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DOOR Newsletter on East Timor home
February news
See Dec
22 IHT: A Family in East Timor Grieves for a Daughter for background
to the story below.
"Juliana was one of several hundred people
sheltering in the grounds of Ave Maria Roman Catholic church in Suai when
it was attacked by Indonesian security forces and their Laksaur militia
proxies in an unprovoked assault on Sept. 6, 1999, that left as many as
200 people dead, including three priests. ... The Indonesian government's
human rights watchdog, Komnas HAM ... described what happened at the Suai
church as indiscriminate killing, with the victims including men, women
and children, aged between 5 and 40. In the chaos that followed the worst
recorded atrocity after the UN-organized self-determination plebiscite
in East Timor, Juliana was separated from her mother and taken to the district
military headquarters. It was there that the Laksaur militia deputy leader,
Igidio Mnanek, seized the young girl and proclaimed her as his "war prize."
" Mark Dodd
Below is a translated
summary of an article from an Indonesian newspaper. For a more complete
translation of it please send your request to Eliot
Hoffman, who will forward it to the translator. Please include
the name of the newspaper/s, date/s, and article title/s.
English language Indonesian newspapers
available online:
West
Timor Press: Edited by
Eliot
Hoffman
Surya Timor
Friday, 23 February 2001
Matter of rape in E. Timor, Gusmao's wife
criticizes Indonesia
DILI – Kirsty Sword Gusmao has criticized
Indonesia for failing to free a girl who was kidnapped and raped by a militia
leader. Sword Gusmao said Indonesian promises to free 16 year-old
Juliana dos Santos have not been realized. In Sept. 1999, Juliana,
who survived the slaughter at the Suai Cathedral, was raped at a military
headquarters, and then kidnapped by Laksaur militia leader, Igidio Mnanek
and carried off to W. Timor. Sword Gusmao said Juliana witnessed
Mnanek murder her brother when more than 200 people were slaughtered.
According to a member of the E. Timor HAM Commission, Juliana has been
repeatedly raped in a refugee camp and became pregnant. Sword said
that refugees who returned to E. Timor in December brought a letter thought
to have been written by Juliana, but Juliana's parents think it is a trick
by Mnanek. In the letter, Juliana says she gave birth to a baby boy
on 27 Nop. and wants to remain in refuge to live together with the militia
leader. Sword Gusmao, who originates from Australia, said it appears
the contents of the letter were dictated by Mnanek and they are giving
a warning to Juliana's parents not to get involved in their relationship
or make any effort to separate them. UNHCR tried to free Juliana
and her case was put forward by Indonesian authorities last year during
a visit by members of the UN Sec. Council to W. Timor, said The Age.
Meanwhile, UNTAET head, Sergio de
Mello and Foreign Minister,
Ramos Horta, met with Attorney General, Marzuki
Darusman on Thurs. (22/2). The main discussion topics had to do with human
rights abuses and an ad hoc human rights court. After the meeting,
de Mello told reporters that hr abuses in E. Timor were discussed and inquires
made concerning the hr court that is to be formed by the Indo. House of
Reps. "We also inquired about the 22 suspects in 5 cases of hr abuses
who, it is planned, are to be tried in the ad hoc court in Indonesia,"
de Mello said in English. According to de Mello, Marzuki agrees with
the ad hoc court and hopes it will be formed soon so that the cases can
be tried as soon as possible and so that the legal status of the 22 is
clear. "We also asked about one person who committed murder in July
2000 who is now under arrest in Kupang. But I'm sorry, I can't mention
[don't
remember?] his name," said de Mello.
Untaet has also sent a letter to the Attorney General asking that the other
5 suspects in the murder case of the N. Zealand soldier in E. Timor be
arrested as quickly as possible. De Mello also said he asked that
Guterres be tried in the ad hoc hr court in Indonesia since it relates
to Guterres' trial in E. Timor. Trials in E. Timor can't be conducted before
they have begun to be tried in the ad hoc hr court in Indonesia.
Untaet will also send a team to Jakarta to question Guterres in Jakarta.
Ramos Horta said there are still
about 80,000 refugees in Atambua who want to go home to E. Timor, but unfortunately
their desires are being obstructed by militia. "We are convinced
they can return during the next three months" and praised the work of Udayana
Commander Willem da Costa to settle the E. Timor refugee problem.
He went on to say, "At this time also we are making an effort at reconciliation
as the beginning of a new life in E. Timor. If reconciliation is
carried out, elections will definitely be carried out in August 2001,"
said Horta. He said that in April there is to be a huge reconciliation
event in Baucau that will be attended by Indonesia, E. Timor, and Untaet
as well as parties related to the E. Timor process. "We want something
better for the future." He said that in August Timor Leste will hold
elections to choose a president and try to run its own government.
[Much of the same news appears in
this same paper with some additional info. ST – "UNTAET asks about Guterres'
trial" JAKARTA – Two UNTAET reps., Sergio de Mello and Ramos Horta,
in their meeting with Attorney General Marzuki Darusman asked why Eurico
Guterres has not yet been tried for human rights abuses. Attorney
General Darusman said that can only happen if the hr court has been formed
by the House of Reps. Therefore, Untaet will send a team to Jakarta to
investigate and question Eurico Guterres.]
West Timor Press: Edited by
Eliot
Hoffman
See
Dec 22 IHT: A
Family in East Timor Grieves for a Daughter for background to the above
story.
"Juliana was one of several hundred people
sheltering in the grounds of Ave Maria Roman Catholic church in Suai when
it was attacked by Indonesian security forces and their Laksaur militia
proxies in an unprovoked assault on Sept. 6, 1999, that left as many as
200 people dead, including three priests. ... The Indonesian government's
human rights watchdog, Komnas HAM ... described what happened at the Suai
church as indiscriminate killing, with the victims including men, women
and children, aged between 5 and 40. In the chaos that followed the worst
recorded atrocity after the UN-organized self-determination plebiscite
in East Timor, Juliana was separated from her mother and taken to the district
military headquarters. It was there that the Laksaur militia deputy leader,
Igidio Mnanek, seized the young girl and proclaimed her as his "war prize."
" Mark Dodd
See also: Dec
7 CapT: Village Women of East Timor have great hope
"Nearly everyone in Ainaro was forced
from their homes following the referendum. Many fled to the mountains while
others were coerced into refugee camps in Indonesian West Timor. Those
who fled took no more than the clothes on their backs, blankets, tarps
and cooking pots. In Ainaro, militia members looted and burned, leaving
nothing behind. Women were specifically targeted in many ways -- they were
separated from husbands and sons, harassed and often raped. In the refugee
camps -- which are mostly populated by women and children -- living conditions
are terrible, with food shortages, poor sanitation and rampant disease."
Jen Laakso
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Website: http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood
Email: wildwood@pcug.org.au