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Press communique of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on East Timor
16 September 1999
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Press Communique
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention visited the Republic of Indonesia in February 1999, and on that occasion also traveled to East Timor. The visit to East Timor was prompted by the considerable preoccupation, in the international community in general and the Working Group in particular, with the human rights situation in this territory.
The Group witnessed the climate of violence prevalent in East Timor. In its mission report, which will be published shortly, it observes that it was informed of cases in which individuals were deprived of their liberty for periods of between two and three months without any formal charges, for the alleged purpose of “rehabilitation”. At the end of these periods, the individuals concerned were incited to renounce their previous pro-independence sympathies and to provide information on their pro-independence activities. In many instances, their release was conditional upon their joining a special military unit.
The Group further witnessed the existence of rooms occupied by paramilitary groups on the occasion of a visit to a military barrack. It manifested its serious concern over the creation of paramilitary militia groups and concluded that their development engaged the responsibility of the State of Indonesia.
The Group notes that, unfortunately, its conclusions have been overtaken by reality. All the information brought to the attention of the Group indicates that it was precisely the paramilitary militia (such as Aitarak, BMP, Makikit, and others) who have perpetrated the atrocities committed over the past few days in East Timor. The Group insists that the activities of these militia are the responsibility of those who trained, armed and motivated the pro-integrationist militia members, that is, State authorities.
The Group has addressed a letter to the Indonesian authorities, requesting them to provide clarifications about the current situation of political prisoners linked to pro-independence currents.
In Dili, the Group visited the offices of the Foundation of Law, Justice and Human Rights (YAYASAN HAK), of church organizations, and numerous other places, most of which are now destroyed. The Group notes that pursuant to Resolution 1999/16 of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, those who cooperate with the Group and other mechanisms of the Commission must benefit from the special protection of the United Nations in the discharge of their functions. For this reason, the Group requests the Secretary-General that he devote special attention to this issue in the report which he is asked to submit to the Commission on Human Rights.
The Group’s mandate is based on resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, whose mandate in turn is specifically provided for in the U.N. Charter. The Group requests the Commission on Human Rights to accede to the request of the Government of Portugal to convene an extraordinary session of the Commission, with a view to adopting resolutions that will help re-establish respect for human rights in East Timor.
15 September 1999
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention visited the Republic of Indonesia in February 1999, and on that occasion also traveled to East Timor. The visit to East Timor was prompted by the considerable preoccupation, in the international community in general and the Working Group in particular, with the human rights situation in this territory.
The Group witnessed the climate of violence prevalent in East Timor. In its mission report, which will be published shortly, it observes that it was informed of cases in which individuals were deprived of their liberty for periods of between two and three months without any formal charges, for the alleged purpose of “rehabilitation”. At the end of these periods, the individuals concerned were incited to renounce their previous pro-independence sympathies and to provide information on their pro-independence activities. In many instances, their release was conditional upon their joining a special military unit.
The Group further witnessed the existence of rooms occupied by paramilitary groups on the occasion of a visit to a military barrack. It manifested its serious concern over the creation of paramilitary militia groups and concluded that their development engaged the responsibility of the State of Indonesia.
The Group notes that, unfortunately, its conclusions have been overtaken by reality. All the information brought to the attention of the Group indicates that it was precisely the paramilitary militia (such as Aitarak, BMP, Makikit, and others) who have perpetrated the atrocities committed over the past few days in East Timor. The Group insists that the activities of these militia are the responsibility of those who trained, armed and motivated the pro-integrationist militia members, that is, State authorities.
The Group has addressed a letter to the Indonesian authorities, requesting them to provide clarifications about the current situation of political prisoners linked to pro-independence currents.
In Dili, the Group visited the offices of the Foundation of Law, Justice and Human Rights (YAYASAN HAK), of church organizations, and numerous other places, most of which are now destroyed. The Group notes that pursuant to Resolution 1999/16 of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, those who cooperate with the Group and other mechanisms of the Commission must benefit from the special protection of the United Nations in the discharge of their functions. For this reason, the Group requests the Secretary-General that he devote special attention to this issue in the report which he is asked to submit to the Commission on Human Rights.
The Group’s mandate is based on resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, whose mandate in turn is specifically provided for in the U.N. Charter. The Group requests the Commission on Human Rights to accede to the request of the Government of Portugal to convene an extraordinary session of the Commission, with a view to adopting resolutions that will help re-establish respect for human rights in East Timor.
15 September 1999