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Amnesty International
o
I
II A
A • A
A • •East Timor
Violations of
Human Rights
Extrajudicial Executions,
'Disappearances', Torture
and Political Imprisonment,
1975-1984
East Timor
Errata
p.2 Bugi should be Bugis
p.52 line 24 KADIM should be KODIM
Photos:
p.45 left should be right
p.50 bottom left and bottom right are reversed
Amnesty international PublicationsFirst published 1985 by Amnesty International Publications
1 Easton Street, London WCIX 8DJ, United Kingdom
Contents
©Copyright Amnesty International Publications 1985
ISBN 0 86210 085 2
AI Index: ASA 21/16/85
Original Language: English
VI
Printed by Shadowdean Limited, Mitcham, Surrey Mans
South East Asian Arclapelago iv
East Timor
8
Comarca Prison 9
Preface 1
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be Indonesiaand Fast Timor 3
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in Offensivesagaimt Fretilin 5
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, in East Timor 1975-1984 10
photocopying, recording and/or otherwise, without the prior Accas to information 11
permission of the publishers. Militarymanuals 11
abuses by Fretilin 13
's guarantees 13
y International and the Indonesian Gov 14
ICRC visits 15
Otha visits 16
17
Wavesof repression 18
Extrajudicialexecutionsand '• 20
The invasion 24
''Clean-up', 1979 29
The attack of 10 June 1980 34
''Security', 1981 38
Clean-Sweep', 1983-1984 ao
Torture and Ul- 53
Imprisonment 60
Theprison 61
Conditions 62
Atauro 64
villages" 68
• 72
The DPRD letter 72
A case of torture 76
Two families 77
a on trials 78
81
y Int— a worldwidecampaign 88NORTHERN MARIANAS
Paracel Luzon (U S Adm ) :
LA STHAILAND
(China)
VIETNAM 1- 'GUAM (LI S
PHILIPPINES
KAMPUCHEA
PACIFIC OCEAN
Samar
SOUTH CHINA SEA
s
.1 MICRONESIA
Mindanao (U S Mm )
PALAU
sts' (U.S Adm )
I.
BRUNEI • t s •
MALAYSIA I •
a •
MALAYSIA o
CELEBES SEA
a
:sINGARDRE Halmahera
;it Romeo
SCZ} . `aN
a= 0
Sumatra Ct>cr Swam
CWebes •
C_YAmbon •• New Guinea • 11:.
JAVA SEA INDONESIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA
0
Ut §
Java est
-0Tanimbar
Bali Horn -
.0 6 EAST TIMOR ARAFURA SEA 7
Timor
INDIAN OCEAN Sumba di CORAL SEA
TIMOR SEA 415>
AUSTRALIA
THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN ARCHEPELAGO
MAP OF EAST TIMOR
WETAR STRAIT
ATAURO ISLAND
Maurnst a
i Fulioto
Anna Branca SAUCAU. •
[MASAI STRAIT MA ATILTO
i Osman ULM' or...di ro LOS PALOS
LAKE TACITO -jai" V ••
Gan Law
LIK acaanta LaMo Lais tan
• :to IV
rlaaro:M-anWil•
,
• mourn •
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Xii
VI Laciubar uoutasistAimod••lhonw
esA1111.1 • •
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t
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Be° LIANA-Tr • Fato all:
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VII)
VIII :**--
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IX
SUM° TIMOR SEA
Lastmo
Sea
WEST TIMOR III Vicassous
Iv :Wawa
Diii
Vi Kies
sin Saws
VW Amato
IX namisona
X
X1 Enwra
Xli UNA*vii
vi
KOTIS Komando Taktis, branch of KOREM respon-
sible for intelligence and screening activities
Liurai East Timorese traditional ruler
GLOSSARY Lullk Objects held sacred by East Timorese
OPMT Organizacao Popular do Mulher Timorense,
Fretilin women's organization
RPKAD Resimen Para Kommando Angkatan Darat,
Indonesian Army commandos
RTP Resimen Tim Pertempuran, Indonesian compo-
site attack regiments
TBO Tenaga Bantuan Operasi, East Timorese re-
cruited as auxiliaries to assist Indonesian troops.
ABRI Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia, The Teturn homonym, Tebeo, means "kick you".
Indonesian armed forces UDT Uniao Democratica Timorense, party formed in
APODET1 Associacao Popular Democratica Timorense, May 1979
pro-Indonesian party formed in May 1974 UNETIM Uniao Nacional do Estudante de Timor, Fret ilin
Bapak Indonesian word for "father"; used in Indonesia students' organization
as term of respectful address to an older person;
used by East Timorese to refer generally to Indo-
nesian military personnel NB: The Portuguese words in this report have been printed without
Bupati Indonesian district officer accents.
Camat Indonesian sub-district officer
DPRD Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah, (Indonesia)
Regional People's Representative Assembly
DRET Democratic Republic of East Timor, proclaimed
by Fretilin
Falintil Forcas Armadas de Libertacao Nacional de
Timor, Fretilin armed forces
Frente Revolucionaria de Timor Leste, party
Fredlin tormed in May 1974 which declared indepen-
dence of East Timor on 27 November 1975
GPK Gerombolan Pengacau Keamanan, Bands of
Security Disruptors, official Indonesian term for
Fretilin
HANSIP Pertahanan Sipil, Indonesian civilian militia
KODAM Regional military command, Komando Daerah
Militer
KODIM District military command, Komando Distrik
Militer
Kopassandha Komando Pasukan Sandi Yudha, formerly
known as RPKAD (q.v.)
KORAM1L Sub-district military command, Komando Rayon
Militer
KOREM Sub-regional military command, Komando
Resor MiliterPreface
The island of Timor lies at the eastern end of the Lesser Sunda
island chain in the Indonesian archipelago. The western half of the
island has been part of Indonesia since 1949. The territory of East
Timor covers 14,952 square kilometres, less than a quarter of the
area of Sri Lanka, and comprises the eastern part of the island,
some islets, including Atauro, and the enclave of Oecusse in the west.
The nearest landmass is Australia; Darwin is 400 miles southwest.
East Timor was under continuous Portuguese administration for
over 250 years, from 1702 until August 1975, when, during a
period of turmoil, the Portuguese authorities evacuated the island.
The territory was invaded by Indonesian forces in December 1975
and was subsequently claimed by Indonesia after having been
incorporated as its 27th province by an "act of integration". This
claim has not been recognized by a majority in the United Nations.
An Indonesian census of 1980 registered the population of East
Timor as 550,000. The last Portuguese census, in 1970, had
recorded a population of 610,000, which was estimated to have
risen to over 650,000 by mid-1974. These figures cannot be
regarded as precise, but indicate a decline from 1974 to 1980.
particularly after the 1975 Indonesian invasion.
The people of East Timor are predominantly of Malay and
Melanesian stock. They are divided into more than 30 distinct
ethnolinguistic groups, with one language. Tetum, serving as a
lingua franca. Traditionally, most Timorese have lived in isolated
small villages often comprising only three to five houses, a
settlement pattern regarded as having been a response to the terrain
and climate. The island of Timor is dominated by a mountain
range running east-west The climate makes the northern and
southern coastal plains less hospitable than the highlands, although
East Timor's capital, Dili, is on the north coast in one of the few
available natural harbours. In the early 1970s, some 80 per cent of
the people lived in small villages on the upland slopes. After the
invasion of December 1975, this pattern was severely disrupted3
2
with the forcible removal of large numbers of people into Associacdo Popular Democratica Timorense (APODETI), favoured
tion wit h Indon esi a, an d on tha t ba sis too k on an en ha nced
-resettlement areas". integra
strategically-located ter rito ry be for e an d aft er the
we re org an ize d into pe tty significance in the aff air s of the
Traditionally , the pe op le of Tim or
liu ra i. In the ea rly 19 70 s mo st of the invasion.
kingdoms ruled by
on we re an imi sts wo rsh ipp ing sac red ob jec ts kno wn as
populati
lulik; most of the res t, ab ou t a thir d, we re ba ptiz ed Ro ma n Indonesia and East Timor
the en d of 19 84 ab ou t ha lf the po pu lati on wa s
Catholics-- at lion squ are
Indonesia, wit h a lan d are a of alm ost two mil
reported to be Roman Catholic. ma kin g it the fifth
in the are a da ted fro m the kilome tre s, ha s a po pu lati on of ove r 15 0 mil lion ,
Th e Po rtu gu ese , wh ose pre sen ce
tion in the wo rld . Be for e the an ne xat ion of Ea st
ea rly six tee nth cen tur y, ha d a lim ited imp act on tra diti onal most populous na
d to esi a's na tion al bo un da rie s we re tho se of the Ne the r-
structures. A thin str atu m of Ea st Tim ore se be cam e ass imi late Timor, Indon
ly thr ou gh st Ind ies . Go ver nm en t rep res en tat ive s ha d pre vio usl y oft en
some degre e into Po rtu ga l's -m etr op olit an " cul tur e, lar ge lands Ea
pla yed an ed tha t Ind on esi a laid no cla im to the Po rtu gu ese col on y. The
educa tion , in wh ich the Ro ma n Ca tho lic Ch urc h stress
ser vin g in the nm en t of Pre sid en t Su ha rto ha d com e to po we r after
imp ort an t pa rt. Th ey inc lud ed Ea st Tim ore se Gover
tea che rs an alle ge d com mu nis t cou p in 19 65 an d ha d
Portuguese arm y an d oth ers em plo yed as pu blic ser van ts, suppressing
at lea st elim ina ted the Co mm un ist Pa rty of Ind on esi a ( PM )
and nurse s. Th e nu mb er of Ea st Tim ore se rec eiv ing subsequently
19 50 s an d aff ilia tes thr ou gh pro scr ipti on an d the lar ge -sc ale imp riso n-
primary ed uca tion inc rea sed ma rke dly be twe en the and its
Ho we ver , in an d kill ing s of sus pe cte d me mb ers . Aft er Ap ril 19 74,
1974, wh en alm ost 60 ,00 0 pu pils we re en rol led . ment
lati on were Indonesian officials made it clear that Indonesia regarded
1974 , an est ima ted 70 pe r cen t of the ad ult po pu
oth ers , for Ea st Tim or as un de sira ble an d a po ten tial
illiterate. Of all Po rtu gu ese col on ies , Ea st Tim or (lik e the independence
ga l) wa s risk , pa rtic ula rly if it en tail ed the est ab lish me nt of a left -
strictly an -ov ers ea s pro vin ce" inte gra ted into Po rtu security
perhaps the mo st ne gle cte d, a ba ckw ate r rem ote fro m the con cer ns wing government
The unacceptability to the Indonesian Government of an
of the metropolis. de cle ar to
be cau se of its independent East Tim or un de r Fre tilin con tro l wa s ma
Timor ori gin ally att rac ted com me rcia l inte res t
wh o ma de rep ea ted vis its to Jak art a du rin g 19 75 . On
, for wh ich Ch ine se. Ara b an d Bu gi (fro m Ma kas sar in UDT leaders
sandalwood a "co up " ap pa ren tly wit h the
nd . Wh en this res ou rce was 11 Augu st 19 75 the UD T lau nch ed
the Ce leb es) tra de rs vis ited the isla
, n of elim ina ting Fre tilin . On 29 Au gu st Po rtu gu ese civil
exhauste d, the Po rtu gu ese de vel op ed fine qu alit y cof fee inte ntio
virtually nd Tim or for the isla nd of
exp ort . Th e Ea st Tim ore se and military autho ritie s eva cua ted ma inla
which becam e Ea st Tim or' s on ly ma jor
ea rly Se pte mb er Fre tilin for ces ha d pre vai led in the
the mo st pa rt wo rke d as far me rs ma kin g a sub sis ten ce Atauro. By
have for istr atio n of the ter rito ry.
erc e wa s do min ate d by "civil wa r", an d too k ove r the ad min
living by "sl ash -an d-b urn " me tho ds. Co mm
1,5 00 an d 3,0 00 Ea st Tim ore se are est ima ted to ha ve
6,000 Between
members of the Chinese community (which numbered about
died in this conflict.
in 1970). the UD T an d oth er pa rtie s
l's Ca eta no Go ver nm en t In late Se pte mb er 19 75 me mb ers of
The Ap ril 19 74 ove rth row of Po rtu ga
ove r the bo rde r into Ind on esi a an no un ced tha t the y now
Arm ed Fo rce s Mo vem en t in Lis bo n wa s cru cia l for Ea st driven
by the Th ere is con sid era ble evi de nce
nm en t wa s com mit ted to favou red inte gra tion wit h Jak art a.
Timor. Th e ne w Po rtu gu ese Go ver
nth s lea din g up to the inv asi on in De cem be r,
col on ies to exe rcis e the ir rig ht to sel f-d ete rm ina tion . that in the mo
allowing the drawn
parties emerged in Ea st Tim or: the Fr en te• Indonesian troops, supported by East Timorese "partisans"
Two main political inc urs ion s into
(Fr etil in) an d the Un iao De mo - primarily fro m the de fea ted UD T, ma de rep ea ted
Revolucionaria de Timor Leste 19 75 thr ee Au str alia n an d two Bri tish
East Tim or. In Oc tob er
cratica Timorense (UDT). Au str alia n tele vis ion com pa nie s were
com mit ted to Ea st Tim or' s eve ntu al journa list s wo rkin g for
Both parties we re op s in
T reported to have be en arb itra rily exe cut ed by Ind on esi an tro
Fre tilin wa nte d this pro mp tly, wh ile the UD
independence.
a gradu al proces s inv olv ing an ext en de d perio d of the village of Balibo in East Timor.
proposed Fre tilin ad min istr atio n
Faced wit h mo un ting att ack s, the
association with Portugal. pu blic of Ea st Tim or on
d aft er Ap ril 19 74 , the proclaime d an ind ep en de nt De mo cra tic Re
Of several sm alle r pa rtie s for me5
4 Sa ud i Ar ab ia, Qa tar an d Ira n. Ind ia an d Ja pa n.
Philippines- and
pe ale d for int er na tio na l re co gn itio n an d th Ind on es ia ag ain st the
28 November 1975 and ap The number of co un trie s vo tin g wi
ian pa rtie s re sp on de d wi th a de cla ra tio n St ate s of Am er ica , Au str ali a,
support. The pro-Indones resolution later included the Un ite d
er ica n an d oth er Mi dd le
of integration with Indonesia. New Zealand and a nu mb er of La tin Am
, Ind on es ian for ce s lau nc he d a ful l-s ca le W es ter n Eu ro pe ha ve sin ce 19 76
On 7 December Eastern states. The co un trie s of
ter rito ry, lan din g tro op s by se a an d air in the Ire lan d an d Po rtu ga l vo tin g for the
invasion of the generally abstained, on ly
of Di li an d Ba uc au an d de sp atc hin g a lar ge force
principal towns resolutions.
across the border.
Official Indonesian ac co un ts cla im ed tha t the inv as ion wa s
Offensives against Fretilin
n of the ea rlie r "ci vil wa r" an d tha t Di li and 75 . Fr eti lin
simply an exten sio ian att ac k on Di li on 7 De ce mb er 19
ce s of the UD T an d After the Indones
Baucau had been -liber ate d" by for an d, wh en tha t tow n fel l, to Ai na ro
forces withdrew south to Ai leu
Ind on es ian -vo lun tee rs" . On 18 De ce mb er ar y
A PODETI assisted by Ind on es ian so ur ce s re po rte d in Ja nu
Go ve rn me nt of Ea st Tim or in the mountains. Official
1975 the formation of a Pr ov isi on al co ntr oll ed a thi rd of the ter rito ry,
1976 that Indonesian for ce s
wi th the Pr es ide nts of AP OD ET 1 an d the UD T as for ce s still
was announced, although in Ap ril 19 76 Fr eti lin cla im ed tha t its
an d de pu ty ch ief ex ec uti ve s. On 31 Ma y 19 76 it le inf or mation
respectively chief controlled 80 pe r ce nt of Ea st Tim or . Th e av ail ab
d tha t a 37 -m em be r Pe op le' s Re pr es en tat ive Assem- ns oli da te the ir
was announce suggests that Indonesian for ce s we re slo w to co
an d ha d ap pr ov ed a pe titi on ca llin g for ca mp aig ns
bly had met in Dili position outside the ma in tow ns . A se rie s of loc ali ze d
on es ia. On 17 Ju ly 19 76 Pr es ide nt Su ha rto ive ae ria l
integration with Ind 77 un til ea rly 19 79 , inv olv ing ma ss
the Ind on es ian pa rlia me nt, from September 19
signed the Bill of Int eg ra tio n, pa ss ed by to be un de r Fr eti lin co ntr ol, led to
bombardment of ar ea s tho ug ht
into law. an d su rre nd er of ma ny tho us an ds of Ea st Timorese,
se mb ly an d the Se cu rity the capture
In resolutions pass ed in the Ge ne ra l As bu sh by hu ng er . A de leg ati on of
who were often driven ou t of the
19 75 . the Un ite d Na tio ns (U N) de plo re d the Se pte mb er
Council in December diplomats and journ ali sts wh ich vis ite d Ea st Tim or in
an d ca lle d on all sta tes to re sp ec t the rig ht of rte d tha t
Indonesian invasion n of the Ind on es ian Go ve rn me nt re po
tio n. Si nc e "in teg ra tio n" 1978 at the invitatio
the East Timores e pe op le to se lf-d ete rm ina Tim or es e wh om the y ha d se en in
captured and su rre nd er ed Ea st
ian Go ve rn me nt ha s re jec ted the UN 's us
in July 1976, the Indones "resettlement camps" we re ev ide ntl y su ffe rin g fro m se rio
the qu es tio n of Ea st Tim or . Ho we ve r, the UN
right to discu ss
ion s ea ch ye ar fro m malnutrition.
General Assembly co nti nu ed to pa ss re so lut on es ian Fo re ign Mi nis ter ac kn ow-
By November 19 79 the Ind
19 76 re so lut ion re jec ted the ac t of int eg ra tio n. tha t "in Bi afr a
1976 until 1982. Its ledged that the food situa tio n mi gh t be wo rse tha n
re so lut ion s str es se d pa rtic ula rly the ne ed for
From 1979, the or Cambodia".
aid in re sp on se to the ev ide nc e of se ve re en d of
international humanitarian In March 1979 Ind on es ian au tho riti es pr oc lai me d the
lem s. In 19 83 an d 19 84 dis cu ss ion s on Ea st e of the
food and medical prob Operasi Seroya (O pe ra tio n Lo tus ), lau nc he d at the tim
d at the re qu es t of the Se cre tar y Ge ne ra l, wh o wo uld be
Timor were deferre an no un ce d tha t the nc efo rth Ea st Tim or
its 19 82 re so lut ion to invasion, and
had been asked by the Ge ne ra l As se mb ly in n. Ho we ve r, re sis tan ce to the
fully under civilian admi nis tra tio
wi th all pa rtie s dir ec tly co nc er ne d wi th a att ac ks
- initiate consultations Indonesian occupation pe rsi ste d, wi th co nti nu ing re po rts of
view to achieving a comprehensive settlement" by Fretilin on Indones ian ou tpo sts . In an eff or t to eli mi na te thi s
ma jor ity in fav ou r of the Ge ne ra l As se mb ly off en sives,
The size of Ind on es ian for ce s lau nc he d dr y-s ea so n
the vo te wa s 72 for, resistance,
resolutions decli ne d fro m tha t in 19 75 , wh en mb er s of the po pu lat ion .
involving the co ns cri pti on of lar ge nu
ab ste nti on s, to tha t in 19 82 , wh en the vo te wa s 19 81 Op er as i
10 against with 43 The offen siv es inc lud ed the Ap ril to Se pte mb er
50 ab ste nti on s. Th os e vo tin g co ns ist en tly an ds of
50 for, 46 against, with Keamanan (Operation Se cu rity ), in wh ich ma ny tho us
so lut ion ha ve be en Po rtu ga l an d its for me r Ind on es ian
in favour of the re civilians aged betw ee n 15 an d 55 (a cc or din g to the
ity of Af ric an co un trie s, an d mo st so cia lis t n -fe nc es"
colonies, a major re po rte d to ha ve be en de plo ye d in hu ma
le' s Re pu bli c of Ch ina. authorities) are
countries, includ ing the US SR an d the Pe op eti lin po sit ion s. Hu nd re ds of Ea st
to converge on remaining Fr
all gr ou p of co un trie s vo tin g ag ain st the re so lut ions or we re kil led
The initially sm d as a re su lt of sic kn es s
in the As so cia tio n of Timorese reportedly die
included three of Indones ia' s fou r pa rtn er s
Ma lay sia an d the during this operation.
Southeast Asian Natio ns (A SE AN )-- Th ail an d,7
6
custody by the authorities or with their connivance and the
A ceasefire between the two sides was agreed in March 1983
but later broke down and in August 1983 large numbers of authorities deny that the victim is in custody.
Disappearances" and political killings by governments are
additional Indonesian troops were brought to East Timor in yet -
Clean-Sweep) frequently connected. Often victims of extrajudicial execution are
another operation Operasi Sapu Bersih (Operation
delega- secretly abducted befbre being killed; the "disappearance" disguises
aimed at eliminating Fretilin. An Australian parliamentary
tion which visited East Timor in July 1983 was informed by the the killing.
A -disappearance" may be resolved by the authorities'
Indonesian military commander of East Timor that Fretilin had
about 300 members under arms and a total strength of between acknowledging the victim's detention or by the detainee's release or
1,000 and 2,000, including members' relatives. reappearance in prison or in court.
The opening section of this report -Repression in East Timor,
In late 1984 and early 1985 Fretilin was still reported to be
launching attacks on administrative posts. The Commander-in- 1975-1984", provides an overall view of Amnesty International's
of the Indonesian armed forces, General Benyamin concerns in the territory, the organization's sources of information
Chief
Moerdani, stated in December 1984 that 7,000 Indonesian troops and the recommendations it has made to the authorities since the
were in the territory and that Fretilin had an estimated 700 1975 invasion. It also outlines the periods of increased military
members under arms, 1,000 -active members" and 3,000 to 5,000 activity which have occurred between 1975 and 1984 and the
"sympathizers". increased level of human rights violations which have accompanied
Estimates from a wide range of sources of the number of people them.
who have died in East Timor since the invasion directly as a result The following section, -Extrajudicial executions and 'disappear-
of the armed conflict are as high as 200,000, about a third of the ances' " includes accounts of five of these periods: "The invasion",
pre-invasion population. In April 1977 the then Indonesian Foreign " 'Operation Clean-up', 1979", "The attack of 10 June 1980",
Adam Malik, said between 50,000 and 80,000 people " 'Operation Security', 1981", and " 'Operation Clean-Sweep',
Minister,
was before the worst of the bombardment and 1983-1984". This is followed by sections on "Torture and ill-
had died—this
treatment", -Imprisonment" and - 'Normality' ", ending with a
famine had begun. Those who had died included people killed
during Indonesian bombardments, in armed encounters, as a result postscript on political trials.
of famine and disease—both in the bush and after surrender or
capture—as well as many hundreds reportedly executed after
surrender or capture.
Extrajudicial executions
Extrajudicial executions are unlawful and deliberate killings carried
out by governments or with their complicity. Amnesty Inter-
national uses the term to distinguish these political killings by
governments from the judicial" death penalty, the execution of a
death sentence imposed by a court. It also distinguishes them from
deaths resulting from the use of reasonable force in law
enforcement, as permitted under national and international legal
standards, and from killings not forbidden under international
humanitarian law in armed conflict
'Disappearances'
Many political killings by governments have been concealed
because the victims have "disappeared": Amnesty International
considers that a "disappearance" has occurred whenever there are
reasonable grounds to believe that a person has been taken intodo
•
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Military Ponca Wracks
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Isolation cells Category Category
sleeping quarters B&C B&C Category A prisoners
military
prisoners prisoners
Iron door • iron oor COMARCA
veranda closes ott veranda
Separates to n common criminals
prisoners and
military non-prisoners sec-
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sleeping cell
quarters cement wall
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military women's
military veranda
courtyard Courtyard
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sleeping
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•
prisoners
an kitchen detail by
veranda
ex-prlsonan
women's prisoners
front entrance on kitchen detail
veranda with iron door
veranda games for to separate veranda
food stores
soldiers women•s sections
kit- clinic Category X prisoners
chen
bedroom tor women 's ft-refectory in Portuguese
administration administrative times. now a prayer room
officers dormitoryII
thes e ab us es ha ve com e from virtually
The reported k ictims of all
m or es e so ci et y, although m os t hav e been
the whole spectrum of East Ti
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ite d
.
by th e In do ne si an fo rc es ha v e
The strict controls imposed
it. The
-
d th e flo w of in tiw nl at itm ou t of
access to the territory an w hi ch
ha ve oc cu rre d in a si tu at io n in
iolatitms described in this reptin
pr es si on , as se m bl y, as so ci at io n an d
the fundamental freedoms (il ex
in th e ab se nc e if th e co ns tra in ts of
19 75 In do ne si an tro op s ha ve sy st em- 1111 luive not existed and
Since the invasion of Decem be r an d ill tre at ed fo r as se rti ng their
Am ne sty legality. People have been de ta in ed
at ed hu m an rig ht s in Ea st Ti m or . d
atically and persistently viol t an d ct ftn m un ic at io n w ith in an
fro m a va rie ty of so ur ce s of th e right to these freedoms. Mtn emen
International has received reports tig ht ly co nt ro lle d. Ea st Ti m or es e
llin g of no n- co m ba ta nt s; of th e to rtu re beyond Fast Timor have been
"disappearance" and arbitrary ki to be re un ite d w ith th ef t fa m ilie s ab ro ad
in to th e cu st od y of In do ne si an fo rc es . permitted to leave the territtwy
and Of-treatment of people taken of the hav e been routinely warned by In do ne si an in te llig en ce of fic er s be fore
cr ue l an d in hu m an co nd iti on s; an d
including their detention in rm at io n w hi ch m ig ht di sc re di t th e In do nesian
tri al of pe op le m os t of te n he ld on eas ing not to reveal info
imprisonment without charge or r occupation and have been thre at en ed w ith re pr is al s ag ai ns t th em se lv es
ne si an oc cu pa tio n. Si nc e D ec em be
suspicion of opposing the Indo st Ti m or if th ey do so . Am ne st y
m or es e ch ar ge d w ith po lit ic al O ffe nc es and their relatives still in Ea
I 983, when a number of East Ti le to vi si t Ea st Ti m or . In M ar c h 19 84 it
, Am ne st y In te rn at io na l ha s be en co nc er ned International has not been ab of
began to be brought to trial O f Ju st ic e as ki ng to at te nd tri al s
th es e tri al s. wrote to the Indonesian Minister
abou t th e la ck of fa irn es s of in D ili. Th is re qu es t w as re fu se d on
ni za tio n ha ve in cl ud ed ac co un ts of political detainees then in progress
The reports received by the orga a m at te r of do m es tic ju ris di ct io n an d
ta nt ci vi lia ns du rin g an d sh or tly af te r t he grounds that the trials were
hundreds of killings of non-comba ted in ac co rd an ce w ith in te rn at io na l norms.
at ic ex ec ut io n of hu nd re ds of pe op le w ho were being conduc cu-
the invasion itself; the system Despite these circumst an ce s, Am ne st y In te rn at io na l ha s ac
ca pt ur ed by In do ne si an fo rc es in 19 78 and or .
had surrendered to or been at io n on its co nc er ns in E as t Ti m
ki llin g of m or e th an 80 m en an d w omen mulated a large body of inform
1979; the "disappearance" or en do cu m en ta ry , co m pr is in g pu bl is he d
20 0 vi lla ge rs in 19 83 ; an d th e ki llin g Some of this information has be
in 1980; the reprisal killing of some reports, accounts written and pa ss ed on to Am ne st y In te rn at io na l in
10 0 m en in on e in ci de nt in 19 84 . ud in g co pi es of in te rro-
of about st on confidence and other confid en tia l m at er ia l, in cl
d to ha ve "d is ap pe ar ed " af te r ar re en ts
Prisoners are reporte th or iti es . Am on g th es e do cu m
rc es ; af te r in te rro ga tio n in ce nt re s in gation reports by the Indonesian au
suspicion of links with Fretilin fo on pr is on er s ta ke n in to th e cu st od y of
po ra ry de te nt io n ce nt re s or of fic ia l are official interrogation reports
Dili; after being taken out of tem
es e "d is ap pe ar ed " re m ai ns un kn ow n. I ndonesian forces.
prisons. The fate of many of th ent
d to ha ve be en to rtu re d in -re se ttl em
Prisoners are reporte
in in te rro ga tio n ce nt re s in th e ca pi ta l.
villages" all over the territory and
Tortures reported have included th e us e of el ec tri c sh oc ks , be at in gs an d Military manuals
r of th e al le ge d vi ct im s ar e rnat io na l re ce iv ed a se t of m ilit ar y m an uals
the near-drowning of prisoners. A nu m be I n J uly 1983 Amnesty Inte ls ,
g in E as t Ti m or . Th es e m an ua
feared to ha ve di ed as a re su lt of th ei r ill- tre at m ent. issued to Indonesian troops servin us e
rte d to ha ve be en ca rried idel ines w hi ch ap pe ar to pe rm it th e
Arbitrary arrests and de te nt io ns ar e re po among other things, contain gu in g
cu la rly in re la tio n to th e th rc at s on th e liv es of pr is on er s be
out on a scale massive by any standa rd bu t pa rti of torture and the issuing of
e op er at io n in 19 81 up to si an of fic ials ha ve re pe at ed ly tri ed to
tio n: in on interrogated. Although Indo ne
territory's relatively small popula ne ith ei th ey no r
de po rte d to th e es e do cu m en ts ,
3,000 people are said to have be en ro un de d up an d cast doubt on the authenticity of th ey
sq ua lo r, di se as e and id en ce th at m ig ht in di ca te th at th
island of Atauro, to live in co nd iti on s of anyone else has produced any ev
malnutrition.13
12
relied exclusively on sources identified with any one political party or
are false. Indonesian officials have correctly stated that the M inistry of
Defence and Security ( HA N KAM) never published the manuals, but social or religious grouping in East Timor.
Amnesty International is not aware of any claims that the Ministry did
so. The manuals appear to have been written by officers Of the Alleged abuses by Fretilin
Command for Fast "rimor for local use and to have no application On several occasions Amnesty International has received reports of
beyond East Timor. human rights abuses through Fretilin channels. In some instances, it
xperts on Indonesia asked by Amnesty International to examine has been able to check such rerxifts through other sources.
the documents were satisfied that they were genuine on the basis of the Amnesty International has been accused of showing partiality by
military terminology used, the nature of the charts and diagrams ignoring reports of human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by
included. the format and style. the official stamps and their detailed supporters of Fretilin. The organization is aware of a number of such
comprehension of military organirational structure and tactics.
reports, including some which appear to be well- founded. They
Indonesian officials have argued against the authenticity of the include:
manuals largely on the grounds that it would, in the words of the
be "fan- Reports of the killing and serious ill-treatment of prisoners held by
country's Foreign Minister, Dr Mochtar Kusumaatmadja,
Fretilin in Dili and A ileu in the period from August 1975 to January
tastic" that a manual prescribing the use of torture should have been
1976.
issued. But the documents do not deal exclusively with torture. They
are not "torture manuals" and Amnesty International has never A statement issued by Fretilin itself reporting the execution in
referred to them as such. December 1983 of a number of East Timorese alleged to have
There are nine manuals in all covering a wide range of strategic collaborated with Indonesian forces.
problems, such as how to break up Fretilin support networks. the Complaints about -Fretilin brutalities" made by Msgr Carlos
system of security in towns and resettlement villages, how to provide F ilipe Ximenes Belo, the Roman Catholic Apostolic Adminis-
comprehensive guidance for villages. and procedures tbr interrogating trator for the Diocese of East Timor, in press interviews given
captives. The reference to and clear acceptance of the use of-- between July and September 1984.
torture is contained in a subsection of the manual on interrogation Amnesty International takes no position on armed conflicts. In the
methods. Guidelines in the manuals on breaking up the Fretilin particular case of East Timor, the organization does not take a position
support networks and on the system of security in towns and on the status of that territory. Amnesty International's sole concern
"resettlement villages" appear to permit interrogators to threaten the relates strictly to the protection of human rights falling within its man-
lives of prisoners. date. The organization believes that the torture and killing of detainees
First-hand evidence from other sources that military personnel by anyone, including all parties to any armed conflict, can never be
have persistently resorted to torture and that people taken into custody accepted.
by Indonesian troops have been arbitrarily executed tends to confirm
Amnesty International's belief that the manuals are authentic. In any
Indonesia's guarantees
event, these manuals are only one part of the extensive evidence
available on torture and other human rights violations in East Timor. Torture and arbitrary killing of people in custody by Indonesian troops
Other information has come from people interviewed by Amnesty are clearly at variance with publicly-stated Indonesian policy. In
International — they were generally unwilling to be identified by August 1977 President Suharto personally announced an amnesty for
name. They included people who, because of work, position or family East Timorese surrendering to Indonesian forces which unconditionally
relationship, claimed to have knowledge of particular violations. guaranteed their safety. The initial amnesty offer was subsequently
Amnesty International also interviewed people who said they renewed and was still in force at the end of 1984. In addition people
themselves had been the victims of human rights violations; they interviewed by Amnesty International have reported that Indonesian
included former prisoners, people who said they had been tortured and forces constantly dropped leaflets in areas where there was believed to
others who gave accounts of how they had survived mass executions. be a Fretilin presence assuring people w ho surrendered that they would
Some of these informants have been affiliated with one or another East be safe. They have reported also that individual East Timorese were
Timorese political grouping. However, Amnesty International has not given guarantees for their safety when they surrendered and that people15
14
tions. Amnesty International has noted with regret that s kits by
who had surrendered or been captured were induced to make radio
humanitarian organizations, particularly the International Committee
broadcasts and other forms of propaganda attesting that they had not e bee n irregular and hav e not invo lved full
of the Red C ross !CRC), hav
been harmLd. In hk September 1984 statement to the Special
access to all parts of the territory.
Cimmunce im Decohint/ atiim, Indonesia's representative stated:
"The use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in
ICRC visits
interrogating suspects is contrary to the State philosophy.
Paneasila, to the basic values of the Indonesian people and to the IC RC teams operated in East Timor from 30 August 1975 until the eve
laws and regulations, particularly Law No. 14 (1970) on the of the Indonesian invasion, 6 December 1975. After the exposure to
Basic Pnwisions concerning Judicial Power and Law No. 8 v kiting diplomats and journalists of famine conditions in the "resettle-
( 1980) on Criminal Law of Procedure. The use of torture and ment villages" in September 1978, an agreement in principle was
other forms of ill- treatment in the interrogation Of suspech is reached between the IC RC and the Indonesian authorities for a
subject to disciplinary actU in and prosecution. The I mhmesian preliminary IC RC visit in 1979. This visit took place in April 1979 and
Government has also intensified etlOrts to prevem such torture was followed in July 1979 hy a survey resulting in agreement on a
and ill treatment from occurring." program covering eight villages with about 60,000 inhabitants.
The relief operation began in October 1979, more than a year after
famine conditions in East Timor had been first exposed. and continued
Amnesty International and the until April 1981, reaching some 80,000 people in 15 villages. After
Indonesian Government April 1981 a limited fbod relief program run by the Indonesian Red
Amnesty International has repeatedly presented its concerns directly to Cross continued without the continuous presence of (CRC personnel.
the Indonesian Government in meetings with its representatives and in After the military "Operation Security", which lasted from
appeak and letters to President Suharto and to government officials. It April to September 1981, the ICRC and the Indonesian authorities
has also made its concerns known through the United Nations agreed on a program of prison visits by an ICRC delegation. These
Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Special began in February I 982 with visits to Atauro island and the Comarca
Committee on Decolonization. prison in Dili. In October and November 1982 the IC RC visited the
Comarca, Atauro island and KODIM, the district command
Indonesian officials have responded publicly by questioning Amnesty
International's methods and motives and denying the validity of its military barracks in Lospalos.
findings. They have accused the organization of relying on unnamed Despite initial Indonesian agreement in January 1983 to an IC RC
sources and documentary material of dubious authenticity such as the proposal to visit all detention centres in E ast Timor from June 1g83 and
military manuals; and of making no effort to verify reports and of not subsequent requests for permission to proceed with this, the IC RC was
attempting to consult the Indonesian authorities about its concerns. able to undertake protection activities only on Atauro during 1983. Its
They have also stated that there is no basis to the reports of serious food relief program was suspended in July 1983 because of restrictions
human rights violations, and have maintained that human rights are imposed by the Indonesian authorities on the movement of delegates.
respected in East Timor. To support these arguments they have stated In December 1983 an agreement was reached on a phased program
that international humanitarian bodies are granted regular access to the of prison visits from March to October 1984: IC RC delegates visited
territory. They have also announced the releases of detainees held on East Timorese detainees held on Atauro and in prisons in Dili, Jakarta,
Atauro Island. the most widely publicized of East Timor's places of Kupang (West Timor), Lospalos and Viqueque. (All the preceding
detention, and on several occasions have set a date by which the island information on ICRC activities relating to East Timor is taken from the
will have ceased to be used to detain prisoners. They have presented the ICRC's public Annual Reports.)
fact that since December 1983 people charged with political offences In other words:
have begun to be brought to trial as further evidence of the respect that • The ICRC was not permitted to undertake activities of any
Indonesian forces have shown for human rights in East Timor. description in East Timor from December 1975 to October 1979.
