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ASIET Net News 29 – July 14-27, 1997
Info Pembebasan - July 26/27, 1997
[The following are translations of a number of reports on the
July 26 and 27 commemoration actions held in Jakarta and sent to
ASIET by the underground Peoples Democratic Party (PRD). Please
note that these reports were compiled, posted and translated
within hours of the actions and an overall picture of what
transpired remains unclear]
July 27 commemoration rally attacked by military in Pancoran
All of those going to Jl. [Jalan, Street, Road] Diponegoro [for
the commemoration rally] were blocked by the military. However
they attempted to find an alternative route. A section of them
began gathering at the Ruput Market. Initially there were only
500 people but hundreds tried to break through the blockade.
The military beat back those trying to break through. In the end
they turned back and rallied towards Megawati's house in
Kebangusan, Pasar Minggu. When they arrived at the Pancoran
(South Jakarta) intersection, they were attacked by the military.
In order to save themselves, they ran into the kampungs [urban
villages]. It is unclear how many were wounded or arrested by the
military.
Once again therefore, we call for solidarity actions for those
victims of the military brutality in this action. They can be in
the form of mass actions, statements and letters of protest.
Roy BB Janis lies to the masses
This morning, Sunday July 27, the masses who wanted to
commemorate "Bloody July 27" gathered at Jl. Diponegoro, Central
Jakarta. Thousands arrived from Jakarta- Bogor-Tangerang-Bekasi
(Jabotabek) and from other cities such as Lampung, Yogyakarta,
Bandung, Semarang, Purwokerto, Surabaya and other cities.
Although they passionately recalled the brutality of the military
one year ago – which resulted in the many victims from the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), pro-democracy groups and
others – they were ordered to return home by Roy BB. Janis.
Roy BB Janis is a Jakarta PDI leader. Roy lied to them, saying
that Megawati Sukarnoputri would not be able to come to Jl.
Diponegoro. In reality, Megawati still wanted to come.
As a result, many of them were tricked and went home. But they
then returned after they knew that Mbak [Big Sister] Mega would
not fail to come.
It is not clear what was behind Roy BB Janis's actions. What is
clear is that many were angered and some were of the opinion that
Roy was frightened by the military. There were others who
believed that Roy has never been consistent because he has often
done this kind of thing.
Actions of this kind are extremely damaging to the struggle. It
is as if Roy does not understand that there have already been
many victims from the PDI, pro-democracy groups and others in the
support of his party in upholding democracy. But his actions have
confused and divided the movement.
However, this time the commemoration of "Bloody July 27" has
attracted the enthusiasm of the people and many have been
attacked and arrested by the military for making this event a
success. As we all know, this even has found resistance from the
military and all of the pro-democratic forces have tried their
best to organise it. But it has been disrupted by the
irresponsibility of a PDI leader.
'Bloody July 27' action: Dr. Rifka Ciptaning arrested
As well as well as attacking the rally and arresting a number of
pro-democracy activists, the military also arrested a PDI figure,
Dr Rifka Ciptaning. Ciptaning was arrested along with 70
Tangerang PDI members who lead a PDI rally from Tangerang near
Cawang-UKI. Ciptaning is currently being held by the East Jakarta
police.
Ciptaning is a representative of the pro-Megawati PDI in
Tangerang. It is one of the most active and radical figures in
the PDI. Last may, his health clinic was raided and closed by the
military, and until now has not reopened. The grounds for the
raid were because a number of it's supporters were arrested
distributing Mega-Star-People leaflets during the 1997 election
campaign.
Last July, he lead a mass action to the national parliament
rejecting the results of the 1997 elections. According to
Ciptaning, the elections were invalid and must be rejected. The
action was met by members of the pro-Megawati fraction including
Soetardjo Soerjaguritno, Sukowaluy, Haryanto Taslam and I Gedhe
Ngurah Sara.
Ciptaning was present at the time of the attack on the PDI
offices by thugs paid by the military. As a doctor, he opened a
clinic at the offices after the free speech forums were started
until the offices were attacked. At the time of the attack, many
were wounded and attended to by Ciptaning. Although he was
arrested and his jeep set fire to by thugs, he was not tried.
All pro-democratic forces should provide solidarity for the
arrested pro-democracy figures and especially for Ciptaning. They
can be in the form of statements, letters of protest and actions/
delegations to involved parties.
Kelik and Kris who were arrested during the confrontation with
the military were arrested with four others who arrived from
Surabaya. One other person, Sadeli from Lampung, was also
arrested by the military.
'Bloody July 27' commemoration action attacked and arrests made
[Written 9.43am, Sunday July 27]
This morning, Sunday July 27, the Indonesian people commemorated
a day of mourning for democracy. In the capital city and other
cities a number of events were organised to recall the brutality
of the military. The people organised joint prayers, discussions
and free speech rallies.
In the capital city, last night (Saturday, July 26), the Cipayung
Student Group organised a commemoration of "Bloody July 27" at
the secretariat of PMKRI in Menteng. But the event was broken up
by the police on the excuse that it did not have a permit. Five
people were arrested by the South Jakarta police and a number of
participants had their identification cards sized.
This morning, a rally to the PDI office at Jl. Diponegoro 58 was
attacked by the military. Two people, Kelik and Cris, were
arrested by the military. Others rallying from Tanjung Priok
(North Jakarta) and Cawang in East Jakarta were also attacked and
dispersed. Mass rallies in Jl. Selemba (Central Jakarta) were
also attacked but they resisted. A riot occurred between the
pro-democratic demonstrators and soldiers.
Abridged chronology of the 'Bloody July 27' commemoration
[Written Sunday July 27, 12noon]
I. Saturday Night, July 26, Megawati's house, Kebagusan, Pasar
Minggu, South Jakarta
10pm - As many as 10,000 gathered at Kebangusan for the
commemoration. Together they chanted "Viva Mega! Viva Mega! Viva
Mega!". There were no uniformed military present but plain
clothed officers were deployed among the crowd at Megawati's
house. Meanwhile, around the PDI offices at Jl. Diponegoro, the
military had already been deployed in anticipation of a mass
action.
11.15am - The meeting had been over for some time and there was
no other activities to follow so those at Kebagusan either went
home or prepared for the action at Jl. Diponegoro. What was clear
from the talk was that there would not be a rally from Kebagusan
to Jl. Diponegoro, not because they were afraid or threatened,
but because of organisational problems, that is it was some
distance away by foot.
1.10pm - An Inti Jaya journalist reported that five PRD members
had been captured at Blok M (South Jakarta). Although this could
not be confirmed, there were many armed soldiers at Blok M.
6.15pm - The masses at Kebagusan were ready to go to Jl.
Diponegoro. Then there was a group of people (possibly they were
infiltrated by intelligence officers) who pressured the PDI
leadership and masses to quickly hold and finish the action (on
the ground that it would not disturb public security and not be
exploited by other groups), so there would be no bloodshed or
confrontation at Jl. Diponegoro.
II. Rally to the PDI offices at Jl. Diponegoro, Sunday, July 27
7am - The area around Jl. Mataram was already guarded by hundreds
of soldiers planning to block a rally to the PDI offices.
7.15am - Like the previous night and at Jl. Mataram, many
soldiers were deployed at Jl. Diponegoro and the Proclamation
Monument. At Jl. Diponegoro, hundreds of people slowly gathered
– at the same time hundreds of PDI members who apparently
came from East Jakarta gathered around UKI-Cawang.
7.30am - Around 60 people from the East Jakarta PDI offices moved
off to the rally but they were turned back by the military in the
direction of Cilitian.
8.15am - The masses began to gather in a number of areas of
Cawan. At Superland there were around 15 people gathering from
Tangerang and a number of other areas in front of the small lanes
along the street.
8.25am - The PDI masses rallying from East Jakarta were turned
back by the military and a confrontation ensued, one person who's
name is unknown from "Solidarity Mega" was arrested.
8.40am - Although there were many coming from Tanjung Priok
towards Cawang they were blocked and attacked by the military but
the situation is as yet unclear. A confrontation occurred in the
area of Selemba involving those who had came from Bogor (West
Java). The confrontation resulted in two people from the National
Committee for Democratic Struggle (Komite Nasional Perjuangan
Demokrasi, KNPD), Kris and Kelik being arrested. At the time of
writing this cronology, their whereabouts are still unknown.
Around Cawang, the military presence became even tighter and they
began checking identity cards of those heading towards Jl.
Diponegoro.
9.02am - The masses who were at Suparland had already been
attacked by the military who chased them as they tried to find
safety in the small lanes. Kampung Melayu was tightly guarded and
blocked by the military so they could not leave, the aim being to
separate those who were rallying to Cawang and Jatinegara. As a
result they were not able to meet up.
9.10am - The masses at Cawang gathered together and consolidated
themselves in front of the Vincentius Church for a rally.
9.20am - In the area of UKI a confrontation occurred with the
military, it is not clear who they were. Meanwhile the military
tried to breakup PDI masses from Otista. One person from
Tangerang was arrested.
9.43am - The masses at the Nusantara (Jatinegara) cinema headed
towards Jl. Diponegoro and the military tried to break them up.
9.57 - A number of times confrontations occurred between the
people and the military at Jl. Diponegoro. The military tried to
break up the growing number of people when they tried to enter
the PDI offices.
10.05am - The masses at Jl. Diponegoro continued to try to find
an opportunity to break through the military blockade.
10.22am - PDI members from East Jakarta wearing PDI emblems, Mega
and Agus carrying a PDI flag were arrested at the Cikini train
station by special train police.
10.45am - Around 500 gathered at the Ruput Market and
spontaneously moved off to rally at Jl. Diponegoro. A free speech
forum was held and they chanted "Viva Mega" and "Viva the
People".
[Translated by James Balowski]
Voice of America - July 26, 1997
Jakarta – around 2,000 people gathered for a memorial
service in Jakarta Saturday to mark one year since violent riots
in the capital. Jenny Grant reports from the capital the event
went ahead despite a police ban.
The Moslem prayer service was held at the South Jakarta home of
ousted opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri. on July 27 last
year hired thugs backed by armed soldiers invaded the
headquarters of the Indonesian democracy party - the P-D-I - to
expel a group of Ms. Megawati's supporters who were gathered
there.
The invasion by a rival P-D-I faction sparked rioting in Jakarta
which left at least five people dead, 149 injured and 16 still
missing.
Ms Megawati -- dressed in a simple black suit and white lace scarf
-- said the invasion was a breach of Indonesia's democracy and an
offense against God.
A tearful and solemn Ms Megawati urged her supporters and all
Indonesians to pray for the dead.
The three hour ceremony in her sprawling backyard included poetry
readings and a rousing anti-government speech by a leading Moslem
preacher.
The crowd of people from all over the island of Java cheered
'Megawati will win' for the popular opposition figure who is the
daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno.
The police said last week they would not give official permission
for the event to go ahead. however there were no incidents on
Saturday night and only a few police in the vicinity.
Ms Megawati's supporters plan to hold another ceremony outside
the party headquarters in Central Jakarta early Sunday.
Military leaders said Friday they are prepared to use force to
stop the Sunday wreath laying ceremony which is expected to
attract thousands of people.
Truck loads of troops were seen moving into place on Saturday
night to prevent the (Sunday) gathering which does not have a
police permit.
Ms Megawati was ousted from the P-D-I leadership at a rebel
congress in June of last year organised by the government and
military.
East Timor
Arms/armed forces
Economy and investment
Democratic struggle
PRD reports on the July 27 commemoration actions
2,000 gather for memorial service in Jakarta
Police ban July 27 commemorations
Voice of America - July 25, 1997
Jakarta – Indonesian police have banned weekend commemorations marking one year since riots in Jakarta left five people dead and more than 100 injured. Jenny Grant reports authorities are concerned the ceremonies may trigger new violence in the capital.
Spokesman for the national police, Colonel Bambang Haryoko, said the prayer and flower laying ceremonies planned for Saturday and Sunday could create a security disturbance if too many people joined in. he said mass gatherings in Indonesia often turn violent and become difficult to contain.
Opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri wrote to police notifying them her supporters wanted to commemorate one-year since the riots. Supporters want to hold a prayer session at her home saturday, and a wreath laying ceremony at the headquarters of her Indonesian Democracy Party, the PDI, Sunday.
PDI official Haryanto Taslam said he expects the events will go ahead, even without the required police permit.
He said the memorial ceremonies are spontaneous events and not organized by the PDI.
The government wants to prevent a repeat of street violence last year which left five people dead and more than 120 injured. The riots were sparked by a raid on the PDI headquarters by the military and supporters of Ms. Megawati's rival Suryadi.
Observers say the government is also worried the events will focus the attention of Megawati loyalists against the government and encourage a popular revival before the presidential elections next March.
Party sources expect there will be more than one-thousand people at the services, which are to include Muslim prayers for those who died in the riots.
Hundreds of football fans who have travelled from East Java for national finals this weekend are also expected to attend the memorials as a mark of solidarity with Ms. Megawati, whose father, first president Sukarno, was born in East Java.
Voice of America - July 24, 1997
Jakarta – Hundreds of supporters of ousted opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri marched (Thursday) in Central Jakarta celebrating a minor court victory. Jenny Grant reports the march was part of a build up for weekend actions marking one year since riots in the capital.
The group, which included 124 people injured in riots last July, sang and cheered after the Central Jakarta district court announced it would continue their case to sue Ms. Megawati's rival, Suryadi.
The protesters wore red and black – the colors of ms. megawati's Indonesian Democracy Party – the P-D-I – as they marched from the court down a major road in North Jakarta.
About 100 mobile brigade police armed with semi-automatic weapons prevented the group from marching to Jakarta's main commercial strip. There were no clashes reported.
In june of last year, Mr. Suryadi assumed leadership of the P-D-I at a government- backed congress. One-month later, mass riots broke out in Jakarta after the headquarters of Ms. Megawati's party were invaded by Suryadi supporters and the military.
The national commission on human rights says five people died, 124 were injured, and 16 are missing after the July 27th violence.
One-hundred-24 people who served jail terms of up to four months and three days after the riots have filed a civil action against Mr. Suryadi, five of his P-D-I officials and the Central Jakarta police chief. They are asking for more than four-and-one-half- million dollars.
Chief judge Abas Sumantri of the Central Jakarta court earlier dismissed an appeal by Mr. Suryadi asserting the court had no authority to handle the case. Side in a string of court cases during the past year. One of the riot victims, 50-year old Natsir, said the compensation demand is only a tool to prove the law in Indonesia is working.
