NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #20/NN_1992_20.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/6468

Text File | 1992-09-11 | 9.6 KB | 215 lines

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Timor: Letter from East Timorese Prisoner
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/** reg.easttimor: 351.0 **/
** Topic: Letter fr. Timor Prisoner **
** Written  5:12 pm  Sep 11, 1992 by fbp in cdp:reg.easttimor **
From: Foreign Bases Project <fbp>
Subject: Letter fr. Timor Prisoner

/* Written 11:23 am  Sep  9, 1992 by peg:greenleft in cdp:greenleft.news */
/* ---------- "Green Left issue 70, September 9" ---------- */
Letter from an East Timorese prisoner

The following letter from a prisoner in East Timor, arrested
after the Dili massacre in November 1991, was dated June 23 and
recently received in Australia.

Only today I'm able to answer your letter sent through H. For I
was very busy. As you know the Santa Cruz tragedy brought me here
along with a few comrades. We are here for about 7 months. After
the 3 first months of intensive questioning, together or one by
one, the enemy found that we met all the necessary requirements
to be the scape goats, as planned to influence the public
opinion.

We knew from the beginning that the IN [Indonesian army] was
trying to frame us up with a clear intention. Our indictment have
portrayed the enemy objectives.

The reality was quite different. It was a spontaneous reaction
after the events at the Motael church on 28-10-91. There were no
groups or person behind.

The IN's fabricated version is that the demonstrators were under
the leadership of a group and that they were armed. The army
reacted only in self-defense.

The truth is:

One of our comrades (Gregorio da Cunha Saldanha) who took part on
the demonstration, on his own accord, was shot and later taken to
hospital. Military people only managed to recognize him after the
critical situation had calmed down and the only reason he is
still alive - Indonesia Intelligence, INTEL, wanted him. He was
the ideal person to be charged as the demonstrators' leader. They
also knew of his participation in previous demonstrations. To
nail him they got old ``Mausers'' rifles, grenades and pistols
which were captured long time ago and claimed that demonstrators
had carried them.

According to the demonstrators a group of Indonesians agents,
INTEL, took part in the protest march to cause problems. When
they left Motael church everything was under control. However,
when they reached ACAIT trouble started because an intelligence
officer who managed to mix with the crowd, forcefully attempted
to steal a flag carried by a woman. A brawl began almost
immediately and the officer was injured. From there on the crowd
became restless, due to the presence of INTEL people among them.
From ACAIT onwards, a group of protesters grab the banner with
Xanana's picture on and started running ahead, forcing the people
to move faster. It is now confirmed that the group, who grabbed
the banner, was working for the INTEL. Before they had reached
Santa Cruz many people were already waiting for them. These
people had been also provoked by INTEL, who had thrown stones on
them while driving back and forth, but they did not respond to
the provocation. Soon after the marchers arrived. Some went into
the cemetery to lay a wreath of flowers and pray, others remained
outside the gate chanting. Those who carried the flags climbed up
the brick fence and unfolded them.

The riot police arrived minutes later to quiet the crowd down
followed by a platoon of the battalion 303, well known all over
the territory by their crimes against the civilian population.
They came from Taibessi, shirtless and all armed with automatic
rifles M-16 on fire position. The riot police moved aside
allowing the platoon to confront the crowd. Suddenly and without
warning they open fire, the first ones to be hit were those
standing on the brick fence with flags. Terrified, people start
screaming from everywhere, even days later people couldn't get
over it. According to eye witnesses young girls who pleaded not
to be shot were killed in cold blood. Many young men died or were
injured, only because they protected their fellow women
compatriots with their bodies from the rain of bullets. It was a
tragedy, months after the survivors still have terrified visions
of the shooting. It even happened in our prison cells on December
12, 1991 with the Santa Cruz survivors.

According to eye witnesses accounts our injured and moribund
women compatriots who were taken to hospital in army trucks, were
sexually assaulted by soldiers, who touched their breasts and
genitals. Also according to eye witnesses the soldiers had
sexually assaulted dying women left in the mortuary.

