URGENT APPEAL PROJECT ****************************************************************************
UA 19/99: FEAR FOR SAFETY 19 April 1999
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Manuel Carrascalao and his daughter Chris had gone to met with military commander Colonel Tono Suratman to complain about the attacks underway by the death squads. Manuel left his house as a neighbouring house was being attacked,to urge the military commander to take action to protect those being targeted. He was worried the militias would attack the family home, where over 170 refugees were taking refuge, mainly women and children. It's now confirmed that at least 12 people were killed at Manuel's house including his 18 year old son.
Manuel and his daughter Chris are now taking refuge at the home of Bishop Belo.
The parents of Xanana Gusmao who live in Manatuto are being targeted by the ABRI death squads. His sister, Armandina, who lives in Dili may also be in grave danger. Julio Araujo, the brother-in-law of Xanana Gusmao, is a target for the militias. Mario Car- rascalao(President Habibie's Special Adviser on East Timor, in Jakarta), has "gone to a safe place" following the arrival from Dili of 150 armed militiamen who have sworn to assassinate him.
18 April 1999
- at least two people have been killed in the Dili suburbs of Becora. Troops and militia went from house to house searching out pro-independence families, butchering them,and looting,wrecking and burning their houses.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Indonesian military, police and civilian administration directly support the violence against East Timorese civilian. Indonesian military personnel and civilian senior authorities in East Timor, including the Governor, the Danrem (commander of Police), the Kapolda and Dandin (miliary command) and the District Bupatis, attended the gathering called by paramilitary leaders where Eurico Guterres, the leader of the Dili-based paramilitary known as Ai-tarak (Thorn), declared that: "As from today, I order all the pro-integration militia to wipe out all the traitors of integration. Capture them.Kill them.I will take the responsibility."
Mario Carrascal has accused General Zaki,the former head of Indonesian intelli- gence in East Timor,as the organising power behind the militias. General Zaki is challenging President Habibie for the position of head of state. The Army that already has 17,000 troops in East Timor has brought in many more militias from outside East Timor. According to our sources, Captain Eusebio Belo, an army officer who now works with the army intelligence unit, BIA, has been supplied with a large sum of money to recruit a militia force from among hoodlums from Eastern Indonesia, for use in East Timor.The armed forces are believed to have supplied a billion rupiahs to arm and equip these gangs and supply them with pocket money.
Despite President Habibie's January '99 offer of independence to East Timor if autonomy is rejected by the people, the military wants to stay.
17 April 1999