Mr. Natsir was one of dozens of people trapped inside the P-D-I headquarters when Suryadi supporters and the military invaded. He said he did not know how many people died last July 27th, because he was pushed into a corner during the raid. He said the protesters included dozens of football fans from the East Java town of Surabaya who are in Jakarta for the national semi-finals this weekend. East Java, the birthplace of Ms. Megawati's father president Sukarno, is a stronghold of the popular figure. The football fans plan to join the commemorative actions planned Saturday and Sunday to mark the anniversary.
Human Rights Defender - July 24, 1997
The International Secretariat has been informed by a reliable source of the grave concern that exists for the physical and psychological integrity of Andreas Harsono who was involved with the establishment of an Independent Journalists Association in Indonesia (although he is not currently active). He works as a freelance journalist for the Nation, a Bangkok based daily and the daily Internet newspaper, "The American Reporter".
According to the information received, Mr Harsono was driving home on the 21st July 1997, after attending an opening of an exhibition. The incident apparently occurred around 8:45 p.m. While Mr Harsono was driving home on the Jalan Utan Kayu (a major road) he turned on to a by pass to a toll road. A white car began to drive slowly in front of Mr Harsono's car and prevented him from overtaking. At about 20 meters from the toll the white car stopped and two men on a motorbike appeared, dismounted and ran towards Mr Harsono's car armed with hammers.
The information states that as they approached they shouted "here he is "[literal translation] in Indonesian. They broke the windshield and then apparently began to try to force the doors open. Mr Harsono managed to drive to the toll booth and informed a police officer who was standing guard. The perpetrators had disappeared by the time the officer was able to react.
According to the information the reasons behind the incident are unknown, however it is feared that the action may be related to his earlier union activity or his writing.
Radio Australia - July 22, 1997
Indonesian authorities are reported to have released two journalists jailed for insulting the Government.
The Jakarta Post newspaper says Achmad Taufik and Eko Mariyadi were released on parole on Saturday after serving nearly two- thirds of their three-year sentences.
The two were jailed in 1995 for insulting the Government in a publication by the unrecognised Independent Journalists' Association.
Mr Taufik was the head of the presidium of the A-J-I, which was set up in 1994 to promote press freedom in Indonesia after three leading publications were banned.
Reuters - July 21, 1997
Jakarta – Indonesia on Monday said it had rejected overseas medical treatment for an ailing independent labour leader on trial for subversion.
Mucthar Pakpahan, head of the unrecognised Indonesian Labour Welfare Union (SBSI), has been in a private Jakarta hospital since March when his subversion trial was postponed indefinitely after he complained of suffering vertigo.
He has since had conflicting diagnoses that he is suffering from either cancer or tuberculosis in his right lung.
The U.S. government and European unionists have offered to pay for Pakpahan, serving a four-year sentence for inciting riots in 1994, to be treated overseas.
"According to the procedures, a second opinion was asked for from the Department of Health which formed a team of doctors. The results said the illness from which he was suffering was not fatal and could be treated here (in Jakarta)," Indonesian Attorney- General Singgih was quoted by the official Antara news agency as saying.
"He could even attend court," he added.
Singgih quoted the team of doctors from the Cipto Manungkusumo general hospital as saying Pakpahan had long suffered an infection in his right lung which could have been caused by TB, bacteria or fungus.
He said they concluded he could attend his subversion trial to finish the case as long as he was accompanied by a doctor.
"We do not want this case to be in arrears," he said.
Pakpahan was jailed in 1994 on charges that he incited racial rioting in the north Sumatran city of Medan in April that year after a series of strikes in nearby factories even though he was not in the city at the time of the disturbances.
He was freed on appeal and his conviction quashed by the Supreme Court. The conviction was reinstated in a highly unusual decision last year after his arrest on the subversion charge in the wake of riots in Jakarta last July.
Evidence in court has subsequently not linked him to the riots in which at least five people died.
Singgih also said he had ordered the junior attorney-general for special cases, Ismudjoko, to finish preparations for the subversion trial of former legislator Si Bintang Pamungkas by next August.
The American Reporter - July 21, 1997
Andreas Harsono, Jakarta – In yet another attempt to suppress criticism of the long- running Suharto regime, an Indonesian court here sentenced a legislator who is a close aide to opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri to nine months in jail Monday for defaming the nation's six-term President.
Foreign diplomats and political observers said they believe that Aberson Marle Sihaloho is the first sitting member of the Indonesian parliament to have been sentenced to a prison term since the modern history of Indonesia began after it won independence in 1945.
"It's a setback. During the rule of President Sukarno, not even a single sitting legislator was prosecuted, but a cabinet minister was jailed because of corruption," Sihaloho told the American Reporter, a reference to the late former President Sukarno, the predecessor of President Suharto, who respected the immunity of parliamentarians but would not tolerate corrupt officials.
Surveys of business leaders have identified Indinesia as one of the world's most corrupt countries for the past several years.
Observers say the sentence against Sihaloho, whose smile cheered friends in the courtroom after they heard the verdict, was aimed at weakening the Megawati camp. Sihaloho is among a few prominent economists on her camp.
Chief judge Suhardjo told the Central Jakarta district court that Sihaloho had been found guilty of deliberately defaming President Suharto when delivering a public speech last year in front of the headquarters of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
He said that parliamentary immunity for statements did not apply to Sihaloho because he was not in the parliament building and did not "act like" a member of the parliament.
The prosecution had asked for an 18-month prison term for Sihaloho, who was also found guilty of defaming the military and the parliament. The legislator is widely known as an outspoken critic of the Indonesian military's "dual function" doctrine, which authorizes the military's involvement in politics.
Several foreign diplomats and scores of prominent dissidents like former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, intellectual Marsillam Simanjuntak, paranormal Permadi Satrio Wiwoho and film director Sophan Sophiaan, as well as opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri – who was ousted as head of her party by a military sponsored "rump" convention last June – also attended the trial's final session.
More than one hundred Megawati loyalists jeered the judges when they were reading the verdict. The police also deployed a water canon, several military trucks and dozens of anti-riot police to prevent unrest, but there was no trouble.
The prosecution accused Sihaloho of telling a crowd of several hundred, "Throughout the 30 years of Suharto's leadership, our freedom has been stolen and we are being colonized once again."
Sihaloho, however, denied the charges, "My duty is to uphold the constitution. I have the right to speak everywhere. As a legislator I could not do [all] my work only inside the parliament building. I'm really disappointed that a House member is being prosecuted like this."
The lawmaker said that under the Indonesian constitution, legislators have the right to criticize and express opinions different from the president's and those of state institutions. His lawyers immediately launched an appeal.
A former Indonesian legislator, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, was sentenced last February to a 34-month jail term for defaming Suharto in a seminar for Indonesian students in Germany in April 1995. He had been expelled from his minority United Development Party in 1995 and as a result had lost his seat in parliament.
Info-Pembebasan (info-Liberation) - July 23, 1997
[The following is a translation of a leaflet sent to ASIET by the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD). The original source of the leaflets and posters was not indicated.]
Recently many Mega-Star-People Democratic Coalition leaflets have appeared in a number of places around Jakarta, Bogor, Tengerang and Bekasi. Essentially the leaflets invite the people to attend a "July 27 Commemoration" action at the PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party) headquarters on Jalan Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.
Let's give our support to this action. Our support can be the duplication and distribution of the leaflet at places near us or it can also be to promote the action. The following is an excerpt from the leaflet:
Mega-Star-People Democratic Coalition program
United to replace Suharto, investigate the wealth of the families of the president and government officials, withdraw the 1985 political laws, withdraw the dual function of the military, political parties represented in the cabinet, wipe out corruption, collusion and the conglomerates.
Action against the dictatorship
On July 27, 1997 at 10am, at the PDI headquarters at Jalan Diponegoro, No 78, we will commemorate the attack on the PDI offices (in which scores were killed and uncounted others wounded or missing). But this did not make the people frightened; on the contrary it caused an explosion of mass anger and pushed forward the spirit of struggle. The riots which have occurred since then are clear evidence of this which can no longer be denied. Why did the riots flare up in the days approaching the elections? Because the people knew that the elections were nothing more than "window dressing" for the Suharto dictatorship. The people knew that the elections were only a political act. Aside from this, people everywhere also know that the elections are always controlled and fraudulent.
Now the people must be united! Megawati supporters, United Development Party (PPP) supporters and all pro-democratic groups and all of the people must unite to remove Suharto. The tactic which we will use is to reject the 1997 election results and demand that the elections be rerun after the withdrawal of the five political laws. The tool we need to reject the election results and replace Suharto is a united coalition of all the forces which support democracy.
Drivers, workers, petty traders and other people – who's lives drag on and suffer – must be aware, that prosperity cannot be created without democracy in our country. Without political change do not dream that the lives of our children and grand children will be better. A government which is just and prosperous can only be created if the dictatorship is overthrown. For anyone who wishes this, it cannot be delayed any longer. Because of this, we must all come and unite ourselves in this action. As much as possible we must act together, in a street march. We use this method to attract the attention of the people of the city and invite them to join in, to increase the strength and size of our forces. If there is a military/police blockade, we must break through! So we must tighten our ranks. The action of RETAKING OF THE MEGAWATI PDI OFFICES can be maintained for a long time and result in becoming a tactic which is good for achieving our aim if all of the people take to the streets to support it.
Notes:
1. Mega-Star-People (Mega-Bintang-Rakyat): a slogan popularised during the election campaign calling on pro-Megawati supporters, the Islamic orientated PPP and broader popular forces to unit in mass movement to replace Suharto.
2. The different starting times for the action, 10am on the leaflet and 8am on the poster are as written in the original posting.