IN put in place a scheme to blame us. They said that our group
had organised the demonstration following CNRM [National Council
of Maubere Resistance] orders that supplied the guns. To achieve
their plans they forced us to accept the comedy of a dummy trial.
They attempted to force us to accept a solicitor, a lawyer who is
an INTEL informer. From the beginning we ask for an open trial to
give us the opportunity to bring the truth out. For this reason
we contacted some friends in Dili who brought from Jakarta
lawyers with wide experience and unbiased. The lawyers are from
two large and well known organizations. Many obstacles were
raised to stop them coming. Finally the road was clear for the
trial we wanted. The hearings started on 12/3/1992. Soon you will
be able to read and listen to our statements in the courtroom -
through documents and cassettes.

Brief items of our statements:

We proved that the people spirits were impregnated with
nationalist feelings. Historic facts are undeniable evidence. The
illegality of the integration process based on the Balibo
Declaration. Portugal is still recognized by the United Nations
as the Administering Power. We denounced as meaningless the
development perpetrated by Indonesia in East Timor in the last 16
years, because it is unacceptable to exchange the people's soul
for a mere development. You can read in detail when the documents
get there. We were threatened several times not to accept the
Jakarta lawyers. We were told that we could cause more damage to
ourselves. But we rather accept the risks and sacrifice ourselves
to help advance our diplomatic campaign abroad.

In this moment we have already reached the final phase of our
trial.
According to the court there are two choices for us:

1 - Accept the sentence and then plead the President for
pardoning;

2 - Not accept the sentence and appeal to the high court.

Before these two choices, we conclude that the first would help
them in their diplomatic campaign abroad on the Santa Cruz issue,
that would offer us the chance to be easily released. On the
other hand, the second choice would make being released difficult
and possibly we would get heavier sentences. Even so, we want to
take the risk. Perhaps our sacrifice, together with our brothers
that death have taken, may help the process to move a step
forward.

Contacts with our grandfather is still going on and with the
outside family as well.

Although they have a platoon of crack troops stationed in each
neighbourhood, everything goes on as usual. On the election day
the youth wanted to boycott it but grandfather told them not to.
When Alatas was in Dili, in a meeting with the youth, he was
openly criticized.

At the beginning of our trial we feared they would attempt to get
rid of us, but everything is running well till this moment,
thanks to the world solidarity. We are grateful for that show of
solidarity specially from our comrades and friends who are
working tiredness for the East Timor cause, particularly for the
political prisoners.

Dear friend this is the short history of our trial and an up to
date of the present situation. Let's now get to our individual
situation:
Three prisoners of the Santa Cruz tragedy have got already their
final sentence, as follows:

Francisco Miranda Branco - 15 years

Juvencio de Jesus Martins - 6 years and 10 months

Filomeno da Silva Ferreira - 5 years and 8 months

Waiting to be sentenced:

Jacinto das N.R. Alves [since sentenced to 10 years]

Gregorio da Cunha Saldanha [since sentenced to life imprisonment]

Carlos dos Santos Lemos

Bonifacio Magno Pereira

For your own knowledge there are another 5 young people on trial,
related to the Motael event: Aleixo da Silva, Joao dos Santos,
Bonifacio Barreto, Bobby Xavier, Jacob da Silva

I take this opportunity to ask for your solidarity regarding our
family economic situation, we are all government workers and we
have been suspended since February. This is my special appeal.

I also remind you that one of our comrades is in Baucau Jail, his
name is Saturnino da Costa Belo, under the same charge as us.
This is all for now, and it is all I can say. I hope you will
receive this letter. My affectionate greetings to all and
especially for you.

In spite of being in these cells we are determined and in
solidarity with you all.
[The Alice Springs Friends of East Timor have set up a fund to
aid the families of those killed or imprisoned. Donations can be
sent to the Alice Springs Friends of East Timor, c/- 43 Giles
Street, Alice Springs 0870, or deposited directly into their
account at the Commonwealth Bank (branch 5900, account 10009781).
For further information phone (a/h) (089) 52 8804 Deborah, 52
5908 David.]
** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **