East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 11 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

FIRST TIMORESE EYEWIT- from the land nearby. Bodies were still dying comrade, it was impossible to cry for being loaded onto the trucks, falling heavily, those whom the Indonesians 'despise'. NESS ACCOUNT inert. Our young students. The Hino trucks continued to arrive. There were large trails of blood across They carried off dozens of bodies, hun- The 12 November Massacre at Santa the road in front of the entrance to the dreds of prisoners. Cruz Cemetery cemetery, from the bodies that had been dragged along. On the ground by the This is how the First Massacre ended. This document reached Lisbon last week. cemetery wall, the earth was drenched with Santa Cruz has joined the list of other Extracts were reported in the Lisbon daily, the blood of our young martyrs. equally heinous massacres - Tien An Men Publico, on 19 December 1991. It is the first At 16.00 that day, the many large brown and Timisoara. But with a difference. In eyewitness report from a Timorese source, spots were still visible, as well as many China and Roumania, things have changed. whose identity cannot be divulged. The objects scattered around, small things, But the behaviour of the Indonesian following is an uncorrected translation from pieces of cloth, the remnants of books and government will not change. There will be the Portuguese. exercise books. as many massacres as are needed to At 7.50 in the morning, at the Santa In the evening, desolate families came exterminate the East Timorese people who Cruz cemetery, the sound of gunfire by with their children, looking for someone, for have demonstrated their loathing for the automatic weapons rang out. Then there a son, a brother, a friend. presence of the Indonesians, for the were short blasts of gunfire. Nearby, a What name will the Indonesian com- occupation. hundred metres away, children and mander give to this operation? This isn't Today (it is now 20 November), battal- youngsters were running in all directions. yet known... ions of Indonesian soldiers are marching Farther away, other children were crying But the Indonesians were there. through the streets of Dili ... singing. It is and running to look for their parents. Most of them were children and young 9.05 in the morning. The soldiers sing while Quickly, people came to the doors of people, though there were also some adults. the martyred, bereaved people weep in their houses, wanting to see what was They had brought flowers, demanded their their homes, their sons massacred by these happening, waiting for news. rights. Indonesian soldiers. To this day, visits to the wounded and In fifteen minutes, the first news came - Why had this happened? 24 dead! Counting the first bodies was the prisoners are not allowed. Even senior easy. More than a thousand people, most of personalities like the Governor or the Hino army vehicles arrived. The front of them young, had attended the Mass at Bishop have not been allowed to see the the Santa Cruz cemetery was carpeted with Motael Church in memory of Sebastiao, hundreds of dead bodies. bodies, young people! The bodies were assassinated by a terrorist group organised Some Indonesians have themselves been loaded onto the trucks. The bodies were by the Indonesian military command. When revolted to see such extreme brutality, the dragged out, then two men took hold of the Mass came to an end, a huge procession planned massacre, the executions and them, swung them, and threw them onto made its way to the Santa Cruz cemetery. knifings.... the trucks. Another two up on the trucks This was a procession in memory of the When the bodies were taken down from arranged the bodies with their feet, to make young hero, Sebastiao. On the way, those the trucks, they were stripped naked, in- more space. taking part unfurled banners with cluding the New Zealander and the girl The counting by several eyewitnesses nationalist slogans and shouted patriotic students. The Indonesians took their was still easy - it was now up to fifty. slogans. clothes off and burnt the clothes. Some The bodies continued to come, dragged When they arrived at the Santa Cruz things fell out of the pockets, rosaries, re- by two soldiers, members of the Indonesian cemetery, many were carrying flowers, ligious figurines, student cards ... Domingos armed forces; they were being brought out praying with their rosaries. They spread dos Santos (from Ermera), Olinda Marques of the cemetery or were dragged across inside and outside the cemetery. Banners (from Iliomar). plots of land on two sides of the cemetery. were unfurled on top of the walls of the 170 wounded people were taken to By 9.15, at least three Hino trucks had cemetery and many young people got on Lahane Hospital during the first hours, but driven off from Santa Cruz cemetery, car- top of the walls. they weren't given any treatment - they rying bodies, piled on top of each other, A few minutes before 8 in the morning, a died one after the other, among them uni- like sacks of sand. force of armed Indonesian commandos versity students. There at the cemetery, the orders were arrived and immediately started shooting at Among those who had been wounded, coming from the Panglima... the young people who were on top of the some continued to resist, while others did At 9.10, a young person tried to escape, wall. There followed an intense and not; some were not seen by the Indonesian running along the side of the cemetery of prolonged volley of gunfire. This was the soldiers (their task was only to kill, not to the 'bapaks' [the military cemetery is op- moment of a huge massacre, the first mas- fight but to kill 'young Timorese students'). posite the Snata Cruz cemetery]. Two sacre. Many of the young people who had Some were able to escape, and crawled into soldiers ran after him, shooting down to the entered the cemetery tried to flee from the houses in the neighbourhood, or managed to ground. The young man stopped, turned other side, scaling the wall. But this was a reach their own homes. But the Indonesian and ran back followed by the two soldiers. planned operation, a full-scale massacre. As soldiers showed that they could 'sniff' them One of them pounced on him and kicked the youths climbed the wall, there were out. That same night, they searched the him in the back so that he fell with his face more bursts of gunfire, from soldiers in houses, looking for the wounded and the flat on the ground. A few moments earlier, camouflage on the land nearby. fugitives. There were (and continue to be) reinforcements from 744 battalion had The girls were not so easily hit; many nights of anguish throughout the city. arrived, dressed in camouflage; they had hid behind the tombstones for protection. Silence prevails, like the silence at the peak formed a line, their guns held ready to fire. Then they gathered together in the crypt; a of Mt Ramelau with terror, sadness and They noticed that the soldiers had not shot British journalist was also there. The kill- silence at its feet. This is how the the young man, and they protested loudly. ings which followed, shooting and knifing, Indonesian army displays its triumphal The voices of the soldiers who were were carried out with the usual brutality, arrogance. protesting were clearly audible. mercilessly. Boys who were captured alive Some of the wounded who reached the Meanwhile the bodies continued to be were hand-cuffed ... so many handcuffs! At hospital were given medication and died brought out of Santa Cruz cemetery and that moment, it was impossible to go near a within half an hour. East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 12 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

The Red Cross (whose task it is to help The Bishop has not been allowed to see the security situation in Indonesia's people in a time of war) have been pre- the dead bodies. Why? youngest province. vented from treating or protecting people. In whose interest is it to conceal the re- Because of the incident, many East The aim was to kill. It is the practice of sults of the massacre? Timorese "are feeling less secure and are these troops to treat prisoners as the en- The only way the Indonesian army frightened," KWI deputy chairman, Mgr emy who must be treated with hatred - could defend itself would be for it to show Leo Sukoto told reporters after meeting and the enemy is the Timorese people, the students - alive. If they have not died, President Suharto. especially the young people. why don't they show them, alive? The rea- "There are also many people who say The Red Cross could have save many of son is that they have been killed by regular their children and relatives have gone the wounded, but they were kept away Indonesian troops, on the orders of their missing," Darmoatmojo [KWI chairman] from the places where they could have commanders. said. "This is very distressing. The efforts performed the most essential part of their In Jakarta, they say they are not worried by the government for the past 15 years humanitarian mission ... had they been about criticisms from diplomats and could suffer a setback." KWI was ready to among civilised people. government. Soon the whole thing will die restore peace if the governament asked, On the night of the 13 and 14 November, down. This is how the security principle is Mgr Leo said. "KWI proposes that the some covered armoured personnal carriers applied to all brutalities. youths who took part in the Nov 12 inci- (unimogs - the name for a Portuguese army Timor has been in a state of terror since dent be approached by an appropriate vehicle in former days) pulled up near a 1975. Prisoners, persecuted, disappeared. method so that they could feel safe and ward where some of the wounded were In the Santa Cruz massacre (like the return to school." lying. Suddenly, all the lights went out, also many others that have occurred since 1975) Mgr Darmoatmojo said the KWI would in the city. In the wards and in the there has been torture in many police try to bring the East Timor diocese under 'unimogs' there were cries of pain. Then the offices in Dili and in the interior. its administration rather than having it 'unimogs' departed. Following the Santa Cruz massacre, remain a separate administration under the Indeed, the Indonesian commander was there have been persecutions every day in Vatican. But the key was in the hands of right when he said - there was no second people's houses (it is now 20.XI.1991). On the government. "If the govt could convince massacre. It is simply that the massacre has the 13 and 14, there were 20 prisoners at other countries to recognise East Timor as continued every day and every night, the the Comoro Police. part of Indonesia, the Pope would wounded have been abandoned, the The houses have been searched, the immediately agree.... The Pope will not take wounded have been executed. This is be- fragile houses of the simple Timorese the initiative but rather will wait for the cause each survivor is an eyewitness, be- people, continuing the brutalities that have international conflict over the territory to cause many of the wounded were on the taken place in East Timor since 1975, by be resolved." 'black-list', because every Indonesian knows the forces of 'law and order'. Regarding the Nov 12 incident, Mgr Leo that it is the resolve of the Indonesian Between Aileu and Dili, there are six expressed doubts about allegation that the government to kill anyone who refuses to control posts, just like during the 70s and church was involved. accept 'integration'. 80s. The people, particularly the students, The Indonesians themselves say they are ordered to take off their shoes and BISHOPS PLEAD FOR know very well that the 'commission of socks. TIMORESE CLEMENCY inquiry' is nothing but a farce and could not Some people say that the situation in be otherwise with this regime. The killings Dili is calm and that there are no screams of The Australian. 20 Dec 91. Dateline: Dili in East Timor were not the result of a local pain from people being tortured. They and Jakarta. Abridged; based on combined initiative. Everybody knows who has set must be thankful and smile, and in this AFP and Reuters wires. up the terrorist groups composed of native way, the Javanese army will be pleased. people. The Governor himself could The world should open its eyes. Words The Indonesian Bishops Council last explain. alone can only prolong the massacre. night appealed for clemency for Timorese The supreme command in Indonesia has When will the UN come to East Timor? demonstrators under arrest and facing the washed his hands, saying that Indonesians Where is the conscience of the world? death penalty on charges of subversion in would never brutally murder Indonesian Come and see the holes where Indonesian connection with the Dili demonstration and 'citizens' (?). But, in East Timor, there are army vehicles dumped our sons, our sisters subsequent massacre last month. no Indonesian citizens. And moreover it and brothers, our comrades. Come before The council called on President Suharto should be said that in fact, there has only they all decompose or the remains of our not to take action against the young East been one massacre. It has been a massacre brothers have been burnt. Timorese, but to try instead to restore faith ever since the beginning, since 1975, with a We appeal to God, to the USA and to and trust in the Indonesian government. death toll of 200,000. the conscience of humanity. "Those children should not be pun- Apart from the information invented by (On the night of 13/14 November, there ished," the council's vice-chairman, Bishop the police, the military authorities and the were 200 prisoners at the Comoro police Leo Sukoto, said. Indonesian government, all eyewitnesses office. From a reliable source.) "Those to be punished are the ones who and those close to the event are unanimous manipulated young people for their politi- in saying that the death toll is far in excess INDONESIAN BISHOPS cal ends." The bishops yesterday also called for of a hundred. People have counted 135 CONCERNED, OFFER HELP bodies up to the present day, but they more dialogue in East Timor. "One step continue to carry out summary executions ON EAST TIMOR which can be taken is to open a dialogue (which it is in the interest of the military to between the church, the local government, deny) while many of the wounded in Source: Jakarta Post. 20 December 1991 and the ABRI there," the chairman of the hospital continue to die. News item, abridged. council, Bishop Darmaatmadja, said. He The military hospital is still closed to The Bishops' Conference of Indonesia told reporters after meeting President the relatives. Why? (KWI) yesterday expressed concern about Suharto that through dialogue the aspira- Relatives are not allowed see or visit the people missing in East Timor following tions of the people in East Timor could be their loved ones. Why? the Nov 12 tragic incident in Dili, and about heard. East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 13 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

Bishop Darmaatmadja pointed out that as we have done here -- I know of at EVANS ENDS INDONESIA following the November 12 shooting in Dili least several occasions -- that the people there were feeling "not so at peace" important thing is to have a credible and VISIT and afraid. effective impartial investigation, and that Foreign observers in Dili report that those who may have used excessive (Reuter, Jakarta, Moses Manoharan, Dec young East Timorese are in a state of psy- force be disciplined. And that's the basic 21) chological shock. point that we've been making. Australian Foreign Minister Gareth "With that firing, the broke out hears but Evans ended a visit to Indonesia on strengthened our will to fight," said a young Q -- US policy is that the US accepts the Saturday insisting he was satisfied with his man after attending evening mass at the annexation with having -- without talks on last month's massacre in East Motael church in Dili. accepting that an act of self-determina- Timor despite being snubbed by President He ignored the warning of an older man tion has taken place. I mean, is -- can Suharto. to stop talking to a foreign reporter because you explain how you can do both? I Evans acknowledged at a news confer- security officials were approaching. mean, how can the United States on the ence he was told only late on Friday night Women students in the decrepit one hand accept the annexation, and, on he would be unable to meet Suharto. He University of East Timor said they had not the other hand, say no act of self-de- also could not see Defence Minister Benny had any discussion on the November 12 termination has occurred? Murdani and a meeting with armed forces violence. MR. BOUCHER: It's been a carefully- commander Try Sutrisno, for which he had formulated policy that I don't have with extended his trip by one day, did not CHOFU CITY: 'LEAVE TIMOR' me right now. I hesitate to try to expand materialise. on it myself, frankly. Sorry. "It is true that I have not had some (Kyodo, Tokyo, Dec 20) meetings I would ideally have liked to have Tokyo's Chofu City Assembly urged the Q Do you think a credible process is had," said a tired-looking Evans, sitting Japanese government Dec 20 to tie future under way for getting to the bottom of beside Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali aid to Indonesia to that country's this? Alatas. withdrawal of troops from East Timor. MR. BOUCHER: There is a process under Asked what kind of a message Jakarta In the first such action of its kind in the way -- I'm not in a position at this point had conveyed by having three leaders snub country, the Assembly voted to urge the to make judgments. I think we were his mission, Evans said their non- government to press Jakarta on withdraw- asked about some remarks the other day availability might have been due to the ing from the former Portuguese colony in that I still haven't pinned down, but I timing of his visit. the wake of last month's mass killings by think I told you that our people that Alatas added: "You (the international Indonesian troops in the East Timor capital went out to East Timor had reports from community) have been telling us how to of Dili. several sources that there were 75 to 100 handle the situation. Don't rub things the The assembly motion notes the deaths. So we have information as well wrong way, don't exaggerate, don't in- "considerable sum" in official development ourselves and we'll just have to see what sinuate..." assistance (ODA) Japan extends to the commission produces in the way of a Alatas said Jakarta was reviewing a Indonesia. Japan, Jakarta's largest ODA report when it produces it. policy implemented in 1989 to open up source, has budgeted 240 billion yen for East Timor to free travel by outsiders. Indonesian ODA in fiscal 1991. "We find that the no-visa rule has been A foreign ministry spokesman said EVANS REMARKS taken advantage of," Alatas said, adding earlier this month that Tokyo may link its that several journalists had been in Dili on (Reuter, Jakarta, Moses Manoharan, Dec the day of the violence without having decisions on future economic aid to 20) Indonesia with its assessment of Jakarta's followed Indonesia's rule of first declaring investigation into the November 12 Indonesia realises that the report of its themselves journalists. shootings. inquiry into last month's army shootings in Australia would be unhappy if East East Timor must be fair, visiting Australian Timor was closed again to outsiders, Evans BUSH 'CONVERSATIONS' Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said on said, adding that his attempt to get Friday. permission to open a consulate in Dili had U.S. State Department briefing (FNS, Dec He said he had made clear in talks with been unsuccessful. 20) Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and Interior Jakarta would welcome an envoy of the Minister Rudini that it would be in U.N. secretary-general, but not anyone sent Q Richard, yesterday or perhaps it was Indonesia's interest to publish a report ac- to probe the killings. The United Nations the day before -- President Bush was ceptable to the international community. does not recognise Indonesia's annexation of asked about Indonesia and East Timor, "Certainly among the ministers I have East Timor in 1976. and he said something to the effect that spoken to so far I think (there is) a very there have been lots of conversations. acute appreciation of the points that I have 'FRIEND' EVANS TREAT ED Can you tell us what kinds of conver- made and a willingness to wrestle very LIKE AN ENEMY sations? Has there been a lot of active seriously with them," Evans told reporters. US diplomacy toward Indonesia on this Evans said he was confident of staying Source: The (Melbourne) Age. 23 matter, and is any change being con- on as foreign minister under Australia's new December 1991. Unabridged comment by templated in US policy toward Prime Minister Paul Keating, who ousted Lindsay Murdoch [who was refused per- Indonesia -- toward East Timor? Bob Hawke on Thursday. He paid tribute mission to visit Indonesia when Foreign MR. BOUCHER: There has been a num- to Hawke. Minister Gareth Evans was there last ber of things going on. Our embassy week]. early on had people go out to East The refusal of three of Indonesia's most Timor to talk to officials, look at the senior leaders, including President Suharto, situation. I think there was a subsequent to see the Foreign Minister, Senator Evans, visit as well. Our embassy in Djakarta signals that Jakarta will not let international has been reminding Indonesian officials, East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 14 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 pressure dictate military policy, especially EAST TIMOR JAPAN civilize people there." One panelist on East Timor. responded to this, "You are now studying The snub sent a clear message to SPEAKING TOUR 1991 in a very appropriate country. This Australia: mind your own business. Senator country says it didn't 'invade' but did Evans' visit to Indonesia was a mistake, not Dec 23, 1991 by amatsuno 'advance into' Southeast Asian countries because of what he had to say but because The 6th East Timor Japan Speaking during the last world war. Please study hard Indonesia chose to refuse to hear the advice Tour, which began on 19 November and the history of this country." of a friend and a neighbour. ended on 14 December, drew greater at- Aki, Free East Timor Japan Coalition The snub by the three key Indonesians tention than in the past, due to the Santa who will decide on any action over the Cruz massacre which occured just before FROM TIANANMEN TO massacre was particularly disappointing the speaking tour started. Now the East TIMOR because of Australia's soft response to the Timor Speaking Tour has become an annual incident so far. event in Japan and more and more groups The following editorial comment was pub- The treatment of Senator Evans was wish to listen directly to what East lished in 'The Economist', London (21 shabby, and surprising, given that he has Timorese want to say. The importance of December 1991 - 3 January 1992): consistently recognised Indonesian's claim this kind of program is obvious in a to sovereignty to East Timor. country like Japan where no East Timorese Why Indonesia may want to listen to Despite the Senator's best efforts to lives and it's hard to imagine what is outsiders play down the snub (he had "no doubt happening in that remote island. whatsoever" his comments would be Free East Timor Japan Coalition, the The parallels are plain: unarmed civilians passed on) he was denied the chance to put organizer of the tour, invited three East killed by army gunfire; the horrified Australia's views to President Suharto, the Timorese this year. They were Agio reaction of the outside world; the instinc- Defence Minister, Mr Benny Murdani, and Pereira from Australia, Abilio Sereno and tive rejection of foreign criticism; instant the Armed Forces Commander, General Donaciano Gomes from Portugal. Agio arrests and further repression after the Try Sutrisno. Pereira, who had released his first album event. Last month's massacre of scores of Indonesia's attitude to Senator Evans' "East Timor: I'm Still Fighting" last year, demonstrators in East Timor has, inevita- visit adds to the dilemma Canberra will face sang his songs in 13 cities and the audiences bly, become "Indonesia's Tiananmen". if the Indonesians inquiry into the killings is were really touched by his powerful voice, Yet the analogy is exact neither in a whitewash, and can only add to the sincerity and deep expression. He also background nor in detail. As communism concerns of the Labour caucus and spoke at the symposium on East Timor in crumbled beyond China's borders, the ger- Australian unions that Australia has not Tokyo, which was attended by about 150 ontocrats in Beijing viewed the student done enough to protest against a massacre people. occupation of Tiananmen Square as the of civilians on our doorstep. Abilio Sereno was one of the four start of a much bigger protest and so the Senator Evans said at the weekend that Timorese students who had sought asylum beginning of their end. The slaughter of the Prime Minister, Mr Keating, will still at the Dutch embassy in Jakarta in October June 4th 1989 and the repression that fol- visit Indonesia next year. Given Indonesia's 1986. The four were threatened to leave lowed were deemed necessary by China's treatment of a so-called friend, one wonders the embassy and were living under strict old despots for their own survival. By how it will take to advice from a virtual surveillance. He succeeded in escaping to contrast, the government of President stranger, if indeed Mr Keating still goes. Portugal by bribing immigrant officials at Suharto has no such excuse: the Fretilin the Jakarta airport. Now he is active as the secessionists of East Timor are no military 233 FRENCH STUDENTS head of youth section of Fretilin in Lisbon. threat; the 3,000 who gathered at the Santa Cruz in Dili on November 12th to mourn a SEND OPEN LETTER TO In Tokyo he participated in the demonstration to the Indonesian embassy young political activist killed two weeks FOREIGN MINISTER on 29 November. earlier were no threat to the government in Donaciano Gomes, 22, was the youngest distant Jakarta. Sat, 21 Dec 91, Provided by of the three. He was invited as a leader of Those differences matter. A secure [email protected] (Bruno Kahn) the new young generation who organized govrnment is likely to be more amenable to 233 students from the Ecole Normale the demonstration at the Pope's visit in foreign views of human rights and political Superieure, one of the most prestigious October 1989. In Japan he also freedoms than one that is an anachronism. French schools parallel to the University participated in the demonstration to the Whereas China dismisses any foreign cursus, have signed a letter addressed to Indonesian embassy in Tokyo and the 30 criticism as "interference", a UN human Roland Dumas, the minister for foreign hour hunger-strike in front of the Foreign rights delegation had arrived in East Timor affairs. This represents about a third of the Ministry on 12-13 December. (gobbled up by Indonesian is 1975) on total number of students in the school. About 30 people joined the demonstra- November 11th at the government's The letter attracts Mr Dumas' attention tion to the Indonesian embassy on 29 invitation. The foreign ministry in Jakarta on the "tragedy of East Timor, conformally November and the delegation consisting of a now says (disingenuously) that foreign to a certain idea we have of our republic and parliamentarian and representatives of East journalists "have been free to enter and of the universality of the principles on Timor support groups handed a letter of cover events in provinces in Indonesia, which it rests (...) The French government, protest to the embassy. including East Timor" and will continue to which not so long ago widely claimed its On 30 November, the symposium on be so. adherence to these principles (going so far East Timor was held at the Sophia In which case, the questions for the as to define a right of interference), can but University, Tokyo. It lasted for four hours outside world are how great is its influence defend then today in East Timor". and heard discussions by specialists on and how should it be used. The same The initiative of the letter was taken by international law and politics, a journalist, a questions were asked after Tiananmen the Comite des Normaliens pour Timor Portuguese embassy staff, Agio Pereira and Square; the answers involved western fi- (Committee of Ecole Normale students for James Dunn, former Australian consul in nancial sanctions against China and a ban on East Timor), created after a conference of East Timor. At the end of the symposium visits by senior officials. China was Jose Ramos Horta at the Ecole last one Indonesian student said, "We didn't unimpressed. All it had to do was wait until November. invade East Timor. What is important is to the Gulf War and the wrangles with Britain East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 15 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 over Hong Kong compelled its inclusion in and has revived the controversy about their experiences. But they agreed to meet the West's counsels. Indonesia's annexation of the former me at night and in secret because they said Portuguese colony in 1975. Canada, they wanted people to know about the The power of the foreign purse Holland and Denmark have now suspended Indonesian army's behaviour towards the Many Indonesians, aware of foreign aid to Indonesia. The relations with the Timorese. demand for their country's oil and gas, will country's biggest neighbour, Australia, have Another witness, speaking in Indonesian: advocate the same mix of patience and plummeted. "The army came and shot directly into chauvinism. They should not be too Doubts still surround exactly what did the crowd. Some people were killed. Others confident. Indonesia will hold an election happen in the Timorese capital, Dili, last ran into the Santa Cruz cemetery where we for part of its legislature next April, to be month. The government says troops waited. The army came in after us with followed by a presidential election in opened fire in self-defence when they were weapons. Some had guns, some knives, March 1993. Social stability during this attacked by demonstrators, and that only some sticks." period depends on economic growth -- 19 people were killed. Human rights groups Another witness, also speaking in which in turn depends partly on the and witnesses say more than a hundred Indonesian: largesse of foreign donors. Last year, they people died. "I was in the cemetery. They shot and pledged $4.5 billion; for the year ending Claire Bolderson [BBC correspondent in next March it will be $US4.7 billion. people collapsed. Then they just pulled Jakarta] has just been to East Timor where away the bodies and threw them into the Indonesia's foreign debt is $57 billion, and she heard from the Timorese people servicing that consumes 30 per cent of each truck. First they kicked me twice on the themselves: ground, in the neck. And then they knew I year's export earnings; the government is in Witness, speaking in Indonesian: no position to thumb its nose at foreigners. was still alive. They forced me into the "At the cemetery I saw three trucks. truck with their guns. Some of them ordered Foreigners, however, some of whom Two came from one place, another from a have suspended aid in reaction to the mas- me to stand up, then they kicked me in the different direction. In front of Santa Cruz, stomach and other parts of my body, sacre, must use their power not simply to the young people had closed off the road so push Indonesia but to nudge it towards ordering me to stand up, over and over those trucks couldn't enter. The soldiers again, kicking me until I collapsed again. greater tolerance. This does not necessarily were angry. They got down from the truck. mean that donors should take up the cause "At the mortuary, anyone who couldn't The commander shot in the air. I thought, move was just thrown away." of the secessionists of East Timor. Nor 'yes, all the soldiers are going to shoot, to does it mean the outright condemnation of a CB: The Australian government has de- frighten the young people'. But then they scribed the incident as an aberration, not a regime which, for the past quarter century, shot directly at the youngsters. They shot has not done badly in meeting the basic deliberate act of Indonesian government them." policy. But critics of Indonesia's handling needs of a nation that spreads, with a CB: The account of events at the Santa bewildering array of languages and races, of East Timor, while recognising that the Cruz cemetery in Dili last month given by shooting almost certainly did not come on over more than 13,000 islands. this Timorese community leader is echoed What it should mean is some steady orders from Jakarta, point out that it was time and time again by dozens of those who the most public and dramatic sign of a pressure. Let foreign governments press for were present at an anti-Indonesian an international inquiry into the massacre policy of oppression of the Timorese that demonstration which, all witnesses say, has been carried out over the past 16 years. (Indonesia's "independent" one may wash was peaceful. The Timorese I spoke to said too white), with appropriate punishments Since the Indonesian takeover, human that troops opened fire on the three- rights groups say that more than one hun- to follow. But let them also press more thousand strong crowd without warning widely, for an uncensored press, free trade dred thousand people have died in war, and unprovoked. Foreigners who were there famine and widespread abuse of the civilian unions and an independent judiciary -- the tell the same story. And witnesses say they institutions needed to make the gov- population. believe that more than one hundred people Mario Viegas Carrascalao is the ernment, and the armed forces, properly were killed in the shooting and in the accountable. Above all, let them discreetly Indonesian-appointed governor of East stabbings and beatings of victims which Timor. He says that now, things have to (a public loss of face would be unproduc- followed but of which the military has tive) remind the president that the outside change. made no mention. Carrascalao, speaking in English: world is becoming much less tolerant of The witness continues: institutionalised corruption, nepotism and "Now it's time to evaluate everything, the abuse of human rights. President "The shooting stopped - I was in front and change what should be changed by Suharto is wise enough to realise that of my jeep. Then soldiers without guns making corrections and this is all to prevent Indonesia is a long way from China. came, came carrying knives. There was an the possibility of happening again." old man near me who was still alive. A CB: Jakarta has pinned the blame for the BBC SPEAKS TO EYEWIT- soldier came and stabbed him twice. Dead. shootings firmly on anti-Indonesian Two or three people near the cemetery elements which, it says, disrupt life in East NESSES gate, also, were not dead. The soldiers took Timor against the wishes of the majority of knives and stabbed them to death, too." the people. In defence of its occupation of BBC's World at One, on BBC Radio Four, CB: The Timorese are frightened to talk. 23 December 1991 [This is one of the three the territory, Indonesia points to the There's a heavy Indonesian military substantial improvements to East Timor's main domestic BBC news programmes of presence in the territory. People are regu- the day.] infrastructure and economy. The larly detained for indefinite periods of time, Portuguese left after four hundred years of and even a casual conversation with a On the Massacre in Santa Cruz, Dili, neglect. The Indonesian army, on the other foreigner can lead to a midnight visit from hand, has built miles of roads, many occupied East Timor the security services. schools, hospitals and clinics. And the Introduction: I managed to contact two young men military says, if you take the troops out, The shooting of scores of civilians by who were amongst the 89 people taken to that will stop. Brigadier-General Rudi Indonesian troops in the disputed territory the military hospital in Dili after the Warouw is the military commander in East of East Timor brought worldwide con- shooting. They were told on their release Timor: demnation to the Indonesian government, from hospital not to talk to anyone about Warouw, speaking in Indonesian: East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 16 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

"There will be no changes. The armed the past, particularly (at them time of) its Matheas Gunvea Duarte, 40, who forces will continue normal operations to seizure of East Timor in 1975. International worked for the Dili branch of the develop and help the East Timor people, pressure didn't make any difference then. Indonesian Red Cross and was believed to physically and mentally." Why should it now? have hidden East Timorese resistance leader CB: Indonesia has made it clear that it "Because I think a number of countries Xanana Gusmao for 12 days prior to the considers the process of integration, as it who could have applied that kind of pres- November 12 shooting, was also among the calls its annexation of East Timor, to be sure have chosen not to. Britain certainly, detainees, Editor said. complete. The Timorese, Jakarta says, will at the time of the annexation of East Timor, Editor said security authorities in East never get independence. But at the United wasn't particularly vocal and hasn't been Timor were also seeking five other civil Nations, East Timor is not recognised as a since. And were it not for a few of us servants believed to have been involved in part of Indonesia, and young people in East who've actually been to the country, seen the November 12 demonstration. Timor say that gives them hope. They say for ourselves, then I think the voices would The weekly did not identify the other 28 the physical improvements to East Timor be very muted indeed. Until this latest detained by police in Dili. are irrelevant and that now, after the massacre, very little was heard of East Attorney General Singgih has said eight massacre at Santa Cruz, they're more Timor at all. I think most people would of the 31 would be tried for subversion, a determined than ever to continue their never have heard of it to this moment, had charge which carries a maximum sentence of campaign for independence. it not been for that series of events. death. Witness, speaking in Indonesian: "So, I think we've got a responsibility. He said the others would be tried under a "We don't want them. East Timor should The United Nations have got a responsi- clause in the Indonesian penal code which be independent. It's better to die now than bility because there are supposed to be says that those caught publicly expressing to have East Timor integrated with rules on decolonisation. I myself went to opposition towards the lawful government, Indonesia." the United Nations about two years ago to can be jailed up to seven years. BBC newscaster in London: argue for a referendum in East Timor, That report from Claire Bolderson in properly supervised by the UN, so the FOUR TIMORESE DETAIN- East Timor. The British government which East Timorese themselves could say EES IN BALI SEVERELY whether they want to be part of Indonesia gave 22.7 million worth of aid to Indonesia TORTURED last year, says it's following developments or wanted some other arrangement." BBC: I was talking to Labour's Overseas closely and will review its aid in the light of TAPOL report, 23 December 1991. Indonesia's response to the commission of Development spokeswoman, Ann Clwyd, inquiry ordered by the Indonesian about the situation in East Timor. The four East Timorese students who president, which reaffirmed the previous were arrested in Bali last month have been official death toll. ITEMS FROM PUBLICO 23 severely tortured by their captors. Reliable But Labour's Overseas Development DEC. sources report that they are all suffering spokeswoman, Ann Clwyd, one of the few physically from the consequences of this MPs who's been to East Timor, is calling Translated, digested, and forwarded by mal-treatment. Jose Pompeia Saldanha for tougher action now. She told me had no [email protected] (Fernando Manuel Ribeiro in particular is reported to be un- confidence whatsoever in the inquiry. Vasconcelos) able to walk; he is unrecognisable because Ann Clwyd: his face is so badly disfigured. Timorese Priest detained The Movement of Indonesians Abroad "It's described as an independent inquiry for Human Rights and Democracy has no- and I don't think it's anything of the sort The Indonesian authorities detained for tified Professor P.H. Kooijmans, the UN because the chairman of the inquiry is a several hours the priest who celebrated the Special Rapporteur on Torture, about their military man who was a member of a mass before the massacre of the 12 treatment. regiment which itself was responsible for November. Domingos Oliveira [general The other three detainees are Fernando atrocities in East Timor in the past. I think, secretary of the UDT] told the news Araujo, Clemente Santos and Antonio four out of seven of the inquiry team are in agency Lusa that the priest was detained Matos. They are all students at Udayana fact military men or with not a very good Saturday and released Sunday. The UDT University, Denpasar. past records in East Timor." general secretary, speaking form Perth, also Another source has informed us that BBC: What do you think the outside said this detention shows the climate of Fernando Araujo was transferred to Jakarta world, the international community, can do intimidation and persecution imposed by on 20 December. The other three were about this? Indonesia. He asked that the international transferred to Jakarta today. It is un- "First of all, I think it's atrocious that community take effective measures derstood that all four will be tried, although our Secretary of State for Defence, Tom regarding East Timor. it is not clear whether the transfer means King, just a few months ago, was in that the trials will take place in Jakarta. Indonesia promoting very positively sales HIGH LEVEL TIMOR This is not thought likely as court of military equipment. We know the DETENTIONS procedures in Indonesia normally require Indonesians' record. It's a bad one as far as that a trial must take place at the location human rights is concerned. And therefore I (AFP, Jakarta, Dec 23) where the alleged 'crime' is said to have been would like, obviously, all military sales and Two officials and a member of the committed. also aid, frozen to Indonesia. We do give Indonesian Red Cross were among 31 On 16 December, TAPOL initiated a quite a large amount of aid to the country as people detained in East Timor following campaign calling for the immediate release well. And I think we should follow the lead last month's bloody shooting in Dili, the of all East Timorese arrested in Dili, Jakarta of other, more enlightened countries and weekly magazine Editor said here Monday. and Bali, in the wake of the 12 November certainly freeze for the present that aid Editor, quoting unnamed sources, massacre. On that day, it wrote to Prime until we do get a truly independent inquiry identified the two civil servants as Filemeno Minister John Major, calling on the British into the circumstances of what can only be Gomes, 50, a high ranking official at the Government to press for their release. No described as a massacre." governor's office, and Bonifacio Barrero, answer has yet been received. BBC: But Indonesia has shown no ca- who heads the office's logistic department. pacity to response to outside pressure in East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 17 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

'EVERYONE THERE IS VERY for intelligence at Kodim, the Dili military Brigadier-General Warouw. However, one command. He was identified on Channel should look further up the structure for TRAUMATISED' SAYS PAPAL Four by several East Timorese refugees in another hidden hand which is very likely to ENVOY Lisbon who have arrived in Portugal from be that of retired General Benny Murdani. East Timor during the past year or so. He dominated intelligence work in the army Source: Publico. Date 23 December 1991. Channel Four has produced a number of for many years and undoubtedly continues News report, summarised from the news items about the 12 November mas- to hold sway within intelligence, especially Portuguese. sacre. as regards army operations in East Timor. "Everyone there is very traumatised" The video film shows Mursani clearly was the comment of the Papal envoy to several times, mostly with his back to the XMAS AT EAST TIMOR Dili, Monsignor Giovanni Andrea, when camera, giving commands to troops, some EMBASSY IN CANBERRA asked by Publico about the situation in East of them riot police carrying shields. Some Timor on leaving the territory at the end of of the troops were seen pointing to the Dec 25, 1991 by peg:cietact cameraman making the film, apparently last week. During his stay, he met not only Some 20 East Timorese are spending the the head of the Catholic Church, Bishop motioning him to stop. This caused Lieutenant Mursani to turn, so that his face Christmas Night at the East Timor Belo, but also other members of the "Embassy" in Canberra. The "Embassy" Catholic community. was caught on camera. However, he continued to order the troops to pursue which was opened a couple of metres from When asked about the content of his the entrance gate of the Indonesian mission and the results of his conversations their 'mopping-up' operation in what the cameraman later described as a carefully Embassy immediately after the Dili with Bishop Belo, the Papal envoy was Massacre has been open 24 hours a day, 7 very reserved, saying only that his visit controlled operation. The identification was the subject of a days a week since. The "Embassy" which was intended as a "demonstration of also functions as an official picket of the affection" on the part of the Vatican. major news item on Channel Four's peak- hour news programme at 7.00pm on 23 Indonesian Embassy by the Canberra The envoy said that he had been asked Trades and Labour Council is housed in a by the Holy Father to "listen to and give December. The shot of Lt Mursani was reproduced wooden hut currently on loan and is at- courage to the Apostolic Administrator of tended without interruption by members Dili". The initiative was also described as as a still by Jill Jolliffe, the Lisbon-based Australian journalist who explains that she and supporters of CIET(ACT), several gesture of frateral support from the Holy East Timorese families who reside in Father to a bishop who is being called up to showed it separately to several refugees. "What is surprising is their instant rec- Canberra and by groups of East Timorese discharge his ministry in difficult cir- who travel almost daily the 300 km from cumstances". ognition." Eusebio Corsino, a former resistance Sydney to Canberra. The mood at the "Embassy" tonight is JAPAN PM: AID & RIGHTS fighter, told Channel Four that he knew many 'intel' officers by sight and knew dominated by the 200 crosses many of LINKED Mursani instantly as a commander from which bear the names of known victims of Kodim who would be in control of execut- the Dili Massacre but also by a Christmas (Kyodo, Tokyo, Dec 24) ing an operation. "Behind him, there would tree and Christmas decorations around the Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said be other people, other commanders," said "Embassy" hut, by Timorese music and by Tuesday that Japan may link its economic Corsino. discussions in Portuguese as to how best to aid to Indonesia and Myanmar to those Donaciano Gomes, a former student continue the struggle for indepen- dence and governments' human rights records. leader who took part in the demonstration freedom. "The East Timorese and Myanmar at the time of the Pope's visit to East Timor Suggestions by the TLC to close the problems are important. Japan will take in October 1989 and was later arrested, also "Embassy" between Christmas and New these problems into considerations when it recognised Lt Mursani. "He beat me when I Year when most Australians, including East extends its economic aid (to these coun- was in prison," Gomes said. He too knew Timor supporters, go on holidays were tries)," Miyazawa was quoted by chief him to be an officer at Kodim, in charge of vehemently rejected by the East Timorese cabinet secretary Koichi Kato as telling an intelligence. who vowed to keep the "Embassy" open as opposition party leader. Gomes also repeats the words of long as their demands are not met by the Tokyo is indonesia's biggest aid donor, Brigadier-General Warouw, commander of Australian and Indonesian governments. with 1991 aid totaling 240 billion yen. Kolakops, the operational command for the An immediate aim is the purchase of the Japan became in 1989 the first leading whole of East Timor. "Warouw told me, "Embassy" building and some basic industrial democracy to resume the aid to after failing to convert us: 'If you continue furniture for a permanent presence of an Myanmar. like this, I'll use my war machine just as East Timorese representative in the New Miyazawa made the statement in reply happened in China, in Tienanmen Square.'" Year. Anyone who is able to contribute to to a request by Satsuki Eda of the United "The presence of an officer who the target of $5000 for this purpose is Social Democratic Party that Japan link its wouldn't take part in normal policing op- invited to send a cheque marked "Embassy" aid policy to the human rights records of erations casts doubt on the account which to CIET(ACT), GPO Box 2583, Canberra Indonesia and Myanmar, Kato said. the Indonesian authorities have stuck to," ACT 2601, Australia. (Thank you very comments Channel Four. Jill Jolliffe said: much to the Australia East Timor OFFICER DIRECTING THE "A picture is building up of some planning Association in Melbourne who were the first to respond generously to the appeal!) MASSACRE IS IDENTIFIED of the event before 12 November. It gives the lie to the story that this was a sponta- Michael Wagner TAPOL Report, 24 December 1991 neous reaction of rage." According to our own understanding of DIET GROUP: STOP The man in plain clothes seen on the intelligence hierarchy, Lt Mursani ECONOMIC AID Yorkshire Television's footage of scenes at would fall within the intelligence structure the Santa Cruz massacre to be directing the in East Timor headed by Lieutenant- (Reuter, Tokyo, Dec 25) soldiers around the cemetery, has been Colonel Gatot, assistance for intelligence at identified as Lieutenant Mursani, assistant More than 260 members of the 764- Kolakops, whose superior officer is strong Diet, from both ruling and opposi- East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 18 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 tion parties, signed a petition to Prime FORGET AND FORGIVE: PRELIMINARY REPORT: Minister Miyazawa calling for a drastic change in policy towards Indonesia. BELO IN CHRISTMAS NATIONAL COMMISSION OF "We want aid cut off," a parliamentarian MESSAGE ENQUIRY. (FULL TEXT) told a news conference. Satsuki Eda, a leader of the parliamen- Jakarta Post. 26 December 1991. Dateline: tary group, said Japan, Indonesia's largest Dili. Byline: Ardimas Sasi and Yacob J. INCIDENT OF 12 NOVEMBER 1991, aid donor, must link human rights to its Herin. Abridged. DILI foreign policy. Comment: The real thrust of his message On 26 December 1991, the Komisi "As a close friend of Indonesia, Japan cannot be appreciated until we get the full Penyelidik Nasional (KPN, National must clearly tell them what it should on text. Note that the thrust here is what he told Commission of Inquiry) made public its human rights," he said. reporters, but his words at the Mass convey Report. It is entitled a 'Preliminary Report'. Japan provided 235 billion yen (1.83 a message which are not conveyed in JP's (Full text translated from the Indonesian.) billion dollars) in economic cooperation to headline. [Comments appear in brackets]. Indonesia this year including 170 billion yen (1.32 billion dollars) in official devel- Bishop Belo in his Christmas message I. INTRODUCTION appealed to the East Timorese people, opment assistance, he said. 1. General Some Japanese parliamentarians who many of whom remain traumatized by the signed the petition said Tokyo was reluc- Nov 12 tragedy, to forgive and forget and to The National Commission of Enquiry tant to take a tougher stand for fear develop the territory together. "Let's put (KPN) was formed in response to Indonesia could stop supplying crude oil to our problems behind us and apologize to Presidential Decree No. 53, 1991, is Japan. one another," he told reporters at his resi- made up of 7 members, and began the Indonesia accounts for more than 10 per dence on Christmas eve. performance of its duties on 21 cent of Japan's total crude imports and is "Let's look ahead in the spirit of Christ, November 1991. The Commission's its third largest supplier of crude oil to to where there is no more enemy, no activities included preparing the col- Japan after Saudi Arabia and the United conflict and no ethnic problems." lection of data in Jakarta from 21 Arab Emirates. The Bishop led the Mass at the cathe- November to 27 November, and an in- "Japan will consider what it should do dral in Dili. In his sermon, delivered in the vestigation in East Timor (Dili and about aid while trying not to meddle into local Potun dialect (sic) and Bahasa surrounds) from 28 to 14 December internal affairs of the country," Chief Indonesia, he urged the Timorese to 1991. Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said on strengthen the spirit of solidarity for the 2. Purpose and Aims Wednesday. province's further development. The KPN carried out its investigations A Japanese foreign ministry official said: However, he acknowledged that for in an accurate, free and just manner in "We have not yet fully understood the some families, this was a 'gray Christmas' order to obtain objective data and facts situation in East Timor. Therefore, we because the Nov 12 tragedy had left their relating to the November 12 incident in cannot decide what to do about economic relatives dead, injured or jailed. Dili. aid." "We are all outraged. We are living in fear, not in peace. We suffer, hate, cry and 3. Scope Excerpt from Kyodo, Tokyo, Dec 25: lose hope," he said. In performing its task, the KPN carried On Christmas Eve, thousands of people out investigative activities covering all Satsuki Eda, leader of the United Social thronged the beach in front of Motael aspects of the November 12 incident in Democratic Party and secretary general of Church. Most arrived by foot from differ- Dili, not including the questioning of the group, told Kyodo news service that ent corners of Dili. those in custody. Japan must make its economic aid de- Christmas was also celebrated among 4. Methods of Operation pendent on Indonesia's human rights record. dozens of people detained in connection Eda said he suspects recently installed with the Nov 12 incident. A party for them The KPN studied documents, met with mobile radio monitoring vehicles in Dili, was thrown in the cells with Brig. Gen. R.S. and interviewed the various sources of financed by a Japanese yen loan, might Warouw, chief of the East Timor military information and witnesses, observed have been used by authorities to track anti- command, and police chief Col. Ishak the scene of the incident, reconstructed Indonesian Fretilin guerrillas in East Timor. Kodiyat paying a visit to exchange greetings the event and compiled, tabulated and He said the equipment would enable with the detainees. analyzed the data and information Indonesian troops to mount a surprise at- One detainee from Baucau told Jakarta available. tack on Fretilin headquarters. Post he joined the Nov 12 demonstration in 5. Structure The NEC Corp. equipment was installed the belief that it was a move to make East This report is made up of the following and handed over to the Indonesian Timor independent. sections: authorities in Dili last August, said an as- sistant to Eda, Kiyoko Furusawa. I. Introduction II. The Work of the Commission III. Analysis of the November 12 inci- dent in Dili IV. Conclusions V. Closing Remarks II. THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION 1. Data preparation and collection in Jakarta East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 19 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

a) Formulating a work program, find the corpse in a coffin and fully [This paragraph is a typical one equating compiling and studying data and in- dressed according to Catholic custom. the resistance with Fretilin, whereas es- formation as well as the Terms of Only one body was found in this pecially among the youth affiliation with or Reference for the Enquiry and grave. The KPN also carried out affinity for any of the old Timorese parties is forming a Secretariat for adminis- similar investigations around Hera secondary, residual, or non-existent. The trative purposes. and Pasir Putih, Tasi Tolo and Tibar, Indonesian military, and here the military- b) Meeting with the Vice President based on information received from led KPN, cannot concede -- and perhaps c) Obtaining information and input from locals that the above places were the cannot conceive -- that the resistance is the Security, Foreign and Home sites of mass graves dug for the nationalist and non-party in character. Affairs Ministers, along with the victims of the November 12 incident. This holds for the resistance abroad as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed No proof that such graves exist in well.] Forces. these places was obtained. 2. Background to the november 12 Incident 2. Investigative activities within East [Tasi Tolu is a notorious graveyard. No The November 12 Incident is thought Timor (Dili and Surrounds) further details whatsoever provided on ex- to be linked to prior events such as: cavations in these additional sites.] a) Arranged to meet with the Governor a) 1989 of East Timor as many as five times, III. ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEMBER 12 INCIDENT (i) Demonstration carried out by and also with the Bupati and Mayor roughly 20 youths who raised of Dili, and a number of village and 1. General anti-integration banners after the district heads from Dili, selectively a) During the 15 year period of East Papal Mass on 12 October 1989 chosen and interviewed Timor's integration with Indonesia de- at Tasi Tolo, Dili. independently of one another. velopment of the province has been (ii) An assault in the form of around b) Arranged to meet with Bishop Carlos significant with the result that the peo- 50 youth pelting officials with Filipe Ximines Belo up to 4 times, ple's welfare has been greatly improved. stones in Lecidere, Dili, on and also with Fathers Alberto Also as a result of development, November 4 1989. urbanisation has taken place, with the Ricardo da Silva, Albrecht Kaream, b) 1990 Markus Wanandi, Locatelli, Jose Dili population of 25,000 at the Carbonelli and Jose Antonio da beginning of the period of integration (i) A demonstration by around 50 Costa. swelling to the current figure of 124,284 youths in front of the Hotel out of a total population of 755,950. Tourismo at the time of the c) Arranged up to 5 meetings with the American Ambassador's visit on PANGKOLAKOPS (Operational This population growth has created social problems. Because of significant January 17 1990 and subsequent Command for East Timor) and a demonstrations involving around number of meetings with his staff and developments in the field of education, the number of graduates from primary, 250 youths around Dili on troops, including the regional police January 18 and 19. force and 'Justice Team' formed to secondary and technical schools has look into the November 12 incident. increased the demand for work (ii) A demonstration by roughly 200 The KPN also met with the Udayana opportunities and created an un- youths who unfurled anti- District Military Commander in employment problem amongst the integration banners along with a Denpasar. youth. This social reality is one of the Fretilin flag on the occasion of the reasons why the young people are so 50th Anniversary celebrations of d) Met with the Dili and East Timor easily seduced by the anti-integration/ the Diocese of Dili on September Chairmen of the People's GPK Fretilin groups (GPK - 'security 4 1990. Representative Council. disruptor gangs', the initials used by the (iii) The destruction of a school and e) Met with socio-political and com- regime to refer to the East Timorese vehicles belonging to the security munity organisations and community resistance), and why some consciously forces and an attack on a worker figures. become involved in demonstrations, at State Junior High School No f) Met with and interviewed 132 wit- alongside young kids who do so because IV, Dili, on October 8 by a group nesses. they are forced. In accordance with the of anti-integration youths who g) Visited the Wira Husada Military policies of development, a territorial used the Externato school as the Hospital in Dili, the central Public operation, carried out by the armed base for their activities. Hospital in Dili and a number of forces, government and community (iv) Action by a group of students Community Health Centres and dis- groups and with the aim of bringing from Santo Paulus Catholic trict police [sic, not Army] detention progress, love and welfare to the people, Junior High School, Dili, towards centres. has been launched since 1989. security officials who were h) Followed the route of the demon- b) On the other hand, remnants of the anti- attempting to erase writings and stration from the street in front of the integration/GPK Fretilin groups have seize posters carrying an anti- Motael Church to the Santa Cruz been weakened to such an extent that Pancasila message. The student public cemetery and carried out a they have transferred their operations hit the officials, grabbed their fire reconstruction a number of times at from the forest to the cities, making the arms and lowered the Indonesian the site of the Incident. The KPN most of every opportunity to carry out flag in the school ground on also investigated and noted the pres- disturbances and acts of terror, whilst at October 15, 1990. ence of as many as 70 bullet holes in the same tim drawing world attention to c) 1991 their existence. The only objective of the walls and gates of the Santa Cruz A fight between a group of anti-inte- cemetery and also in the trees and these anti-integration/GPK Fretilin groups in defending their existence and gration youths residing in the Motael electricity poles. Church compound and a group of pro- i) Carried out an investigation in the keeping a hold on the East Timorese people is to secure assistance from integration youths from outside re- public cemetery of Hera, digging up sulted in the deaths of Sebastiao Gomes one of the 18 graves of the dead to abroad - both from the Fretilin elements and other anti-Indonesian groups. from the anti-integration side and East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 20 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

Afonso Gomes (sic) from the pro- [Here the commission, in a pattern evident accompanied by a religious ceremony independence group on October 28, throughout its report, chooses not to deal presided over by a Catholic priest. 1991. with accounts widely available in Although post- mortems were carried [Here the commission displays its bias by Indonesia's major newsmagazines. Editor, out on the above victims, no acknowledging no brutality, much less for example, reported that Gerhan was photographs had been taken, nor at- atrocity, by any ABRI member in Dili over stabbed only after he punched a female tempts at identifying them. Amongst the course of 3 years. The 28 October demonstrator and tried to grab the flag or the 19 dead is Kamal Bamadhaj, a killings are seriously distorted. Why there banner she was carrying.] citizen of New Zealand, whose body were no mass shootings of youths in the d) With regard to the November 12 was handed over to his family at their earlier large demonstrations is not ex- Incident, and particularly events in the request. According to witnesses and plained.] Santa Cruz cemetery, information ob- other sources, the number of casualties tained can be divided up as follows: exceeds 19 and numbers vary between 3. The Incident of 12 November 1991 50, 60 and over 100. (i) Before the Shooting a) In the lead up to the visit of the b) The Injured Portuguese Parliamentary Delegation, As the demonstrators were making it is believed that the anti- their way to the Santa Cruz ceme- Information obtained from the Wira integration/GPK Fretilin groups were tery, a group of people had already Husada Military Hospital in Dili, in- stepping up their activities as they begun to gather at the cemetery. cluding examination of the victims, is as viewed the visit as an opportunity When the two groups of demon- following: for them to make their existence strators merged at the cemetery, (i) Bullet wounds 42 people known to the outside world. Because they continued to wave the Fretilin (ii)Stab wounds 14 people of the cancellation of the visit, and Falentil flags as well as display (iii)Victims of beatings with blunt in- preparations which had already been the National Convergence logo and struments 35 people made were channelled into a the picture of Xanana, all the while demonstration which used the shouting anti-integration slogans and This does not rule out the possibility occasion of a memorial Mass and abuse at the security apparatus. that the number of wounded is greater, since some of the victims are thought to wreath-laying in honour of Sebastiao (ii) Warning Shots Gomes who had died two weeks have fled with other demonstrators and Based on information received from subsequently treated their own injuries. earlier and also the presence of the witnesses, two different versions of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. As of 14 December 1991, the number events exist. One group of of patients in the wira Husada Hospital b) Based on information and statements witnesses state that warning shots was 41, with 50 having been sent home obtained from eyewitnesses, a were fired once or twice, whilst to their families. number of foreigners actively par- another group claims that the first c) The Missing ticipated in the demonstration. round of gunfire was directed c) That the anti-integration/GPK straight into the crowd. According to the oral and written re- ports of a number of witnesses and Fretilin groups were involved in the (iii) Shooting into the Crowd demonstration was proven by the other sources, the number of people presence of Fretilin and Falentil (sic) Three versions of events exist, based missing totals around 90. Witnesses (armed wing of Fretilin) flags and the on information received from eye- and other sources acknowledge that logo of the East Timorese National witnesses. One version states that amongst those missing there may be Convergence, along with anti- the gunfire of the security forces further dead, or injured individuals in integration banners and pictures of who had taken up crowd-control addition to those who have fled to the Xanana, the leader of the anti- positions shot directly into the bush or escaped. integration/GPK Fretilin elements. crowd. According to another 5. Questioning of Suspects The demonstration commenced after version, shots were fired only after a fight broke out and the crowd The East Timor Regional Police have the mass from the street in front of questioned 308 participants in the the Motael Church and then moved attempted to seize the weapons of the security forces who were also demonstration in accordance with the along the main road towards the legal procedures and guidelines in force. Santa Cruz cemetery. Along the pelted with large stones. In addition, a few witnesses claim that Of that number, 261 have been returned route, anti- integration slogans were to their families via the relevant village yelled, as well as those praising the the shooting was carried out by a group of unkempt and undisciplined head. Of the 47 individuals who have Fretilin leader, Xanana, and insulting been the subject of further the security apparatus. When things security officers who responded to the emotionally charged atmosphere. investigation, 15 have been released, 8 got savage and quite out of control, are thought to have been involved in the demonstrators stabbed Major (iv) According to information obtained crimes of a specific nature and 24 in Gerhan Lantaran, WADANYON from all witnesses, in addition to the crimes of a general nature. All 700, an officer of Sector C [Dili] of shooting, demonstrators were sub- questioning of suspects has been carried the Intelligence Service, and also jected to stabbings, beatings, kicks out according to the legal procedures in injured Prada Domingos, a member of and punches by the security appara- force, and each has been allowed access the Dili District Military Command, tus. to legal aid. in the front yard of the Dharma 4. Casualties, the injured and missing Wanita women's organisation. The The KPN managed to compile the IV. CONCLUSIONS demonstrators also pelted the Summa following information: The Commission has strong reasons Bank and old regional police a) Casualties and grounds to come to the following headquarters building with rocks, conclusions: smashing windows in both buildings. According to information obtained from KOLAKOPS, the dead number 19, 1. The 12 November 1991 event/incident with proof that the burial of all of those [peristiwa/insiden] in Dili was the climax in the Hera public cemetery had been of a series of demonstrations and East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 21 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

incidents beforehand conducted by the the procedures/regulations for handling a Chairman M. Djaelani told a news con- anti-integration/GPK Fretilin group. riot were implemented to the full. The ference after reporting his commission's [GPK - 'security disruptor gangs', the actions of some members of the security findings to President Suharto that the as- initials used by the regime for the East apparatus exceeded what was proper, sesment was based on data gathered from Timorese resistance.] The GPK/Fretilin resulting in casualties, including deaths, reliable witnesses, including relatives of the which has come under increasing pres- and injuries from gunfire, stabbing and victims as well as East Timor's governor sure, has changed its method of opera- beating with blunt implements. Although Mario Viegas Carrascalao and the region's tions from bush guerrilla operations to the number of casualties up to now is 19 military commander Brig. Gen. Rudolf town guerrilla operations, misused the dead and 91 wounded, the Commission Warouw. wisdom of development in East Timor thinks it has strong enough reason to The commission's report said that while based on love and welfare, and has taken believe that the number of dead is around a crowd of anti-government demonstrators advantage of the situation, conditions 50 and the number of wounded is more provoked the army, some soldiers had and instability of the younger generation than 91. overreacted. by exerting influence on them to oppose 8. Insufficient care was taken in handling Djaelani said East Timor police had integration, while at the same time the dead because, although autopsies detained 308 people suspected of in- drawing international attention to their (visum et repertum) were conducted, the volvement in the demonstration but only 32 existence. dead were not properly identified. remain in detention. He said eight of them 2. The 12 November 1991 event/incident in Besides, inadequate opportunities were will be tried on subversion charges. Dili which resulted in a number of deaths given to family/friends of the victims to Reuter, Jakarta, Jonathan Thatcher, and injuries clearly did not occur because identify them. Dec 26 of any command or policy of the 9. The Commission believes that, in order Government or the Armed Forces, either to uphold the law, action should be Indonesian soldiers went out of control at the centre or in the Province of East taken and trials conducted against all in a clash with mourners in East Timor last Timor. The 12 November 1991 those who were involved in the 12 month and killed about 50 people, a event/incident in Dili was basically a November 1991 Event/Incident in Dili government commission said on Thursday. regrettable mishap [musibah]. and are deemed to have broken the law, The army had repeatedly put the death 3. The demonstration on 12 November in accordance with the laws in force in toll at 19. 1991 in Dili contained a provocation the law-based Republic of Indonesia, The rare public criticism of the politi- element which was planned in advance which is based on the Pancasila and the cally-powerful army, which insists it was by the anti- integration/GPK Fretilin 1945 Constitution. forced to open fire on the mourners, is group; it was not an orderly procession likely to soothe the worries of major aid intended to be peaceful, to honour the V. CLOSING SECTION donors that Indonesia would gloss over the departed Sebastiao Gomes. In the pursuit of its task, the KPN had killings. "The commission has enough strong 4. The demonstrators, the majority of the full assistance of all sides, the Government as well as the Armed Forces, reasons to believe that the number of vic- whom were young, behaved savagely, tims who died were around 50 people and emotionally and destructively, partly it Church Leaders and the Community. It is recognised however that the KPN encoun- the injured more than 91 people," com- is believed because of incitement by the mission leader Djaelani told reporters after anti-integration/GPK Fretilin group, and tered obstacles because a number of wit- nesses who were to be asked for testimony presenting his team's findings to President had been cultivated for quite a long time. Suharto. Besides this, they deliberately unfurled were not willing because they were still affected by a feeling of unease and feared About 90 other people have been the Fretilin and Falentil (sic) flag, the missing since the killings on November 12, picture of Xanana, leader of the that they would be deemed to have been directly involved in the 12 November 1991 when soldiers opened fire on a 3,500-strong GPK/Fretilin, banners, and shouted anti- crowd which had marched to a cemetery in integration yells, insulting the security Event/Incident in Dili or were afraid of being considered to be from the anti- the East Timor capital Dili to mark the apparatus. death of a separatist sympathiser, he said. 5. Some foreign citizens took an active part integration group. Jakarta, 26 December 1991 Djaelani also noted that some witnesses in the demonstration. put the death toll at more than 100 in the 6. In a condition of rising tension which The Report is signed by the 7 members of shooting in East Timor, a former began with the stabbing of an officer and the National Commission of Enquiry: Portuguese colony Indonesia invaded in the injuring of a soldier, the provocative M. Djaelani, S.H. 1975 and where it is fighting a dwindling savagery of the masses, and opposition Drs. Ben Mang Reng Say band of guerrillas. by the masses which the security forces Clementino do Reis Amaral Western diplomats said the report was deemed could endanger their weapons Harisoegiman more believable than the army version. "It and their lives, there was a spontaneous Drs. Hadi A Wayarabi Alhadar is certainly more plausible, quite useful and reaction by servicemen who, without Anton Sujata, S.H. positive," said one envoy. any command control, exercised self- Lakodo Sumitro Because of the killings three countries -- defence and excessive shooting at the Canada, the Netherlands and Denmark -- demonstrators, causing deaths and COMMISSION ADMITS 50 have suspended aid to Indonesia, which injuries. Along with this, a group of DEAD (WIRES) relies heavily on cheap finance. On irregular members of the security forces Wednesday, 260 Japanese members of outside the command structure also UPI, Jakarta, Dec 26 -- A government parliament urged their government to do the started shooting and maltreating, which commission probing the killings of dem- same. led to yet more casualties. onstrators by Indonesian soldiers in East Japan is Indonesia's major aid donor, 7. In handling the rioting that occurred Timor last month said Thursday about 50 providing 1.32 billion dollars in develop- during the 12 November 1991 people were killed and 91 others were in- ment assistance this year. event/incident in Dili, although riot jured in the incident. The commission report, full details of control units were there, the The death toll was much higher than the which are expected in one or two months, Commission saw nothing to show that 19 military authorities had said were killed. said that while the mourners had provoked East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 22 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 the army by waving anti-Indonesian ban- still missing. Some of them might be dead will hold meetings immediately with the ners some soldiers had gone out of control. but others might be hiding, the panel said. commander of the armed forces, Gen. Try "There was a spontaneous reaction by Eyewitnesses and independence cam- Sutrisno, defense minister Benny Murdani, soldiers without orders to protect them- paigners in East Timor have claimed the army chief of staff Edy Sudrajat, and selves, shooting many times into the dem- Indonesian military opened fire without attorney general Singgih. onstrators," said the report, calling for legal warning on a crowd at Santa Cruz grave- Around another month is needed by the action against those responsible. yard in Dili as thousands of youths gath- investigation commission to finalize the "That coincided with a group of security ered to attend the burial of an pro-inde- preliminary report, Murdiono said. forces, out of control and outside command, pendence figure. which also opened fire and...led to more Indonesian officials claim the crowd AFP, Jakarta, Dec 26 - victims." threatened the soldiers. The preliminary report of the investi- It criticised the army for not dealing gation into the November shooting at Dili in properly with the crowd. Several military Kyodo, Jakarta, Dec 26 - East Timor issued Thursday implicates the analysts have noted no attempt was made Indonesia's investigation commission Indonesian army in the killings, but insists to use less deadly methods such as tear-gas. Thursday released its preliminary findings the soldiers were not acting on orders. Local analysts have been widely critical on the November 12 mass shooting in East The fact that an official inquest, the first of the army's behaviour and several have Timor, estimating that about 50 people died of its kind in Indonesia's history, throws called for a review of how it handles in the incident. discredit on "a certain number" of soldiers potential threats. The commission also strongly suspects is without precedent since General Suharto There has also been widespread criticism that the incident was instigated by members took power in 1966. of the response by military commander-in- of the East Timor pro-independence In its 16-page preliminary report, the chief Try, who is frequently mentioned as a movement, Fretilin. National Investigative Commission (KPN), potential successor to President Suharto Commission chairman M. Djaelani said set up one week after the November 12 when he eventually steps down. the committee conducted its investigation shooting, contradicted previous claims State secretary Murdiono said Suharto through document research, interviews with made by the military on two major points. needed one or two days to study the report witnesses, field observations, and a First, the number killed, which it esti- and would soon discuss it with senior reconstruction of the incident. mated at around 50 and not the 19 claimed ministers, including Try. The report said the course of the events by the army's commander in chief, General "The president expressed deep condo- began when a crowd gathered at a funeral in Try Sutrisno, and second, it said excessive lences to the victims especially to those the Santa Cruz cemetery in the East force was in fact used. who were innocent," he said. Timorese capital of Dili. Witnesses had said the shooting was Despite funds pouring in from Jakarta, Demonstrators soon joined the crowd. unprovoked and put the death toll at up to high unemployment in Dili had made The number of people in the cemetery and 115. youths there more susceptible to anti- those who joined in later is not mentioned The seven members of the commission, Indonesian propaganda by Fretilin guerril- in the report. including three retired members of the las, the report said. "After the demonstrators joined with the military, said the soldiers were