The question of access is important, particularly in view of the
II The first prison visits did not take place until February 1982, more
frequent resolutions passed by bodies of the United Nations which have than six years after the invasion.
requested unrestricted access to East Timor by hurmmitarian organiza-16 17
Prison visits since then have been irregular and by the end of 1984 observers every possible cooperation in assessing the human rights
they had still covered only a limited number of prisons. situation in East Timor. This is particularly important in the light of
reports from December 1975 onwards of human rights violations and
Other visits the denial by the Indonesian Government that such violations have
been occurring.
I rregular visits by humanitarian organizations which are denied total
It was partly with these considerations in mind that Amnesty
access cannot in themselves provide reassurance that violations of
International made its request in March 1984 to be allowed to send a
human rights are not occurring or have abated. The objective of these
delegation to observe the trials then taking place. Permission was
organizations is primarily the provision of humanitarian assistance,
refused No international observers attended the trials:The organization
which in the circumstances of East Timor has been incompatible with
considers that trials of this kind must be open to international observers
their engaging in public reporting of the situation, even where their
so that their conformity with international legal standards tbr fair trials
mandate would allow them to do so.
can be ascertained.
Amnesty International has received extensive information on the
difficulties facing visitors who wish to assess the situation in East
Timor. These difficulties have included: limitations of their freedom of Recommendations
movement ( usually explained by the Indonesian authorities as being Amnesty International has on several occasions since the 1975
due to the security situation or the unavailability of transportation); invasion presented its concerns in East Timor directly to the I ndonesian
constant surveillance; and reliance on interpreters selected by the Government. It has also made a series of recommendations to the
Indonesian authorities. Indonesian Government.
Journalists applying to visit East Timor or once there seeking to
travel have often been refused permission on the grounds that helicopters In December 1977 it appealed to the government to permit
were not available. For instance, in November 1982 the New York international observers increased access to East Timor.
Times daily newspaper reported: -One reporter's requests were turned In April 1980 it expressed concern about reports that people who
down on the grounds that there were too few helicopters to transport a had surrendered to or been captured by Indonesian forces had
visitor . .. and that the province's newly appointed Governor, Mario subsequently -disappeared" and might have been executed. It urged
Carrascalao, needed 'time to breathe'." President Suharto to undertake full inquiries into these reports and into
Amnesty International has interviewed people who acted as conditions of detainees. It requested that Indonesian forces be instructed
interpreters during such visits. These people said they were instructed to ensure the safety of former Fretilin supporters in accordance with the
by the Indonesian authorities not to pass on complaints or information terms of the amnesty initially offered by the President in August 1977
that would discredit the authorities. Amnesty International has a copy and subsequently renewed.
of a tape recorded by an Australian Broadcasting Corporation cores- In July 1983, on receipt of the military manuals, it expressed
pondent during an unscheduled meeting between a group of Fretilin concern to President Suharto that these documents appeared to indicate
fighters and members of the Australian parliamentary delegation which that torture and threats to the lives of prisoners were official Indonesian
visited East Timor in July 1983. The tape clearly showed that the policy, in violation of the guarantees previously offered under the
Indonesian-appointed interpreter misinterpreted crucial points of the amnesty. Amnesty International urged President Suharto to issue
meeting. immediate instructions to all forces under his command prohibiting the
At the same time, East Timorese have testified to the elaborate torture of prisoners under all circumstances.
preparations made for such visits such as the mobilization of people to In August 1984, after its request to observe trials in East Timor had
greet the visitors and to demonstrate during their visits in favour of been refused, Amnesty International informed the Indonesian Govern-
integration with Indonesia; the removal of military equipment from ment of its reasons for believing that the trials might not conform to
public places; and steps taken to ensure that people who might international standards. It requested further specific information on the
communicate information would could discredit the Indonesian occupa- conduct of the trials and on the fate or whereabouts of a number of
tion did not do so, including their detention for the period of the visit. people who were reported to have -disappeared".
Amnesty International therefore considers it of utmost importance The organization believes that the urgency of its recommendations
that the Government of Indonesia grant to outside and independent has not diminished. It considers it imperative for the protection of19
18
inv est iga tion s he sta rte d imm edi ate ly retihn guerrillas in Fast -Timor, that they are organited in
human righ ts in Fa st Tim or tha t kill
tor tur e and ext rajudic ial underground groups in every city and resettlement camp and
into all rep ort ed cas es of "dis app ear anc e", fac t is tha t the re is
that the y car ry out larg e sca le atta cks . Th e
cut ion : tha t ins tru ctio ns he iss ued to Ind one sia n I mo ps to ens ure the
exe
y: and tha t jud icia l act ion be tak en no more Fretilin in Fast Timor,"
safety of peo ple tak en into cus tod
in tor tur e, ext raju dic ial exe cut ion 'The ass ess me nt of the situ atio n giv en in the Ind one sia n mil itar y
against peopk, lbund to have eng age d
and arb itra ry det ent ion . Arn nes ty Inte rna tion al has not rec eiv ed any manuak which were issued at about the same time tends to CAInfirm
information to suggest these recommendations have been thllowed. the picture that the Indonesian representative wished to deny. These
In this report, Amnesty International presents its findings on human manuals refer to the existence 111 networks of Eretilin support as a
197 5 and the end of 198 4. It fac t tha t mu st he to Fre tilin as hav ing ado pte d an
rights in Ea st 'Tim or bet we en De cem ber "concrete
ten t pat ter n of hum an righ ts offe nsi ve stra teg y: and to it dra win g sup por t frin n intl uen tial
believ es tha t the evi den ce sho ws a per sis
peo ple wh o had bee n pla ced
violations in the territory extending over a period of nine years. me mb ers of the com mu nity , inc lud ing
A Itlu mg h Am nes ty Inte rna tion al bel iev es tha t the vio lati ons hav e bv the Indonesian authorities in positions of trust.
se to Am nes ty Inte rna tion al, info rm atio n
coritinued over the whole nine year period, including during tho of spe cifi c con cer n
t at this tim e of sup pos ed nor ma lity , arr est s
periods described by the Indonesian authorities as periods of"normality", received ind ica tes tha
lati ons hav e occ urr ed in rec urr ent wa ves and and ext raju dic ial exe cut ion s we re stil l bei ng car ried out .
t he mo st w ide spr ead of vio
have generally been associated with t Imes of increased military activit
y. In August 1982 in the district of Ainaro, more than 600 people
re rep ort ed to hav e bee n arr est ed and dep ort ed to the isla nd of
we
Waves of repression Atauro. Se ver al peo ple we re rep ort ed to hav e bee n exe cut ed in the
The mo st ser iou s of the se wa ves of rep res sio n occ urr ed in 197 8 and district during the same period.