provoked crowd, they (demonstrators) put up by members of the East Timor independ- DPA, Jakarta, Dec 26 - Fretilin flags, anti-integration flags, and ence group Fretilin who stabbed an officer An Indonesian investigation commission pictures of Fretilin leader Xanana," the re- and threw stones at a police post and a conceded Thursday that around 50 people, port said. bank. rather than 19 as first claimed, were killed The crowd shouted anti-Indonesia slo- But the soldiers, "without the control of when government troops opened fire on gans and insulted the army officers present, a command," then reacted "over the level of funeral mourners in East Timor last month. the report said, and the situation became acceptable norm" by shooting, stabbing and The panel blamed the clash on Fretilin, tense when an army major was stabbed. hitting people with blunt instruments, the the underground independence movement in The report said the soldiers, in what report said. East Timor, and charged that "a number of they believed was an act of self-defense, It said the shooting "was not something foreigners" were also involved in the spontaneously opened fire on the crowd. that happened because of an order or the process of provocation. Lacking command control, the fire was policy of the government or ABRI (the The panel's chairman, supreme court excessive and actions at the scene by a Indonesian military)" in Jakarta or in East judge Mohammad Djaelani, presented to number of soldiers went far beyond proper Timor. President Suharto the inquiry's finding that limits, the commission report said. The report can only sow doubt on the the November 12 shooting in Dili, capital of The report also noted that the troops ability of the military to control its troops East Timor, was "merely an unavoidable were not well organized and control at a time when Indonesia is entering the incident that must be regretted". problems resulted in an excessive amount of run-up to next June's legislative elections, The panel said the clash was not an victims in the incident. observers noted. event which took place because of an order The commission believes that about 50 After examining the report, Suharto or the policy of the central government or people died, the preliminary report said, "expressed his condolences" to the families the armed forces or their agencies in East and puts the number of people wounded at of the victims and disappeared, an act Timor. about 91. considered as distancing himself from those "The commission has strong reason to Indonesian armed forces and authorities responsible for maintaining order, State believe that around 50 people were killed have said 19 people died and 91 others Secretary Minister Murdiono told and more than 91 were injured," Djaelani were wounded. journalists. said. Witnesses, journalists, and other inde- Western diplomats were unable to Some parties had claimed the death toll pendent sources said more than 100 people evaluate immediately the effect the report was around 300 or 350 "which in our view were killed when troops opened fire on could have on Indonesia's domestic politics does not make much sense", said the more than 2,000 mourners at the cemetery. or to anticipate the reaction of their chairman of the seven-member commission. Meanwhile, Indonesian secretary of respective capitals, but they all judged its Reliable sources interviewed by the state Murdiono told reporters that findings "very interesting." commission had said about 90 people were President Suharto will study the report and East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 23 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

The United States, Australia and the 12 1976. It said an officer had been stabbed If the military sticks to outdated meth- countries of the European Community (EC) and another soldier injured. ods it could act as a brake on the devel- have made it known they would reconsider Even so, it said, "the actions of a number opment of a society which, with greater their cooperation with Indonesia in the light of security forces have gone beyond what economic wealth, is demanding more open of the inquest's findings, which they have was necessary, claiming many victims, expression, they said. hoped would be detailed and honest. including those killed, wounded and "They don't keep pace with the times ... The Netherlands, Canada and Denmark injured." It said troops did not follow (the army) used to be modernists but now have announced the suspension of future proper procedures for a demonstration. it's different," one analyst said. aid for Indonesia while continuing pro- Nairn, who was beaten the in the attack, "Why are the younger generation in the grammes already under way. said the demonstrators were unarmed and armed forces so easily provoked, so trigger- Portugal, still considered East Timor's peaceful and that the army did not ask them happy?" asked a retired lieutenant-general. guardian by the United Nations, has to disperse before opening fire. He, like many, criticised the use of guns promised to use all the diplomatic resources Brig. Gen. Nurhadi Purwosaputro, a to control the crowd instead of tear-gas or at its disposal to relaunch Timor's process military spokesman, said, "The armed non-lethal means. of self-determination. Lisbon becomes EC forces respect the findings of the national "That, in a sense, is a failure of the army president for six months from January 1. investigation commission." However, he leadership, not the soldiers who fired," he Hundreds of elected representatives in defended the armed forces' death toll of 19. said. the United States and Japan, have called on The report also said the armed forces Many retired generals considered the their respective governments to take failed to give victims' families enough time East Timor incident a bad blunder by an reprisals against Indonesia. to identify the dead, and that as a result army that has distanced itself from society The investigative commission, which some were buried without being identified. and clung to out-dated tactics, he said. during its 17 days in East Timor inter- The commission called for legal pun- "The younger generation (of officers) in viewed 132 witnesses, denounced the ishment for any violations in connection the army are not very open to others. They "several foreign citizens" who actively took with the bloodshed. seem to have closed themselves off." part in the demonstration, but gave no M. Djaelani headed the commission of In the 16 years since Indonesia invaded further details. senior officials from the Supreme Court and East Timor, it has not yet won over the lo- The commission's complete report is due the ministries of justice, foreign affairs, cals and the army, which essentially runs to published in around six weeks time. defense and interior, as well as the attorney the province, must accept that something is general's office and Parliament. wrong with its approach, several analysts AP, Jakarta, Albert Saragih, Dec 26 Suharto appointed the commission on said. Government investigators acknowledged Nov. 19 following heavy pressure from the It is time for the military to re-examine Thursday that some Indonesian troops international community. its much-touted dual function that since used more force than necessary when they Speaking after a meeting with Suharto to independence in 1945 has given it a major fired on protesters in East Timor last submit the preliminary findings, Djaelani role in political life as well as defence, they month. said 308 people were arrested during the said. The preliminary report on the Nov. 12 violence and 261 were released soon after. The military has been an important killings in the East Timor capital, Dili, also Another 15 were released after intensive training ground for many of the ruling elite, said the death toll was far higher than the questioning, and the remaining 32 detainees including President Suharto who headed the government had reported. would be brought to trial on criminal army's strategic command force when he But the report said the killings were not charges, he said. crushed an attempted coup in 1965. carried out at the order of the government Attorney General Singgih said earlier Some analysts questioned whether the or the armed forces, and it suggested pro- that eight East Timorese would be tried for army was still able to recruit the people it independence insurgents might have incited subversion, a charge carrying a maximum needs. the violence. sentence of death. "There are problems attracting the right The report on the bloodshed said about The commission said the Nov. 12 vio- people into the army," said one analyst, 50 people died, 90 were missing and more lence was a culmination of a series of anti- adding that many promising graduates than 91 injured. The government had earlier Indonesia activities masterminded by the prefer the expanding private sector. acknowledged 19 deaths. A Catholic leftist Fretilin independence movement. A collection of more than 13,000 islands Church group, the Bishops' Conference of Some the demonstrators on Nov. 12 strung along the equator, Indonesia groups Indonesia, has put the death toll at more carried flags of the Fretilin guerrillas, it said. very diverse societies and at its extremities than 100. armed guerrillas still battle for A foreign correspondent who witnessed Excerpt from Reuter, Jakarta, Dec 27. independence. the attack, however, said the massacre did Indonesia's politically powerful military, Holding them together has been the re- not appear to be spontaneous. heavily to blame for last month's massacre cent role of the army. Its commander-in- "It was not a case of individual soldiers in East Timor, has lost touch with the chief, General Try (pronounced tree) acting on their own," said Allan Nairn, free- realities of a modern state and must change Sutrisno, has in the past few weeks re- lance correspondent for The New Yorker its ways, political analysts said. peated that any threat to stability would be magazine. A government commission investigating met with force. "Hundreds of troops marched up in the November 12 shooting by soldiers at a However, Interior Minister Rudini said formation and opened fire all at once," he funeral in East Timor, when it said about 50 this month it was time to stop putting added in a telephone interview Thursday people were killed, took the unusual step stability above everything else. after returning to the United States. on Thursday of criticising the military. "It will lead to a condition where every After more than two weeks of investi- The army said it accepted the report. public activity including their political gations, the commission reported to Though the commission said the soldiers rights could be suspected as a cause for President Suharto that troops initially fired were not acting on orders from above, instability," he said. in self-defense against demonstrators analysts said their wild behaviour was The army's dual function should be protesting Indonesian rule in East Timor, a symptomatic of problems facing the limited to exercising influence on political Portuguese colony annexed by Indonesia in military, a pillar of President Suharto's 26- decision-making that affects security and year rule. East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 24 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 social problems, Soemitro, former head of ments, the commission now distances itself VIOLATIONS AND DOUBTS the powerful national security agency, said. from the totally discredited death toll of 19 "For the rest, leave it to the government upheld by the armed forces leadership. The REMAIN OVER OFFICIAL and civilian leaders," he said. commission says that "while this figure still INQUIRY (AI) One analyst cited troubles in the past stands, it has reason to believe that the two years in the northern province of Aceh number of dead is around 50". It does not Source: Amnesty International, London. 26 (pronounced Achay) where diplomats explain why it chose this figure. Indeed, Dec 91. estimate at least 2,000 people have been when the commission returned from Dili Scores of alleged political activists in killed in fighting between the army and last week, the chairman told the press they East Timor, including many young people guerrillas. had found no evidence that more than 19 and Catholic priests, continue to be sub- Aceh, like East Timor, has focused at- persons had died. jected to serious human rights violations tention on human rights abuses in Indonesia TAPOL condemns the KPN Report as a including imprisonment, death threats and and in particular how much the military political move by President Suharto to limit beatings. Amnesty International said the relies on force to deal with threats to the damage already inflicted on his regime reports of continuing violations highlight stability. by the well-documented revelations about the urgent need for an international inves- "Aceh is symptomatic (of) the way the the Massacre. The Report will do nothing tigation into the Santa Cruz massacre and army has lost touch with reality," the re- to satisfy the East Timorese people, neither its aftermath. The organization was re- tired lieutenant-general said. those hundreds of families whose relatives sponding to a press statement made today have died or disappeared, who were injured by the government's National Investigation TAPOL REJECTS THE or remain unaccounted for, nor the people Commission, set up to look into the 12 FINDINGS OF SUHARTO'S as a whole who have suffered greatly November massacre. intensified repression and control by the INQUIRY COMMISSION Amnesty International said that the forces of occupation since the Massacre National Investigation Commission's figure occurred. Signalling their total rejection of of at least 50 killed in the Santa Cruz The following is the statement released to Suharto's commission, the people refused the press today, 26 December 1991, by massacre was more consistent with the to have anything to do with it, least of all to available evidence than military claims that TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights testify to its members. The commission Campaign: 19 had been killed. Despite the more itself admits that its work was "obstructed" plausible figure, it said serious doubts re- The national commission set up by by the refusal of witnesses to testify. main about the credibility of the investi- President Suharto to investigate the Santa The situation in East Timor is critical. gation. The Commission's claim that the Cruz Massacre on 12 November has Reports from Dili today say that yester- killing resulted from a "spontaneous reac- completely exonerated the government and day's Christmas festivities were overshad- tion by soldiers ... to protect themselves" is the armed forces in Jakarta and in East owed by fear. The Midnight Masses at the inconsistent with numerous eyewitness Timor of all responsibility for the killings. two churches in Dili were poorly attended reports that the procession was peaceful It accuses the demonstrators of being by Timorese, as plain-clothed army agents and that troops were acting in an organized "savage, emotional and destructive" and were on guard inside and outside these and disciplined manner. Particularly blames the East Timorese armed resistance places of worship. Priests continue to be disturbing was the statement that the sol- for "provocation and incitement of the harassed and are under close scrutiny. diers had been "provoked" by mourners youth". Father Alberto Ricardo, the priest of who had waved "anti-Indonesian" banners. The report of the commission, published Motael Church, Dili and Vicar-General of Amnesty International said: "A proper in Jakarta today, contradicts the testimony the Diocese of Dili, has been repeatedly assessment of the report cannot be under- of a video shot while the massacre was in interrogated by the security forces for the taken until full details are made public.. progress, which shows the soldiers acting past month. However, on the basis of the initial findings under the command of an officer who has TAPOL calls on the British reported to the media, we continue to have been identified as the intelligence assistant Government, the European Community and serious doubts about the Commission's of the Dili military command; it contradicts governments around the world to press investigation. For this reason, and in the all the testimonies circulated widely by immediately for a UN mission to visit East light of continuing reports of serious human foreign eyewitnesses as well as testimonies Timor without delay, not only to undertake rights violations in East Timor, we are from Timorese who were present at the a full and impartial investigation into the reiterating our call for a thorough demonstration. It claims that a number of Massacre but also to provide much- needed international investigation under United soldiers, acting under no command and protection to the people of occupied East Nations auspices." faced with acts from the masses "which Timor, in preparation for concrete moves to Despite severe restrictions on commu- could endanger their weapons and their initiate peace talks without pre-conditions, nications with East Timor, recent reports lives", reacted "spontaneously, in self under UN auspices. from Dili indicate that military surveillance defence". The Santa Cruz Massacre is not an and intimidation has intensified since the The Santa Cruz Massacre occurred when isolated event; it is only the latest in a long Santa Cruz massacre. The security forces dozens of troops opened fire on East history of mass slaughter inflicted on the appear to have used the 12 November Timorese taking part in a peaceful proce- East Timorese people since their country incident and the national investigation as an ssion to mourn the death two weeks earlier was invaded by Indonesia in December opportunity for intimidating and of an East Timorese activist, Sebastiao 1975. Since then, an estimated 200,000 imprisoning suspected opponents of Gomes, killed when Indonesian troops at- people have lost their lives, nearly a third Indonesian rule in East Timor. Government tacked a church where he was taking refuge. of the population. East Timor will never be authorities have acknowledged holding 32 Independent sources believe that the death free from repression and fear until the political detainees in connection with the toll at Santa Cruz cemetery was 180 forces of occupation withdraw and the incident, at least 8 of whom will be tried for persons. people can express their wishes in a subversion, a crime which carries a In an attempt to defuse condemnation referendum held under UN supervision. maximum penalty of death. Sources in the by foreign governments and to avoid eco- territory have said that scores of young nomic sanctions which could threaten the people have been threatened with death and country's aid from many western govern- East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 25 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 have expressed fear that some may face Moerdiono said that after issuing "It continues to be a gross coverup and I extrajudicial execution. Presidential Decision No. 53 (establishing was thoroughly disappointed at [Australian A wide range of people are now believed the commission) on November 19, the Foreign Minister] Gareth Evans, who is to be at risk of arrest and other violations. President deliberately did not meet with now using it as an opportunity to get They include participants in the 12 any commission members in order not to himself and Indonesia off the hook.... More November procession, members of the influence their independent investigation. than 200 people were killed in East Timor, clergy, people who have spoken with When getting the KPN report, the Head many hundreds were wounded and foreign tourists or journalists, and alleged of State several times noted down state- disappeared and Nov 12 is looked at in political activists. Some are known to have ments by commission members. "Usually, isolation. The whole issue of self been beaten and threatened while under the President does not make notes," said determination in East Timor is the root of interrogation. Moerdiono. Commission members were the problem. One priest, Father Hilario Madeira, aged received in the Jepara room, a place usually "[The report] covered up the respon- 39, and his travelling companion were used by the President only for receiving sibility of people all the way up to reportedly detained for two days by heads of state and governments. This President Suharto himself. They are the Indonesian military forces in Bali, during a reflected the President's respect for the ones who ordered the troops to be in East journey from Java to East Timor in early commission, said Moerdiono. Timor to start with. The East Timorese did November. According to reports, soldiers Asked by reporters about differences not invite them.... They have no business pointed automatic weapons at the two and between the KPN and government casualty being in East Timor to start with, the repeatedly threatened them with death figures, Dlaelani said one of the problems troops did not fire against orders, orders while interrogating them about their alleged was that the corpses were not identified were given to them long before Nov 12. political activities. Since his return, Father and should have been. He said the corpses "Dozens and dozens of people were Hilario has been subjected to further were not photographed and not identified taken outside the capital city in trucks, two interrogation and intimidation. Another by name. Families missing members later together, the corpses were put together and priest, Father Domingos Santos, was had no adequate opportunity to try to burned beyond recognition. To ashes. stopped and interrogated by military identify their kin. Many, many others died outside the city of authority as he returned to his parish from Djaelani said another main reason for the unattended wounds, because they were Dili a few days after the 12 November difference in figures was that some victims simply afraid to go to the hospital. Many massacre. A third, Father Alberto Ricardo, had fled and later died. "We don't know the others died in hospitals. the Vicar General of the Diocese of Dili, has precise number in this category." been repeatedly interrogated by Indonesian Asked by reporters why the commission CAUTIOUS U.S. REPLY security forces for the past three weeks. had settled on the figure of 50 casualties, he Colleagues have expressed urgent concern said the figure was obtained from Excerpt from Reuter, Washington, Dec 26) for his mental and physical well-being. eyewitnesses and other informants. "We The United States said on Thursday an cannot give a definite figure. But the figure Indonesian government commission ap- KPN ESTIMATES DILI of 300 is definitely impossible." peared to have taken a "serious and re- INCIDENT VICTIMS AT 50 He said that some ABRI members got sponsible approach" in its inquiry into an emotional because demonstrators stabbed alleged massacre in East Timor. Antara. 26 Dec 91. Dateline: Jakarta. Sector C's Intelligence Section officer Major A State Department spokesman said Abridged. Task Force Indonesia translation Gerhan Lantara and recruit Domingos. officials wanted to study a full text of the from Indonesian.. commission's report before commenting FROM PUBLICO (LISBON) 27 KPN (National Investigation further on the Indonesian inquiry into the Commission) Chairman M. Djaelani told DECEMBER 1991 November 12 army shooting of mourners in the press after reporting the commission's the former Portuguese colony. findings to President Soeharto at Istana East Timor Governor Mario Carrascalao "Based on the commission's press re- Merdeka Thursday that in the incident says that the investigatory commission lease on its preliminary report to some disorderly (tidak teratur) ABRI men report is "neutral" and so there are no (Indonesian) President Suharto, our initial outside the chain of command had fired reasons for him to resign. reaction is that the commission appears to shots and committed acts of brutality. have taken a serious and responsible ap- Djaelani said the incident was insepa- A Portuguese parliamentary delegation proach," the spokesman said. rable from the activities of the anti-inte- will go to the United States in the third "A key consideration will be how the gration group and members of the security week of January. The members will start a Indonesian government addresses the disrupters Fretilin band. massive effort at sensitization and will crucial question of how the Indonesian legal Another KPN member, Hadi Wayarabi work with the cooperation of the system will deal with those members of the Alhadar, said that in the 12 November in- Portuguese community in the United security forces who used or condoned cident some foreigners had come to Dili States. excessive force," he said. using tourist visas and inflamed the Dili youth. At the moment the youth were JOSE RAMOS HORTA ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION RE- shouting anti-integration slogans, the for- KPN REPORT SPONDS TO REPORT eigners photographed and videotaped them. State Secretary Moerdiono, who ac- (Radio Australia 12/25) AP, Washington, Gene Kramer, Dec 27 - companied Djaelani, said that the Head of The representative of Fretilin to The Bush administration on Friday State has conveyed his sorrow to those Australia [sic], Mr. Jose Ramos Horta, challenged Indonesia to use its legal system East Timorese who had lost family mem- condemned the preliminary Indonesian re- to deal with soldiers accused of in- bers, especially those who were innocent. port of the Dili massacre and Australia's volvement in a mass killing last month in The President also conveyed his concern to supportive reaction. He says the report is a East Timor. those families with members whose whitewash which allowed Australia to again "We consider it crucial to see how the whereabouts remained unknown. avoid taking any action which would upset Indonesian legal system will deal with those the Indonesian authorities. members of the security forces who used or East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 26 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 condoned excessive force" in the Nov. 12 Indonesian military has accepted the of putting an end to human rights violations disturbance that claimed at least 50 lives, report and has said that some mem- in the territory and enabling Timorese to said State Department spokesman Joseph bers of the military would be tried "exercise their right to self-determination", Snyder. because of their involvement in the the statement said. An Indonesian government investigating November 12 incident. commission issued a report last week on We are continuing to follow the TIMORESE REJECT the matter, and Snyder said the ad- Indonesian government's reaction to REPORT: KYODO ministration believes "the commission has the commission's report, and we taken a serious and responsible approach." consider it crucial to see how the Kyodo, Jakarta, Dec 27 - An eyewitness The government intends to study the Indonesian legal system will deal with to the November 12 mass shooting in East Indonesian government's reaction to the those members of the security forces Timor said that the East Timorese people report, he said, noting that it calls for action who used or condoned excessive are not satisfied with the findings of the by the Indonesian judicial system. force. official preliminary investigation "We understand that a spokesman for Q The figures quoted in this report, commission report on the incident. the Indonesian military has accepted the which I understand it's a preliminary "If the number of the victims reported report and has said that some members of report, do they match the results of the by the commission was 50, the East the military would be tried because of their commission investigation that the US Timorese would at least want to know involvement," Snyder said. government sent from the embassy in where the victims were buried," Manuel The commission's estimate of 50 deaths Djakarta immediately after the incident? Viegas Carrascalao was quoted as saying in fell short of the findings of the U.S. the newspaper Berita Buana in East Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, which MR. SNYDER: The report, as I under- Timor's capital Dili. "suggested that the range was closer to stand it, talks about 50 people killed, but "Explain (directly) to the relatives of 100," he said. it talks -- it also mentions there were victims, where they are buried," he sug- Amnesty International, a human rights other reports of up to 100. This is gested. organization, said the commission's death mentioned in the Indonesian report. Our The eyewitness, who is the elder brother estimates were "more plausible" than the information, based on our visit soon of East Timor Governor Mario Viegas original army figure of 19. after the incident suggested that the Carrascalao, told the daily that the East Despite this, the group said in a state- range was closer to 100, but the report Timorese people want to get the details of ment issued by its Washington office that does reflect that same sort of in- the commission investigations. "serious doubts remain about the credibility formation that we received. Carrascalao said that many East of the investigation." Timorese have not yet heard about the "The commission's claim that the killings PORTUGAL REJECTS findings in the commission report. resulted from a spontaneous reaction by DJAELANI REPORT "I myself heard the report on Australian soldiers to protect themselves is in- radio," he said. consistent with numerous eyewitness re- AFP, Lisbon, Dec 27 - Portugal on He also said it may be difficult to get ports that the procession was peaceful and Friday rejected the conclusions of an of- concrete evidence of the incident. that troops were acting in an organized and ficial Indonesian inquiry into the November Carrascalao told the newspaper he may disciplined manner," the organization said. 12 massacre by soldiers of at least 50 know some people who can pinpoint the Amnesty International repeated an ear- people in the East Timor capital Dili. burial site of victims of the shooting, but lier call for an international investigation The government in Lisbon said there was they will not dare talk, perhaps out of fear under U.N. auspices "in light of the con- a need for an "internationally supervised" of repercussions. tinuing reports of serious human rights new investigation into the killings in East In Bali, the chief of Udayana military violations in East Timor." Timor, a former Portuguese colony command, Maj. Gen. Sintong Panjaitan, Reports from the island north of occupied and later annexed by Indonesia in who oversees the East Timor military Australia "indicate that military surveillance 1976. command, has so far declined to comment. and intimidation has intensified," Amnesty The Portuguese foreign ministry said in a East Timor Governor Mario Viegas International said. statement that the Indonesian authorities Carrascalao has been unavailable for State Department briefing by Joseph had acted "shamefully" in dealing with the comment. Snyder: massacre. It said the preliminary report issued Thursday by the National INDONESIAN REPORT ON Q Do you have any comment on the Investigative Commission was aimed at TIMOR SHOOTINGS DRAWS release of the Indonesian reports on the "improving the image" of the regime. Dili massacre? The Portuguese government noted that CRITICISM the report contained no explanation for the Washington Post, December 27, 1991 MR. SNYDER: Yes, I do. We have seen a disparity between the official death toll and press release based on this preliminary independent witness accounts nor did it By Peter Wise. Special to the Washington report. We believe the commission has offer any information about the fate of Post taken a serious and responsible people who had simply vanished without approach. We've just now gotten the LISBON, Dec. 26 - An Indonesian in- trace. The report failed to mention serious vestigation into the Nov. 12 shooting of full text of the commission's preliminary allegations of executions in the wake of the report, and we want to study it before independence demonstrators in the former massacre. Portuguese colony of East Timor has we offer a further assessment. This The Portuguese government rejects report is the beginning of a lengthy concluded that Indonesian soldiers went out Jakarta's attempts to present the massacre of control, killing about 50 people, the head process to deal fully with what as "an isolated incident due to a fortuitous happened in East Timor. of the inquiry said today. lack of control" over soldiers, the statement But the London-based human rights or- There are aspects of the report said. ganization Amnesty International expressed which will require follow up by the An investigation "supervised by inter- serious doubts about the credibility of the Indonesian judicial system. We un- national authorities" would be the best way investigation. Portugal, still the derstand that a spokesman for the East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 27 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 administrating power of East Timor under rights violations including imprisonment, experiencing prolonged suffering," said Try, international law, said many discrepancies death threats and beatings. speaking at a Christmas gathering for witnesses remained to be explained. Amid widespread international con- servicemen and their families. The Portuguese Foreign Ministry said in demnation of the killings, Canada, Denmark In his speech, Try warned that if East a statement that the conclusions of the and the Netherlands have suspended all Timorese separatists did not end their commission of inquiry were "a desperate new aid to Jakarta. Hundreds of legislators struggle, Indonesia's armed forces were attempt" to cope with widespread criticism from the United States and Japan ready to take "strict actions" to ensure se- and to improve Indonesia's international separately have called on their governments curity and development. image. to take assertive action towards a resolution He also alleged that a November 12 "The figures put forward by the of the East Timor conflict. incident in which troops opened fire on a Indonesian commission do not correspond crowd in Dili had been "intentionally en- to the true dimension of the tragedy," Jose ABRI 'ACCEPTS' REPORT gineered" by East Timorese separatists in Ramos Horta, a spokesman for an umbrella cooperation with "certain parties here and group of East Timorese independence (Excerpt from UPI, Jakarta, Dec 27) abroad." movements, told Portuguese radio. Indonesia's armed forces agrees with the Try offered "deepest condolences" to Amnesty International, the Lisbon gov- conclusions of a government investigation the relatives of the victims and expressed ernment and the East Timorese independ- commmission that found the military had his concern for those still missing. ence movements all reiterated calls for an significantly underestimated the death toll independent, international investigation into in shootings in East Timor. FOREIGN AID SAVED? the killings. "The Indonesian Armed Forces does not "The commission has enough strong doubt the conclusions of the national (Excerpt from Reuter, Jakarta, Dec 27) reasons to believe that the number of vic- investigative commission," ABRI Indonesia may have saved vital foreign tims who died was around 50 people and spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurhadi aid for its economy by publishing a report the injured more than 91," the leader of the Purwosaputro, told editors of the domestic that rejected the military's widely disbe- seven-man Indonesian commission, media. lieved version of an East Timor massacre, Djaelani, said after presenting a 16-page The commission that investigated the diplomats said. preliminary report to President Suharto. Nov. 12 shootings of anti- government Donor nations had threatened to cut fi- Djaelani said another 90 people had been demonstrators in the former Portuguese nancial aid of more than five billion dlrs a missing since the shooting, Reuter reported colony announced Thursday it found the year after troops fired on a crowd mourning from Jakarta. Indonesia had previously put death toll much higher than widely disputed the death of a separatist in the East Timor the death toll at 19. But witnesses have said figure of 19 given by armed forces. capital of Dili on November 12. they believe more than 100 people were The commission report also said about The diplomats said the aid was crucial killed. A U.S. delegation that visited East 90 people remained missing - possibly dead for an economy that still relied heavily on Timor was told that between 75 and 100 or wounded, or healthy but hiding. foreign assistance. Since the shooting, three people probably were killed. Asked why the death toll was much countries have suspended aid. The "There was a spontaneous reaction by higher than previously given by the mili- economy is still growing at about five pct a soldiers without orders to protect them- tary, Nurhadi said the figure was based on year but diplomats say the government selves, shooting many times into the dem- reports collected until the time ABRI made does not have enough money and will need onstrators," said the report, which called the earlier announcement about the incident. to look overseas for help. for legal action against those responsible. "But now, with the figure given by the Australian Foreign Minister Gareth "That coincided with a group of security commission, ABRI accepts that number as Evans endorsed the preliminary account of forces, out of control, and outside com- more trustworthy. ABRI respects the the findings of the commission. Evans said mand, which also opened fire and . . . led to commission," he added. the report's justification of the soldiers more victims." In response to the commission's report having opened fire in self-defence was Alan Nairn, an American journalist on that some soldiers had overreacted in troubling, but he agreed with the estimate of assignment for the New Yorker magazine handling the crowds, Nurhadi said ABRI some 50 deaths and 90 others having who was a witness to the events in Dili, would adopt some "follow-ups," and any- disappeared. East Timor, on Nov. 12, described as one found violating the law will be prose- "By and large I think one has to say that "completely inaccurate" the report's char- cuted. it is a pretty crisp and not unreasonable acterization of the shooting as that of in- Armed forces commander Gen. Try account of what we from other sources dividual soldiers acting "without orders to Sutrisno was scheduled to begin a visit to ourselves know or believe to have protect themselves." East Timor Friday, where he was expected occurred," he said. Nairn said the soldiers marched in for- to meet with the local people. Tokyo, the biggest provider of aid, has mation up to the demonstrators and opened not commented. Members of parliament fire in unison. The Timorese were not TRY: 'SEPARATISTS' expressed concern over the shooting but threatening the troops, he said, but were SHOULD 'GIVE UP Western diplomats said they did not expect backing away from them. it to limit aid now. Nairn said that, according to recent in- AFP, Jakarta, Dec 27 - Indonesia's "Those who want to believe in formation he has received from Timor, the military chief General Try Sutrisno has told Indonesia, they will believe. This report Indonesians are continuing the round-up of separatists in East Timor to give up their says enough for them to put aside pressure suspected dissidents that followed the Nov. struggle for an independent state. from public opinion and go ahead with the 12 shootings. His allegations were echoed in Speaking in the East Timorese capital aid," said a European diplomat. today's Amnesty International statement, Dili on Friday, Try urged separatists "here He said the report may not find ap- which was issued in London. and abroad, who still harbour the ambition proval from some European countries, es- Amnesty alleged that scores of political and obsession of creating chaos, unrest and pecially East Timor's former colonial ruler activists in East Timor, including many security disturbances," to end their fight. Portugal, because there were still conflicting young people and Catholic priests, con- "The result of all their doings and actions reports from witnesses on what happened. tinue to be subjected to serious human is that the people have become the victims, The commission says the soldiers were provoked by the crowd of 3,500 into East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 28 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 opening fire. Its death toll of 50 is still a Of the six students arrested on 24 State Secretary Murdiono told reporters long way from the figure of up to 180 given November, two - Jose Paulo and Joaquim the two were Major General Sintong by prominent East Timorese. da Costa - have since been released. The Panjaitan, military commander of eastern four in custody were subjected to severe Indonesia and the East Timor military HOW THE FOUR EAST beatings and torture during interrogations. commander, Brigadier General Rudolf TIMORESE IN BALI WERE While all this was going on, Major- Warouw. General Sintong Panjaitan, commander of Murdiono said: "The president believed ARRESTED the Udayana military command, summoned that whatever happened was the respon- all East Timorese students in Bali to a sibility of those in charge of local security. TAPOL Report, 27 December 1991. meeting where they were addressed by So, as the supreme commander of the armed [Based on an account published in 'Berita Sintong himself. He warned them to stop forces, he took the decision to change the Timor Timur', 27.XII.1991, a daily news thinking about East Timor's independence, local commanders." service circulating in Jakarta, issued in saying that anyone discovered to be There was no indication of who would Bahasa Indonesia.] involved in political activity would be taken take up the two key positions in the pow- Six East Timorese students were arrested into custody and punished. As yet, there erful Indonesian military establishment, in Bali at 7.00 am on 24 November 1991. have been no more arrests. which is a pillar of the government and a They are: Fernando de Araujo, from The four still under arrest were trans- major player in domestic politics. Ainaro, a student of Indonesian literature; ferred to Jakarta just before Christmas and Murdiono also did not say whether the Jose Pompeia, from the village of Bidau, have been under intensive interrogation ever two sacked generals would be given other Dili, an animal husbandry student; Antonio since at the central police headquarters in positions. Matos, from the village of Mascarenhas, Jakarta, Metro Polda Jaya, along with the Suharto ordered the army chief General Dili, an economics student; Clemente 21 students who have been in custody since Edi Sudrajat to set up a council to study in Soares from Bidau, Dili, a student of animal the demonstration in Jakarta on 19 depth the way the military commanders husbandry; Jose Paulo of Bairro village, November. handled the violence in which troops Dili, an economics student; and Joaquim da There are unconfirmed reports that trials opened fire in the East Timor capital of Dili Costa from Lospalos, a student of of the East Timorese students are due on November 12. agriculture. All are students at Udayana commence in the South Jakarta district Suharto ordered General Try to take University, Denpasar, except Antonio court on 10 January. steps to find the missing people, widely Matos, a student at the National Pedagogy Meanwhile, TAPOL received today believed by residents in Dili to be secretly University, Undiknas. from Bali photocopies of police sum- buried in mass graves. They were all staying in the rented home monses to two East Timorese students to He also ordered Attorney General of Fernando de Aruajo at the time of their appear for questioning in connection with 'a Singgih to take firm action against those in arrest. A group of soldiers wearing case of subversion'. They were being the crowd in Dili who had broken the law traditional Balinese dress came to the house summoned to appear as witnesses. during the funeral procession for a slain saying they wanted to pray according to separatist sympathiser. Hindu-Bali religion. Army intelligence A CHRISTMAS FOR TIMOR Suharto instructed Foreign Minister Ali agents had meanwhile surrounded the Alatas to counter the negative publicity Christmas party for East Timor From: earned for Indonesia by reports in the in- house. All six students were arrested and [email protected] (Bruno Kahn) taken to the local police station. All their ternational media about the East Timor possessions such as radios, tape-recorder, The Portuguese Cultural Community of violence. television, telephone and various Trappes, a town 60km away from Paris, Major donor nations threatened to cut documents were confiscated and carried off held on Dec. 28 a Christmas party entitled aid that is vital for Indonesia's economy if by the soldiers. Um Natal para Timor. The money collected the government failed to carry out a factual After the students had been taken away, will be entirely devoted to East Timor. investigation of the violence and punish the another team of soldiers came to the house The evening, which included a dinner and guilty. and put down four grenades. They then a ball, was attended by some 200 people, called neighbours in to testify that grenades including a vice-consul of Portugal, the SOEHARTO CREATING had been stored in the house. Mayor of Trappes and several town RIFTS IN ARMY? As this was going on, a student colleague officials. The show featured Luis Manuel named Acacio Branco visited the house. and his group Banda Patria, who offered it AP, Jakarta, Albert Saragih, Dec 28 - The soldiers arrested him and ordered him in support. President Suharto today replaced two to testify that grenades had been found in The Portuguese community in France, military commanders of troops who shot to the house. The soldiers ordered Acacio to the largest outside Portugal, has a dense death pro-independence demonstrators last bring other East Timorese students there, associative network throughout the coun- month in East Timor. also to testify about the grenades. Several try. It is becoming increasingly aware of the Suharto issued the order at a Cabinet students were required to do this, including issue of East Timor. meeting called to study a preliminary report Artur Maria and Gertrudes. They were Bruno Kahn on the Nov. 12 slayings in Dili. required to sign documents attesting to the Agir pour Timor State Secretary Murdiono said today presence of the grenades. The soldiers later that Suharto replaced the military com- described this as an act of protest by the GENERALS SACKED manders responsible for East Timor: Maj. three students against the activities of their Gen. Sintong Pandjaitan, chief of the colleagues. Reuter, Jakarta, Dec 28 - Nusatenggara military command, which Since then, army intelligence have been Indonesian President Suharto sacked two includes East Timor, and Brig. Gen. Rudolf keeping all dwelling places of East generals from their posts on Saturday after S. Warouw, the military commander of East Timorese students under close scrutiny. holding them responsible for the deaths of Timor. Two agents are allotted to each dwelling. about 50 people when troops fired into a Murdiono did not rule out the possibil- Students live in a state of perpetual fear, crowd of mourners in East Timor last ity of courts-martial for those involved in afraid that they too may be arrested. month. the bloodshed. He said that will be decided following a separate army investigation into East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 29 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 the military commanders' actions at the adding that it showed Suharto's willingness and was a sympathiser of the East Timor time. to act on the official commission's report pro-independence movement Fretilin. The army investigation, ordered by investigating the violence. The newspaper also quoted the head of Suharto, will be carried out by a council "It will satisfy our government," the the office, Benito, as saying "GDS" would formed by the army's chief of staff, Gen. diplomat said. be tried for subversion. Eddy Sudradjat. Military analysts considered 50-year-old "GDS," Kodijat said, was suspected of He quoted Suharto as saying, "We Panjaitan, a special forces officer, as being leading several anti-Indonesian demon- should exercise self-correction and take a on track for the top job in the armed forces strations in East Timor in recent years, lesson from the incident." after successfully leading a commando including when Pope John Paul II visited Murdiono said Suharto bypassed armed operation to free a hijacked Indonesian the region in October 1989. forces commander Gen. Try Sutrisno in airliner in Bangkok in 1981. deciding to replace the two military com- Warouw, a 48-year-old infantry officer, TIMORESE ARRESTED IN manders "because of the large interest and won his military spurs in counter-insur- MALANG concern of the president as supreme com- gency operations in Irian Jaya before taking mander of the armed forces." over the special command in East Timor. TAPOL report, 29 December 1991 The investigating commission said in its His bold strategy set two years ago to report that the actions of the security gradually replace combat troops tackling An East Timorese student in Malang, forces to maintain control went beyond Fretilin separatist guerillas with soldiers East Java was arrested on 24 December what was necessary and resulted in many trained in undertaking development work 1991. His name is Jose Antonio Jesus deaths and injuries. However, those in- won praise from local residents and the Neves. Further details are not known. volved in the riots must also be severely influential Catholic Church. punished, Murdiono quoted Suharto as NEW UDAYANA, TIMOR telling Attorney General Singgih. TIMOR DEMO 'LEADER' COMMANDERS Reuter, Jakarta, Moses Manoharan, Dec TRIAL 28 - Diplomats said the replacement of UPI, Jakarta, Dec 30 -- Armed forces Major General Sintong Panjaitan and Kyodo, Jakarta, Dec 28 - Indonesia's commander Gen. Try Sutrisno Monday Brigadier General Rudolf Warouw was a local police in East Timor recommended named new military commanders to replace blow to the pride of the military, which Saturday that prosecutors charge an alleged two dismissed officers held responsible for plays a key role in politics. rioter with subversion in connection with the fatal shootings of some 50 mourners State Secretary Murdiono told reporters last month's deadly mass shooting. last month in East Timor. successors to Panjaitan, military com- The man, Gerogio Chuna da Sadanha Sutrisno told reporters Maj. Gen. H.B.L. mander of eastern Indonesia and Warouw, [sic], was arrested for allegedly leading Mantiri, was appointed chief of the military commander of East Timor, would hundreds of pro-independence demonstra- Udayana military command, which over- be announced soon by the armed forces tors during the incident. sees East Timor, replacing Maj. Gen. commander-in-chief, General Try Sutrisno. Sadanha is one of 37 alleged demon- Sintong Panjaitan. Brig. Gen. Theo Syafei "The president believed that whatever strators detained after the November 12 was named chief of the East Timor opera- happened was the responsibility of those in outbreak of violence in Dili. tional command, replacing Brig. Gen. charge of local security. So, as the supreme Antara quoted East Timor police chief Rudolf Warouw. commander of the armed forces, he took the Ishak Kodijat as saying that mong the 37 President Suharto, as supreme military decision to change the local commanders," detainees, 14 people including Sadanha are commander, decided during the weekend to Murdiono said. suspected of subversion, 18 others of remove Panjaitan and Warouw, saying that Suharto ordered army chief General Edi breaking criminal law, and charges on the two officers were responsible for the Nov. Sudrajat to set up a council to study in rest are pending. 12 shootings in Dili, capital of East Timor depth the way the commanders handled the Antara said Sadanha is a former local Province. shooting in the East Timor capital of Dili government official. Reuter, Jakarta, Dec 30 on November 12. "The president stressed that what hap- AFP, Jakarta, Dec 28 - Indonesia has replaced the two high- pened in Dili should not be repeated in Jakarta will press subversion charges, profile generals held responsible for last future. He asked government officials and which carry a maximum penalty of death, month's massacre of mourners in East the security apparatus to correct them- on 14 people detained following last Timor with little-known provincial officers. selves," Murdiono said. He did not say if month's shooting at Dili in East Timor. Armed forces commander-in-chief the two generals would be given other East Timor police chief Colonel Ishak General Try Sutrisno told reporters on positions. Kodijat said in Dili on Saturday that 14 of Monday that Major-General Mantiri would Suharto ordered General Try to find the the 33 detained would be charged with become military commander of Eastern missing people, widely believed by Dili subversion, the Suara Pembaruan daily re- Indonesia, which includes East Timor, residents to be buried in mass graves. ported. replacing Major-General Sintong Panjaitan. The diplomats said the replacement of Kodijat had said earlier this month that Brigadier-General Theo Syafei will re- the two generals would satisfy donor eight would be charged with subversion. place Brigadier-General Rudolf Warouw as countries demanding that senior officers Jakarta newspapers Thursday, citing the military commander of East Timor. responsible for the violence in Dili be unnamed sources in Dili, said a total of 37 President Suharto sacked Panjaitan and punished, but the move also raised ques- people were detained following the Warouw at the weekend, holding them re- tions about the domestic situation. November 12 shooting. sponsible for the army shooting on One Western diplomat said it could The Suara Pembaruan said Kodijat on November 12. signal a confrontation between the Saturday handed over documents on the "They meet the criteria of the region," President and the military before general case of one of the detainees to the high said Try of the two generals who will elections next year and the presidential prosecutor's office in Dili. oversee military operations in East Timor, polls the following year. Kodijat said the detainee, identified only annexed by Indonesia in 1976 after 400 "For the outside world, however, the as GDS, worked at the Dili state hospital years of Portuguese rule. move is a positive sign," said the diplomat, East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 30 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

Both men are Christians, as are most of Australia, Singapore, South Korea and U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, East Timor's 750,000 people. Japan. who argued in Tokyo last November for Mantiri, 51, is a special forces officer "If President Bush fails on this trip to Japan to dispense with passive diplomacy who served as East Timor military com- condemn the tragedy that has befallen the and actively promote "the democratic and mander before becoming a division com- brave human rights activists throughout humanitarian agenda," got a feel for the split mander of the army's elite Kostrad or Southeast Asia, including those in East in opinion in Japan at an informal dinner strategic reserve. Timor and Burma, his silence will be heard meeting with a number of senior political His last post was as planning and loud and clear as a sign of consent to the leaders, including Foreign Minister Michio budgeting aide to army chief General Edi perpetrators of these abuses," Healey said. Watanabe, and former Prime Ministers Sudradjat at military headquarters in Noboru Takeshita and Yasuhiro Nakasone. Jakarta. JAPAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS According to Foreign Ministry sources, Syafei was chief of staff to the military POLICY some Japanese participants shared Baker's commander of South Sumatra's Sriwijaya enthusiasm, saying Japan undertakes to regional command. Kyodo, Tokyo, Dec 30 - Japan, better convey the importance of human rights to In contrast, Panjaitan and Warouw have known for pragmatism than ideology in its other Asian countries. been in the limelight. Panjaitan came to diplomacy, is increasingly adopting firm Others, however, chided the U.S. for national prominence after leading a suc- rhetoric on human rights as it joins Western pressing a moralistic diplomacy in Asia and cessful operation to free a hijacked partners in encouraging the post-cold war for ignoring what they said was the Indonesian airliner in Bangkok in 1981. trends toward democracy and free markets. paramount importance of economic devel- Warouw had been hailed widely for his But it remains to be seen whether Japan opment as the foundation to ensure respect strategy to involve soldiers in development truly intends to exercise its budding po- for human rights. work in East Timor. litical clout and immense economic leverage The Foreign Ministry's new annual re- Try said they had been recalled to to promote human rights in Asia and port says Japan will henceforth "take ac- military headquarters in Jakarta, but de- beyond, or whether it is merely paying lip tions" to promote "universal values" like clined to elaborate. service to the concept to placate its more human rights, utilizing aid as a leverage Diplomats said Suharto's dramatic re- moralistic Western partners. when necessary. placement on Saturday of Panjaitan and Last April, then Prime Minister Toshiki And Japan's Deputy Permanent U.N. Warouw would placate major donor Kaifu told the Diet that henceforth, in Representative, Katsumi Sezaki, recently countries demanding suitable redress for the implementing Japan's massive aid program, said in a speech that national sovereignty Dili shootings. Tokyo would fully take into acount cannot be accepted as "a protective barrier But it raised questions about the nature recipient countries' efforts at democrati- behind which a country may violate human of a long and crucial relationship between zation and guarantees of fundamental hu- rights with impunity." the military and civilians in government. man rights. "There are certain fundamental freedoms One diplomat said it was unusual for Foreign ministry officials, however, are and human rights that should be respected Suharto to publicly punish two distin- hard put to cite specific examples of the by all countries, whatever their culture, guished members of a military establish- new policy in action, with the possible ex- whatever their political or economic ment which plays a key role in politics and ception of a cutoff of aid to Haiti last system," Sezaki said, alluding to the will oversee next year's general election. September and aid suspensions to such common argument of developing countries Suharto has ordered General Sudrajat to countries as China and Myanmar that pre- that social and economic development takes set up a council to study how the com- dated the new policy. priority. manders handled the violence and warned On the other hand, while still as reluct- The threat of aid as a diplomatic club that such incidents should not be repeated. ant as ever to resort to punitive measures, would be expected to be received coolly by In a report to Suharto on Thursday, the Tokyo has been quietly pressing the issue such major Japanese aid beneficiaries as commission blamed a section of the military of human rights in bilateral talks, most re- China and Indonesia, both under harsh for losing control and firing excessively into cently with Myanmar and Indonesia. Western criticism for their human rights the crowd. It also refuted the military According to one human rights activist, records. version of the violence, given in an Kiyoko Furusawa, Japan's response to an In practice, however, countries so near emotional address to parliament by General anticipated Indonesian government report and economically important to Japan ap- Try, whose command includes the police. on the shooting of civilians in East Timor pear to have little cause for alarm from Suharto has ordered Try to find the will be a litmus test of Japan's sincerity on Tokyo's newly idealistic foreign policy -- missing people, believed by Dili residents human rights. which, according to veteran diplomat to be buried in mass graves. "The government should not practice a Takakazu Kuriyama ,"also has to be real- double standard on human rights when it istic." A.I. USA ADVISES BUSH comes to abuses or violations occurring in The former Vice Foreign Minister urged nations with which Japan has been keeping a "low-posture policy" that "does not give AFP, Washington, Dec 30 - Amnesty very close relations, like China and the impression we are imposing our values International USA urged President George Indonesia," said Furusawa, a lecturer at on other countries." Activism would Bush to use his trip to Asia to raise human Tokyo Women's Christian University. antagonize Asian neighbors who remember rights concerns in the region -- particularly Furusawa said Japan's actions after as- "Japan's past belligerence and aggression," abuses in Burma and Indonesia. suming a nonpermanent seat on the U.N. he said. "As Mr. Bush promotes U.S. economic Security Council will also show how seri- "There has to be a great deal of sophis- interest, he has an obligation to reaffirm this ous Tokyo is about human rights. tication and delicacy when trying to pro- country's human rights interests as well," But Japanese bureaucrats and politicians mote values to which those countries do said John Healey, excutive director of generally shun the idea of taking up the not necessarily subscribe," Kuriyama said. Amnesty International USA. human rights torch with anything like the Bush left Monday on a 12-day mission missionary zeal of many Western nations, aimed at opening up Pacific markets to some arguing that the very concept of American goods at a time when the U.S. human rights is alien to Asian culture. economy is ailing. He will journey to East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 31 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

TAPOL WRITES TO THE UN It is our fervent wish that, during the six TAPOL calls on you to press for a UN months of Portugal's Presidency, the mission to visit East Timor without delay. AND THE EC European Community will persuade the The task of the mission should not be United Nations Security Council to con- confined to investigating the tragedy of 12 To mark the change in the leaderships of sider the question of East Timor. There November; it should also provide continu- the United Nations and the European should be peace talks on the future of the ing protection to the people of East Timor. Community commencing on 1 January country, involving representatives of the We also urge you to take up with vigour the 1992, TAPOL, the Indonesian Human people themselves, including those who question of East Timor's right to self- Rights Campaign, today, 31 December have waged armed resistance since the determination. Unless this basic problem is 1991, wrote to the new Secretary General beginning of the Indonesian occupation. resolved, there can be no end to the tragedy. of the United Nations, Dr Boutros Boutros I can assure you that TAPOL will do all Any further prolongation of Indonesia's Ghali, and the new Presidency of the it can to promote the cause of East Timor's illegal and brutal occupation of East Timor European Community, the Portuguese independence and to support the East is not only a tragedy for the East Timorese; Foreign Minister, Dr Joao de Deus Timorese people who continue to suffer it is a grave blemish on the implementation Pinheiro, regarding its concerns for a under Indonesian occupation. of United Nations principles enshrined in speedy solution to the question of East Yours sincerely, the UN Charter and UN Resolution 1514 Timor. Carmel Budiardjo (XV) on the Granting of Independence to The texts of the two letters are as fol- Colonial Countries and Peoples. lows: Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali Yours sincerely, Secretary General of the United Nations, Carmel Budiardjo Dr Joao de Deus Pinheiro, UN Secretariat, New York Foreign Minister of the Republic of Dear Dr Boutros Ghali, TRY SEARCHES FOR Portugal, Lisbon May I, on behalf of TAPOL, the BODIES Dear Dr Pinheiro, Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, con- May I, on behalf of TAPOL, the gratulate you as you take over as Secretary UPI, Jakarta, Dec 31 - Military forces Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, con- General of the United Nations. will begin a full-scale search for people still gratulate you and the Government of Since the Indonesian invasion of East missing after last month's bloody shootings Portugal as you assume the Presidency of Timor, this organisation has consistently in East Timor, government announced the European Community. supported the people of that illegally oc- Tuesday. We are grateful for the fact that, since cupied country. We petition the UN The search, ordered by President the tragic Santa Cruz massacre on 12 Decolonisation Committee every year and Suharto, follows the release of a govern- November 1991, the Government of present submissions to the UN Human ment report estimating that 50 people were Portugal has worked closely with the other Rights Commission on Human Rights and killed and a further 90 were missing after Member States of the Community to sup- its Sub-Commission on the Prevention of government troops opened fire on mourners port the people of East Timor by bringing Discrimination and Protection of at the funeral of pro-independence leaders pressure to bear on the Indonesian Minorities. in East Timor on Nov. 12. Government to end the atrocities that have The question of East Timor is one of the The Indonesian government first said no brought so much misery and loss of life. most critical, unresolved issues on the UN's more than 19 people were killed in the The recent attempt by the government in agenda, despite the adoption of two shootings, which sparked an international Jakarta to placate its international critics Security Council and eight General outcry. Independent reports put the death will in no way lift the burden of suffering Assembly resolutions calling for an act of toll at more than 100 people. for East Timor. Jakarta's inquiry self-determination. Suharto has instructed Armed Forces commission is no substitute for an inde- The massacre of several hundred Cmdr. Gen. Try Sutrisno to search for pendent commission which the United peaceful demonstrators in Dili on 12 further missing bodies, government officials Nations should send to East Timor without November 1991 has drawn world attention said. delay. Only in this way will there be a full to East Timor on an unprecedented scale. "We will cross-check every piece of investigation of the events on that terrible The East Timorese people, today more existing data and all facts found in the field day. than ever, expect the UN to extricate them ...," Sutrisno said. "Please give me a In the opinion of TAPOL, President from the injustices they have suffered chance." Suharto's decision to replace two generals during sixteen years of Indonesian occu- by two other generals is a futile exercise in pation. BELO CALLS FOR TALKS damage limitation. Nothing can change in Your predecessor announced his inten- East Timor until Indonesia is forced to end tion to send a commission to East Timor to TAPOL report, 2 January 1992. its illegal occupation and withdraw all its investigate the Santa Cruz massacre. It Speaking in an interview with troops. Everything we hear about the seems, however, that the Indonesian Portuguese commercial radio on Monday, situation there convinces us that there will authorities are determined to prevent any 30 December 1991, Bishop Belo, head of be yet more repression and yet more deaths international investigation from taking the Catholic Church in East Timor, called for as long as East Timor remains under place. The situation in East Timor is grim; for dialogue without preconditions to re- Indonesian occupation. repression is worsening, fear of the forces solve the issue of East Timor. He said he More than 50 East Timorese are now of occupation is greater than ever and any deplored the lack of concrete initiatives on awaiting trial for engaging in legitimate investigation by the forces of occupation the issue. activities in support of independence and into the 12 November tragedy can only lead The Bishop said that what he had in participating in peaceful demonstrations. to more intimidation. The East Timorese mind had to be a broad dialogue among all TAPOL recently addressed the Dutch people, understandably, will never trust those concerned - Portugal, Indonesia, the Presidency of the Community, seeking its those very authorities which have resistance parties and the church. help in calling for the immediate and un- committed so many atrocities during the The Bishop declined to comment on the conditional release of all these political years of Indonesia's illegal occupation of preliminary conclusions of the Indonesian prisoners. We very much hope that this their country. government inquiry and on the replacement matter will receive your close attention. East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 32 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992 of Indonesian generals because he lacked thrown at him from inside the grounds of In handing down his finding, the magis- accurate information. the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra. trate, Mr Peter Dingwall, said Jong, 43, Bishop Belo also spoke in the same in- An angry brawl developed after the end had been provoked by the embassy driver terview of his deep anxiety about the of a media conference called by the East who had allegedly made an obscene gesture physical and mental well-being of Father Timor Independence Committee at the towards him. Ricardo, Vicar-General of the Dili Diocese, "East Timor Embassy" which is situated The solicitor who represented Jong, Mr who has been undergoing daily interrogation only a few metres from the gate of the Bernard Collaery, said Jong, who was and ill-treatment by the security forces for Indonesian Embassy in Canberra. Most of standing in the driveway, was overcome by several weeks already. After a respite over the East Timorese who had earlier staged a "emotion" when the driver made the Christmas and the New Year, the peaceful demonstration at Parliament obscene gesture with his fingers. interrogations recommenced today, 2 House had already left when three Embassy After the drivers had returned to the January 1992. vehicles emerged from the gate and drivers grounds, about 30 staff returned and threw made obscene gestures towards the a "shower of bricks over the embassy THE HAGUE WANTS UN TO remaining 80 East Timorese. gates". INVESTIGATE One East Timorese man reacted by hit- Outside the court, another demonstrator, ting one of the vehicles with his hand Anthony Carlos Ferreira, 14, alleged his Source: De Volkskrant. 2 January 1992. causing damage to the windscreen. While hand had been fractured by a brick thrown Dateline: The Hague. Unabridged. the drivers walked back into the Embassy at him from inside the embassy grounds. grounds, 20-30 Indonesian Embassy staff An embassy official confirmed staff had On 28 December, De Volkskrant, a leading rushed to the Embassy gate attempting to thrown bricks, stones and bottles over the Dutch daily, published an editorial entitled, engage the East Timorese in hand-to-hand gate but that it was in retaliation after two "A Bad Report". fighting but were restrained by Common- embassy staff had been injured. In the opinion of Foreign Minister van wealth security personnel and Australian The scene of diplomats throwing bricks at den Broek, the UN should conduct an in- Federal Police. Bricks, pieces of timber and demonstrators and trying to fist-fight with quiry into the East Timor massacre of 12 cans were then thrown in both directions them was quite amazing. Security guards November. This is at the core of the reac- over the Embassy fence for about five standing inside the gate who were facing tion from the Foreign Ministry to the pre- minutes. away from the embassy had to turn around liminary report on the shooting of a crowd After his discharge from Calvary and prevent stick-wielding embassy staff of mourners by Indonesian soldiers. Hospital last night, Carlos Ferreira said from rushing the gate from the *inside*. The Dutch government is ‘interested in that he was hit on the hand by a red house Embassy staff who have had to suffer the the outcome of the consultations between brick thrown at him from a distance of "indignity" of passing Fretilin flags, 200 the UN and the Indonesian government about three metres over the Embassy gate. crosses with names of the victims of the Dili regarding an international inquiry into the The fourteen-year old has described his Massacre and un- flattering banners as well events of 12 November in East Timor,’ attacker to Federal Police who are in- as smelling 6 weeks of accumulated according to a statement on New Year's vestigating the matter. garbage every time they enter or leave the Eve. Solicitor Bernard Collaery said last night embassy have obviously accumulated a lot According to the conclusions of the that one East Timorese man has been of anger. preliminary report, conducted on the in- charged with causing damage to a vehicle structions of President Suharto, fifty peo- and will appear at the City Magistrates' KPN REPORT MAKES ple were killed during the shooting and 91 Courts this morning at 9.30. IMPACT (ASIA WATCH) persons wounded. According to Amnesty Further information: Patricia Fuary (CIET- International and eyewitnesses, the number ACT), 06-2477962 of fatalities was more than a hundred. Reuter, Jakarta, Jonathan Thatcher, Jan 3 The Dutch Foreign Ministry regards the Embassy staff threw bricks at protesters Leading U.S. human rights group Asia preliminary report published last week by The Australian, 4.1.1992, unabridged By Watch said on Friday that Indonesia's of- the National Inquiry Commission as a move Katherine Glascott ficial report on an army massacre in East in the right direction, but the matter has not Timor was unacceptable and demanded an been resolved, the Ministry argues. Indonesian embassy staff retaliated international investigation. Parliament too insists on there being an against East Timorese demonstrators out- "There is not much time left. Bodies will investigation, to determine whether the side the embassy in Canberra by throwing decay, making identification all the more shooting at the crowd was premeditated or, back bricks, stones and bottles, an em- difficult; memory of specific details will as the official Indonesian version says, a bassy official confirmed yesterday. fade; the 'official' version will be in- matter of self-defence. The brawl resulted in the arrest and creasingly accepted as fact," Washington- overnight detention of an East Timorese based Asia Watch said in a report received EAST TIMORESE BOY demonstrator who was yesterday found in Jakarta. guilty of damaging embassy property and "The international community must INJURED BY BRICK released on a good behaviour bond. continue to press the Indonesian govern- THROWN FROM A statement tendered by the ACT ment for a full and accurate accounting of INDONESIAN EMBASSY Public Prosecutor, Mr Shane Madden, said what happened. The preliminary the brawl occurred at 5.50pm when three (government) report deserves no acco- AUSTRALIAN COALITION FOR EAST embassy vehicles tried to leave the lades." TIMOR, Campaign for an Independent East grounds. The defendant, Seveliano Martin Diplomats said Japan, Indonesia's major Timor (ACT) GPO Box 2583 - Canberra Jong, approached one of the vehicles and aid and trade partners, and the United ACT 2601 - Australia cracked the right side of the windscreen. States had largely accepted the Indonesian One vehicle then reversed back into the MEDIA RELEASE - 3 January 1992 version of events though some European grounds while the other drivers were forced countries might demand more. An East Timorese boy, Anthony Carlos to leave their cars and walk back to the They said that in particular the question Ferreira (14), was treated for a fractured compound. of punishment of the soldiers involved still hand yesterday evening after a brick was remained unsettled. East Timor Document Collection: Volume 7 Page 33 Dec 17, 1991 - Jan 4, 1992

However the report appeared to have maintain our own dignity. We are not given successfully prevented the shooting from to muckraking in Indonesia...but if seriously being linked to vital supplies of fresh for- provoked I'm game..." eign aid. A local daily said the Indonesian in- BISHOP BELO DENIES HE vestigators would return to East Timor next INVITED INDONESIAN week to complete their inquiry and that a final report was expected in about two OFFICIALS months. One Western diplomat said he doubted LUSA, the Portuguese News Agency. 3 the wisdom of pushing for an international January 1992. Two items, abridged. investigation so late in the day though he A reminder, if needed, that much of what the said a representative from the United Indonesian press reports about East Timor Nations should probably go to East Timor. is invention. Several retired generals have been strongly critical of the way the military There are 41 Timorese awaiting trial behaved, laying much of the blame on its Bishop Ximenes Belo, head of the leadership. Catholic Church in East Timor, told LUSA They say some military leaders are out news agency in a telephone conversation, of step with a modern developing country that it was not true he invited Indonesian and should be prepared to deal with unrest civilian and military officials to his in East Timor and elsewhere in Indonesia's residence for this year's Christmas diverse archipelago far less harshly. celebration. The English-language daily, The Jakarta INDONESIA WARNS Post, reported on 26 December that: AUSTRALIA, PORTUGAL "Bishop Belo and his clergy threw an open house yesterday morning which lasted until Reuter, Jakarta, Jonathan Thatcher, Jan 3 noon. Among the guests were leaders of the An angry Indonesia warned Australia on provincial government and the military." Friday that relations could be at risk after a "I invited no-one," the prelate said, but crowd protesting over November's at that point the telephone conversation Indonesian army massacre in East Timor was cut. harassed its diplomats in Canberra. After restoring telephonic contact with "We want those actions stopped. If they the Bishop, LUSA was told by him that are not stopped they will clearly jeopardise there were 41 persons in detention who our relations," Foreign Minister Ali Alatas being charged for activities in connection told reporters. with the 12 November massacre last year. He said demonstrators threw bricks at [Official sources said earlier that the two embassy cars leaving the Canberra number of detainees awaiting trial in Dili compound on Thursday and diplomats had was 32.] been harassed. Police had failed to do more When the conversation again returned to than shout at the mob to stop, he said. the story in the Jakarta Post, the Bishop "What makes us deeply concerned...(is described the report as a lie, saying it was that) those demonstrators have acted with not the tradition for receptions to be held at apparent ease and complete freedom to do the Bishop's residence with Indonesian so," Alatas said. authorities among the guests. But once The embassy has been picketed since again at this point, the phone-line was cut. November 12 when Indonesian soldiers fired into a crowd of mourners in East INDON EMBASSY PICKET Timor, killing scores and sparking an in- THREATENED ternational outcry. Radio Australia reported later that Jan 4, 1992 by cietact Canberra police had ordered protesters to dismantle by Monday a hut, described by The Australian Department of Foreign demonstrators as the East Timor Affairs is using the brawl at the Indonesian "embassy," erected outside the Indonesian embassy two days ago as an excuse to mission. move against the "East Timor Embassy", a Alatas saved his harshest words for wooden hut erected next to the Indonesian Portugal, referring to it as dishonest. Lisbon embassy by the Trades and Labour Council has waged a relentless attack against as a permanent picket of the embassy after Jakarta's 16-year rule of the impoverished the Dili Massacre. territory. A report on ABC television says that "We reject the way...Portugal is sitting the Australian Federal Police has an- on their high pedestal. I have a lot to say nounced the removal of the "Embassy" by about Portugal if I want to and perhaps I Monday 6 January. will in these coming weeks," Alatas said. The TLC, the "Embassy" committee and "I still have to decide whether I will the East Timorese community are moving stoop down to their level or whether I will to defend the "Embassy".