1979. Se ver al hun dre d peo ple at lea st are bel iev ed to hav e bee n The information available indicates that the fundamental rights
the ma jor of exp res sio n, ass oci atio n, ass em bly and mo vem ent hav e
execut ed or to hav e "dis app ear ed" afte r the com ple tion of to freedom
den ied in Ea st 'Tim or sin ce the inv asi on of
Indonesian offensive begun in November I 978, which drove thousands been system atic ally
fro m the mo unt ain s. Sin ce 197 5. Th ese righ ts hav e bee n den ied in ma ny wa ys
of East Tim ore se out of the bus h and dow n December
e rep eat edl y rep res ent ed lud ing : by pro hib itin g gro ups of mo re tha n fou r peo ple to gat her
1979 Indone sia n Go ver nm ent spo kes per son s hav inc
ir
the situ atio n in Ea st Tim or as hav ing ret urn ed to a sta te of nor ma lity in public places; by requiring people wishing to travel beyond the
with opposition to Ind one sia n rule alle ged ly con fine d to sm all ban ds of immediate neighbourhood to obtain permits (curia jalan); by the
es:
Fretilin "remnants". The main focus of Indonesian activity is claimed periodic imposition of curlews: by regular house-to-house search
il sen t to and fro m Ea st Tim or. Mo reo ver ,
as having been the economic development of the territory. by che cki ng ma
act ed out sid e the fra me wo rk of the
The available evidence indicates in fact that human rights in East Ind one sia n tro ops hav e gen era lly
of themselves in an arbitrary fashion not simply
Timor continued to be persistently violated after 1979. At times law, conducting
n pec ted of opp osi tion to the ir pre sen ce but
heightened military activity, this repression is reported to have bee towards peo ple sus
tion .* Am nes ty Inte rna tion al bel iev es
particularly intense and to have involved the arrest, execution and towards the gen era l pop ula
. Su ch rep res siv e wa ves the evi den ce of this rep ort ind ica tes , tha t in the abs enc e of cle ar
"disappear anc e" of larg e num ber s of peo ple that
i in Jun e 198 0; (2) dur ing the rts by the Ind one sia n Go ver nm ent to brin g its for ces wit hin the
occurr ed: (1) afte r a Fre tilin atta ck on Dil effo
ed and per sis ten t hum an righ ts vio lati ons hav e
period from April to September 1981 when Indonesian forces launch framework of law , gro ss
cur ity; and (3) afte r the Ind one sia n offe nsi ve init iate d in occurred in East Timor since 1975.
Operation Se
August 1983 with the stated aim of eliminating Fretilin.
However, even during periods of supposed normality Amnesty righ ts ‘itda tion s whic h fall within its
estig athm s into hum an
International has received information of continuing violations of *In the course of its ins
of serious misconduct
mandate, Amnesty International has receised wider allegations
human rights. by Indo nesian troo ps. .fhu s, for exa mpl e, it has rece ix ed reports of random acts oU
During his add res s to the Un ited Na tion s Sp eci al Co mm ittee on of the conscription of the pt)pulation to perform forced katmlur and to
public brutality,
and rape and of the
Decolonization in November 1982, the Indonesian representative participate in military 1)Nrations, of sexual molestation
ane d child ren from Fas t T im or, all attribute d to members of the
abductio n of tirph
stated:
litdonesian armed forces.
"We are made to believe that there are over 1,000 armed21
Amnesty International has on several occasions asked the I ndonesiati
.
Government to conduct investigations into reports of such incidents
-pu blic ize d inc ide nts suc h as the
E xtr a ju d ic ia l ex e c u tio n s Sometimes.
alleged exe cut
in
ion
par
cia ls
ticu
of
larl
400
hav
y
e
wid
peo
giv
ely
ple
en
in
the ir
Lac
ow
luta
n ver
in
sio
Se
n
pte
of
mb er
eve nts
198 1,
(se e
Indonesian offi
a n d ' is a p p e a ra nc e s ' 'Operation
of extraju
Se
dic ial
cur ity'
exe
).
cut
Ho
ion
we ver
wh
,
ere
Am nes
the
ty Inte
Ind one
rna
sia
tion
n
al
Go
kno
vcr
ws
nm ent
no cas
has
e
conducted a satisfactory investigation.
'Disappearances'
ce of larg e- sca le "dis app ear anc es" in Ea st Tim or is mo re
st The eviden
There is considerable evidence indicating that Indonesian forces in Ea e xtensive than that of e xtrajudicial executions. F amilies and friends hav
e
ed to larg e-s cal e ext raju dic ial exe cut ion s fro m the ver y firs t
Timor resort been able to report to organizations like Amnesty International tha
t
asi on. Ma ny hun dre ds of non -co mb ata nt civ ilia ns in Dil i g
days of the inv relatives and oth ers hav e bee n tak en into cus tod y and hav e gon e mis sin
ed to hav e bee n the vic tim s of ma ssa cre s on 7 De cem ber 197 5 abl e to
arc report they can not be cer tain wh at has hap pen ed to the m but the y are
suc cee din g day s and Am nes ty Inte rna tion al has tes tim oni es fro m of me mb ers
and report ( a) the per son con cer ned wa s las t see n in the cus tod y
people who say they witnessed such arbitrary killings. of the security forces and ( h) that the authorities have refused
to
Afterward s, beg inn ing in I 978 , ext raju dic ial kill ing s and "dis app ear - .
-wa ves ". Am nes ty acknowledge the detention - in other words, the person has "disappeared"
ances" con tinu ed, rea chi ng pea ks dur ing a ser ies of we d a num ber of rela tive s and
Amnes ty Inte rna tion al has inte rvie
rna tion al's inv est iga tion s hav e rev eal ed a pat ter n of rec urr ing ant i- rec urr ing
Inte friends of peo ple wh o hav e "dis app ear ed" in E ast Tim or in the
ive
F retilin campaigns by Indonesian forces which have included extens military campaign -waves" between 1978 and 1984. Again, it is
ntly sys tem atic kill ing s and -dis app ear anc es" bot h of es' '
and appare impossible to put an exa ct figu re to the tota l num ber of "dis app ear anc
ant s wh o had sur ren der ed or bee n cap tur ed and of non - Am nes ty
combat or to asc ert ain wh at has hap pen ed to mo st of the vic tim s.
com bat ant s (of ten rela tive s) wh o we re sus pec ted ofc ont act wit h Fre tilin the y inc lud e a
Inte rna tion al kno ws of som e hav ing res urf ace d in pris on;
ed
guerrillas. The victims of these human rights violations have includ number of people reported to have "disappeared" in June and July 198
0
n
groups of as many as 400 men, women and children said to have bee and between August and December 1983. But the organization
has
mo unt ain sid e in Se pte mb er 198 1 (se e bel ow ); the mo st we re
killed on a received per sis ten t rep ort s tha t ma ny of the "dis app ear ed"
rep ort ed ma ss kill ing —o f abo ut 100 me n— wa s sai d to hav e s tha t a
recently extrajudic iall y exe cut ed afte r bei ng sei zed . Th ese inc lud e rep ort
urr ed in Ma rch 198 4 (se e bel ow ). Ra ndo m kill ing s of ind ivid ual s and rca pris on in
occ num ber of peo ple we re tak en fro m det ent ion in the Co ma
small groups of people and -disappearances" have also been regularly cut ed at Are ia Bra nca bea ch
Dili in Fe bru ary and Ap ril 197 9 and exe
reported, most recently in June 1984. east of the capital and Lake Tacitolu to its west; and that others we
re
Because of the diff icu ltie s of ver ific atio n ref err ed to in the pre vio us and Ma y 197 9
taken fro m the KO DIM bar rac ks in Los pal os in Ap ril
it has bee n imp oss ible to arr ive at a pre cis e est ima te of the tota l
c hapter and executed in the villages of Kili and Tutuala.
number of victims of arbitrary killings and -disappearances". Amnesty
to hav e bee n Whatever the fate of people who have "disappeared", the fact of the
International has the nam es of ove r 550 peo ple rep ort ed m
we en 197 5 and the "disappearances" and the refusal of the authorities to acknowledge the
killed out sid e com bat or to hav e "dis app ear ed" bet Am nes ty Inte rna tion al to
are well sub sta ntia ted . Re pea ted req ues ts by
of 198 4, but it con sid ers tha t this figu re fall s far sho rt of the tru e tota l abo uts
end the Indone sia n Go ver nm ent for inv est iga tion s into the fate or wh ere
Most reports of extrajudicial executions received by Amnesty e "dis app ear ed" hav e fail ed to elic it a
Of peo ple rep ort ed to hav
the
International have come secondhand—however, the people to whom satisfactory response.
had bee n rep ort ed are in the org ani zat ion 's vie w reli abl e and the
incidents Amnesty Inte rna tion al has rec eiv ed gen era l des crip tion s of
e of rep ort ing acc ura tely ; the y vou che d for the tru stw ort hin ess of exe cut ion
capabl atmosp her e pre vai ling at tim es wh en sys tem atic cam pai gns of
se wh o sai d the y had bee n eye -wi tne sse s to or sur viv ors of ma ssa cre s. rtu gue se
tho and "dis app ear anc e" we re und er wa y. Fa the r Leo net o Re go, a Po
by
Furthermore, in many instances the information was corroborated prie st wh o had bee n allo we d to lea ve F ast Tim or in Jun e 197 9, des crib ed
independent sources.23
tha t he giv es an ho ne st con fes sio n an d is pre pa red to
of his de pa rtu re thu s: "N o on e wh o ha d link s wit h condition
the situatio n at the tim e
e pe op le can he tak en wit ho ut the ir fam ily assist the progress of the Operation.-
Fretilin is saf e; at an y tim
ted
kno win g an d pu t som ew he re els e; pu t in pri son cam p: or som etim es they Many people interviewed by Amnesty International have sta
an sol die rs fre qu en tly iss ue d thr ea ts tha t rel ativ es of
just •disappea(.- that Indonesi
re in Ba uca u. ako in 19 79 , rea ds: "th e ers wo uld be wip ed ou t to the "th ird or fou rth ge ne rat ion ".
A description of the atm osp he F retilin memb
sat ion cen tre d on crim es: two mo re ha ve be en ort ed fat e of a nu mb er of fam ilie s wit h me mb ers pro min en t in
common top ic of con ver The rep
ha s be en cal led by the KO TIS Ko ma nd o Ta kti sl wo uld ap pe ar to ha ve giv en cre de nce to suc h thr ea ts see case
mu rde red : so- an d so Fre tilin
or by the RTP. Resitnen Tim Pertempuranl for interrogation. so- and-s
o histories of the Lobato and Alves families, "Normality").
nitm )y an for me rly the inn in Ba uca ur sou rce s ha ve rep ort ed tha t the y be liev ed tha t Ind iate sia n
was tor tur ed in the Fla Several
the wh ere ab ou ts of som eo ne w ho ha d "di s ha d sel ect ed as tar ge ts for exe cut ion no t on ly pe op le sus pe cte d M-
People inq uir ing inn ) forces
ed ly cin nm on ly told by Int hm esi an tro op s tha t the con ne ctio ns. bu t the wh ole str atu m of ed uca ted Tim ore se.
appeare cl- we re rep iwt E retilin
spe cifi c pla ce- Ba uca u, Lo spa kk, Ke lika i. rtic ula rly du rin g I 97 8 an d 19 79 . Sin ce Am ne sty Int ern atio na l has
person ha d go ne to a pa
er Ind on esi an isla nd cir that the ckg rou nd de tail s on on ly a rel ativ ely sm all nu mb er of all
Jak arta, the isla nd of Ba li or som e oth received ba
a ba the - (m an & or ma nd i lam ). An oth er rep ort ed ly exe cut ed or" dis ap pe are d", it is no t po ssi ble to con firm
person ha d "go ne for those report
op le na me d as ha vin g be en exe cut ed or as
from 1979 sent to Amnesty International reads: this. Ho we ver a nu mb er of pe
d- we re ide ntif ied as for me r sem ina ria ns, tea che rs, nurses
"When they want to liquidate someone. they say that they "di sap pe are
Ind on esi an
and public officia ls, inc lud ing pe op le inc orp ora ted into the
have gone to corMilac Cieir studies or that they have lett tOr ve est ima ted
urg en tly to Ke lika i. administrativ e str uct ure in Ea st Tim or. Ch urc h sou rce s ha
Jakarta or Lis bo ia. Or tha t the y we re cal led
Ma teb ian ma ny as 40 for ma sem ina ria ns of the Se min ary of Ou r La dy of
Kelika i is an ad min istr ativ e po st at the foo t of Mo un t that as
where they have carried out many murders. To speak of Fatima were killed in late 1978 alone.
to rep ort s of pe op le kill ed in wh at ap pe ar to ha ve be en
Kelikai makes our heart thump and our hair stand on end. for In addition
pa ign s of exe cut ion s, Am ne sty Int ern atio na l ha s als o
Kelikai means certain death for those called there.- systematic cam
fre qu en t rep ort s of Ind on esi an tro op s pe rpe tra ting ran do m
ilar received
According to reports received by Amnesty International, sim ind ivid ua ls an d sm all gro up s of pe op le. La rge -sc ale ran do m
said: killing of
explanations were still being given in 1984_ One such report massacres have also been reported, for instance:
"In Ma y 19 84 . 23 pe op le we re arr est ed in Lo i Bo rn Ua i, les in the tow n of
the rep ort ed kill ing of up to 50 Ch ine se ma
Baucau. Eight of them later •disappeared'. Relatives who Ma ub ara in De cem be r 19 75 sho rtly aft er the Ind on esi an inv asi on:
brought them food were told that they had 'gone to study in n,
the reported killing already relerred to above of up to 400 me
Jakarta*. The unfortunate ones were illiterate." ldr en on Mo un t Ait an a ne ar La clu ta in Se pte mb er
wo me n an d chi
to
The threat of execution is reported to have been resorted 1981 during Operation Security:
g inte rro ga tion s by me mb ers of the Ind on esi an sec uri ty ras,
frequently durin the reported killing of as many as 200 people in the village of Kra
Su ch a pra ctic e ap pe ars to ha ve be en acc ep ted in the ma nu als an
forces. Viqueque, in rep risa l for an d sho rtly aft er the kill ing of 16 Ind on esi
issued to Indonesian troops seri. ing in East Timor. soldiers in the village on 8 August 1983;
in sec tion 3.c of the Te chn ica l Ma nu al of Me tho ds for
A guideline of ab ou t 10 0 ma les livi ng in the vic init y of the
mb ina De sa) 'To Bre ak Up the the rep ort ed kill ing
Vil lag e Au tho ritie s (Ba bin sal fea rn Pe
village of Hauba near Bobonaro in March 1984.
Network of GPK Fretilin) Support, states:
ver al of the ran do m kill ing s of ind ivid ua ls are rep ort ed to ha ve
ou t tha t the ir frie nd s are stil l aliv e becau se the y ha ve Se
"Po int atio na l ha s rec eiv ed reports
been com mit ted in pu blic . Am ne sty Int ern
given honest confessions and have been prepared to help the
that:
armcd forces in the prompt restoration of security."
op le na me d as Ma no Lo i an d Fra nci sco we re pu blic ly be ate n
s Two pe
Again in the Technical Manual on the System of Security in 'Town ath by Ind on esi an sol die rs on 29 No vem be r 19 78 .
a tec hniqu e rec om mended and stoned to de
an d Re set tlem en t Are as, sec tion V. 15.c.3 .
the RP KA D cap tur ed fou r Fre tilin sus pe cts -- inc lud ing
Members of
to interrogators is: ma sse , be he ad ed the m an d
a woma n na me d Es pe ran ca— ne ar Ve
"Giving a guarantee of life to the person being interrogated onYou can also read