[Translated by James Balowski]
| East Timor |
East Timor Human Rights Centre - July 14, 1997
Concerns are held for Joaquim Moreira and up to 84 other East Timorese people who may still be in detention following their arrest in June 1997(see UA 17/97). The 85 detainees were arrested in Quelicai, Baucau district, between 5 and 16 June as part of an intensive military operation launched by members of Battalion 312 and Team Saka. The operation was launched in response to a grenade attack on an Indonesian Army truck in Quelicai by Resistance guerrillas, in which sixteen Indonesian soldiers and one policeman were killed.
Joaquim Moreira, who was reported missing following his arrest on 17 May, 1997 (see UA 13/97) is now believed to be in detention at Kodim (District Military Command) headquarters in Baucau. ETHRC sources have reported that Moreira was released on 19 May but arrested again on 13 June during the current military operation. The location of the other 84 detainees is unconfirmed, however, it is believed they are detained either at Kodim in Baucau or at Koramil (Sub-district Military Command) headquarters in Quelicai.
The ETHRC has received another fifteen names of East Timorese people arrested in the current military operation. The following seven detainees are believed to be in detention at Koramil headquarters in Quelicai:
Jose Moreira, arrested by members of the Rajawali Battalion and Team Saka on 8 June; Eusebio Pascoal da Conceicao, arrested by security forces on 9 June; Adelia Ximenes, arrested by members of the Rajawali Battalion and Kopassus on 9 June; Domingos Freitas, arrested by members of the Battalion 312, Kopassus and Team Saka on 16 June; Boaventura Belo, arrested by security forces on 16 June; Eusebio, arrested by members of the Rajawali Battalion and Team Saka on 10 June; and Martinho Belo, arrested by members of Rajawali Batallion and Team Saka between 5 June
Sidonio Belo, Martina da Silva Belo, and Faustino Belo were arrested by authorities on 5 June, while Felisberto Belo, Julio Belo, Francisco de Fatima Belo, Jose Antonio Belo and Jeronimo Sarmento were arrested by authorities on 9 June. These eight detainees disappeared following their arrest and internal steps taken to locate them have been unsuccessful.
The East Timor Human Rights Centre holds grave fears for the safety of any East Timorese people still in detention following the current military operation as an unknown number of the detainees have already been subjected to lengthy interrogation and torture. Detainees may be at serious risk of further torture and ill-treatment, especially if they are denied access to family members and independent legal counsel. Those whose whereabouts is unknown are believed to be at heightened risk of torture if they are not located soon.
The Daily Hammer - June (posted July 23, 1997)
Three East Timorese refugees took part in further nonviolent resistance to British weapons exports to Indonesia at the beginning of May, painting various half-assembled armoured vehicles with the message, "NOT FOR EXPORT TO INDONESIA."
In the early hours of Monday May 5th, accompanied by seven British activists, they used step-ladders to scale the fence at Glover-Webb's Hamble factory near Southampton. Glover-Webb is exporting three hundred Tactica armoured personnel carriers, patrol vehicles and water cannons to Indonesia. Despite undisputed evidence that such vehicles were used for internal repression in Indonesia last year, the British goverment, both in its Conservative and now "New Labour" incarnations, has so far persisted in breaking its own export guidelines by going ahead with the deal.
Calling themselves the "Citizens' Arms Control Group," they fly- posted and painted all the vehicles they found, before being arrested on suspicion of burglary. At Southampton police station, police officers were visibly disturbed by the East Timorese's stories of human rights abuses in Indonesian-occupied East Timor. After investigations by immigration officials, the three refugees were released without charge. The other seven activists were bailed to report back to the police station in September, a request they intend to decline.
In a statement issued by the group, they said they were acting to "uphold international agreements on arms control, as Britain's previous government refused to comply with such standards." Increasingly, both in anti-arms trade and anti-nuclear weapons actions, activists are describing themselves as the law-enforcers and governments and companies as the criminals and law-breakers.
This is the second action this year that East Timorese activists have taken part in at British weapons sites. On Easter Monday four refugees and four Merseyside activists entered British Aerospace's Warton site, where Hawk ground attack aircraft are finally assembled, and held an East liturgy near the runway. All four East Timorese employed a policy of total non-cooperation, and were eventually, and surprisingly, released on unconditional bail- and told they would be informed of a trial date (despite the fact that the police know neither their names nor their addresses).
The newly elected British government has been making noises about introducing "ethical standards" into its foreign policy, but it remains to be seen if they will risk the wrath of British weapons producers, especially British Aerospace, by placing embargoes on weapons exports to such enriching customers as the Indonesian regime. The resistance looks set to continue.
Republika - 23 July, 1997 (from Tapol)
Johannesburg – South Africa's President Nelsom Mandela issued a statement through the President's Office confirming reports of his meeting with Fretilin (sic) leader, Xanana Gusmao, during his recent state visit to Indonesia.
'The meeting took place at the request of President Mandela, to promote human rights and a peaceful resolution of the conflict,' said the statement issued by the President's office, as quoted yesterday by Reuters.
President Mandela said he would not comment any further on the meeting because of the sensitive negotiations about East Timor that are now taking place on the initiative of the UN.
This week's edition of Gatra reported the meeting, saying that the Fretilin (sic) leader who is serving a 20-year sentence was taken by security officers from Cipinang Prison on Tuesday, 15 July at 8pm to the Presidential Palace and met President Mandela for nearly two hours.
The report has also been confirmed by State Secretary Moerdiono who said that the meeting had taken place with the knowledge and agreement of President Suharto. This was because the President appreciated President Mandela's wish to help seek a solution to the question of East Timor.
But according to the South African President's Office, the meeting took place at the state guest house which is located in the Presidential Palace complex, which is where President Mandela and his entourage stayed while in Jakarta.
Indonesia's roving ambassador Lopez da Cruz also confirmed that the meeting had taken place. 'The three of us met at the State Guesthouse on 15 July and had dinner for about one hour and fifty minutes,' he told Reuters.
Da Cruz said that there were only three people at the meeting. Da Cruz had given his opinion, as had Xanana. President Mandela spoke about his own experiences. 'There was a very good atmosphere,' said da Cruz. 'It was informal and cordial.'
He said this was the first time he had met Xanana for 25 years. The two men were classmates at a seminary and also served in the Portuguese army together.
'Xanana did not put forward any requests at all. President Mandela did most of the talking. He spoke about ways of resolving the question of East Timor in non-emotional ways,' said da Cruz.
Reuters - July 18, 1997
Jakarta – One East Timorese rebel resisting Indonesia's rule in the former Portuguese colony has been killed in an attack on the 21st anniversary of the territory's annexation, the official Antara news agency reported on Friday.
The report quoted the East Timor military commander, Colonel Slamat Sidabutar, as saying the rebel had been killed on Thursday night in Kalilako district, 138 km (86 miles) south of the capital Dili.
"About 20 armed rebels made an effort to enter the town, however they failed because the community and the Indonesian armed forces (ABRI) who were on guard at a post had already anticipated things which might occur on the integration day," he said.
Indonesia invaded East Timor in December 1975 and unilaterally annexed it on July 17, 1976 in an act not recognised by the United Nations which still regards the territory as being administered by Portugal.
A small band of armed rebels, perhaps numbering only a few hundred, still resist Jakarta's rule in the rugged hills of the eastern half of Timor island, while a clandestine movement operates in urban areas.
Sidabutar said rebels wanted to launch attacks on such anniversaries to show they still existed.
He identified the dead rebel as Mauleki, 50. Soldiers seized a rifle, 43 bullets, a grenade and a small amount of money.
The other attackers fled into the forest.
Since the eve of Indonesia's election on May 25 at least 38 people have died, including 16 policemen and one soldier in a single ambush, in an upsurge of violence in East Timor.
Agence France Presse - July 10, 1997
Jakarta – Indonesian authorities will bring 33 people to court over protests in the capital of East Timor during the visit of a United Nations envoy to the troubled territory in March, a report said here Thursday.
"The number of suspects to be brought to court will total 33," the head of the East Timor's provincial attorney general's office, J.F. Martanto, said, according to the state Antara news agency.
Martanto said in Dili, East Timor, that the 33 suspects would be tried in three separate cases involving 14, 16 and three people.
He did not say what charges would be leveled against them, saying that his office was still studying the dossiers.
The scores of young East Timorese who went peacefully to a Dili hotel to demand a meeting with the visiting UN special envoy, sent by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, were violently beaten back by security members on March 23.
Hundreds of protesters, men and women, later descended on the area but were stopped by police and soldiers from reaching the Mahkota hotel where the United Nations special envoy to East Timor, Jamsheed Marker, was staying.
The East Timor police said they arrested 48 people following the protest. It also said that some of the demonstrators were injured after they fell through the hotel's glass panels.
The National Commission on Human Rights however has said that 24 of the detainees had injuries which suggested that they were beaten up.
Marker, who made a three-day "fact finding" trip to East Timor on March 22-24, did not meet the protestors who carried anti- Indonesia posters but no weapons.
Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony of East Timor in 1975 and declared it its 27th province the following year. It has since faced resistance from the East Timorese pro-independence movement.
The United Nations and most countries still view Lisbon as the administrator of East Timor.
| Arms/armed forces |
Financial Times - July 18, 1997
The government is expected to allow British Aerospace to complete the contentious sale of 16 Hawk fighter aircraft to Indonesia, following advice that there are "formidable obstacles" in the way of revoking the contract.
Ministers said yesterday that the #316m deal would not be blocked, in spite of persistent allegations that Indonesia was using jets it had acquired earlier against opponents of the regime in occupied East Timor. "There is no evidence that the aircraft is being used in East Timor," a senior government member insisted. "Our intelligence on that is very clear." A minister also said the decision on Hawk should not be seen as a sign that new applications for similar export licences would be approved. A decision to allow the sale will come as a great relief to the British arms industry, which has been concerned that the adoption of a so-called "ethical" foreign policy would
Mr Robin Cook, the foreign secretary, gave a foretaste yesterday, when he outlined 12-point plan to put human rights at the heart of Britain's foreign policy. He said the UK would "refuse to supply the equipment and weapons with which regimes deny the demands of their peoples' for human rights". The guidelines would result in changes to the present policy governing the licencing of riot control vehicles, small arms and other equipment for sale to the security forces of certain regimes".
That is expected to lead to a tightening up of the conditions imposed on the sale of equipment and armoured vehicles to Indonesia. Alvis is halfway through a #315m order to supply 100 Saracen light tanks to Indonesia, a deal criticised by human rights organisations but defended vigorously by the company.
"There is no evidence it has been used for the purpose of repression," said Mr Nick Prest, the company chairman. "It is a tracked vehicle designed for cross-country work, not urban operations." He warned that hundreds of jobs at the company's Coventry plant may be in jeopardy if the order were to be stopped, along with other possible Indonesian orders in the pipeline.
Among the most controversial is a possible upgrade of the Saracen armoured personnel carrier supplied by Alvis in the 1960s. The company admits the vehicle had been linked to the suppression of student democracy demonstrations in Ujung Pandang last April.
The Campaign Against the Arms Trade, a pressure group, welcomed Mr Cook's promise to crack down on the sale of riot control vehicles, but said it was concerned he did not refer to Labour's manifesto commitment to stop sales of weapons which might be used for 'international aggression'.
Mr Cook, speaking to an invited audience, said he realised human rights issues were complex and cut across other issues of trade and development. He was aiming to achieve 'modest advances' amd the support of UK partners, especially in Europe, would be needed. Nigeria was warned sternly that unless it radically improved its human rights record, the UK would press for its continued suspension from the Commonwealth.
Tapol - July 20, 1997
The speech on Thursday, 17 July, by Robin Cook in which he again stressed that human rights would be at the heart of Britain's foreign policy under the Labour Government was widely reported and commented on in all the media - radio, TV and in the print media on Friday.
Virtually everywhere, Indonesia became the chief topic of discussion and comment and in many interviews, he was pressed to explain why Indonesia had not been mentioned (only Nigeria and Iraq were mentioned by name) and asked whether he would halt arms sales to Jakarta.
Point 3 of his 12 principles is as follows:
'Britain will refuse to supply equipment and weapons with which regimes deny the demands of their peoples for human rights. Last month, I announced a review of Government criteria for the licensing of weapons for export. The review will give effect to Labour's policy commitment that we will not supply equipment or weapons that might be used for internal repression. The full results of the review will be published shortly, but I can announce today that they will result in changes to the present policy governing licensing of riot control vehicles, small arms and other equipment for sale to the security forces of certain regimes.'
This is interpreted as meaning that licenses will not in future be issued for certain types of equipment to Indonesia, possibly including water cannon.
However, as the Financial Times pointed out, Mr Cook also made it plain that he would not revoke licences already issued, meaning that huge amounts of equipment to the Indonesian police and army will proceed, as well as the delivery of 16 Hawks, the licence for which was approved in 1996. This is in addition to 24 Hawks agreed in 1993, and the delivery of which was completed in 1996.
It is evident that the arms manufacturers are lobbying hard with the government at all levels to protect their hugely profitable trade with Indonesia. We know that Lord Hollick, a Labour peer who until recently sat on the Board of Directors of British Aerospace, resigned his position to become a personal adviser to Margaret Beckett, President of the Board of Trade, the government department that issues licenses for the export of arms.
TAPOL, along with the World Development Movement and Campaign Against Arms Trade tried to take the previous government to court to force it to revoke two licenses for riot control equipment. Clearly if the review that is due to be published later this month fails to meet our demands, more campaigning will be needed.
However, the public response to Robin Cook's speech shows that part of the battle has been won, in the sense that Indonesia is now firmly established in the public perception as a Pariah State.
Reuters - July 22, 1997
Jim Della-Giacoma, Jakarta – Indonesia on Tuesday published an updated version of its 1995 white paper on defence, stressing the importance of regional links in maintaining security.
Officials said while releasing the 66-page document that the document was part of confidence-building measures suggested by the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
"The 1997 White Paper in principle is aimed at developing mutual trust between the countries of ASEAN, the nations of the Asia- Pacific and the world in general through the transparency of defence and security policies," Indonesian Defence and Security Minister Edi Sudradjat said in a statement.
Sudradjat said in the statement, read out by an official at a news conference, that the changes to the 1995 White Paper included stressing the importance of a negotiated and peaceful solution to any conflict in accordance with international law.
The updated paper stressed that national and regional stability were the basis on which international cooperation could proceed, he said.
"In the framework of creating regional stability, the Indonesian nation will make as many efforts as possible to increase mutual trust," Sudradjat said.
"The growth of this mutual trust is a thing that must be built from the existence of mutual respect," he said.
"We must not interfere in the internal affairs of another country, prioritise cooperation which is mutually beneficial and each understand the values and culture of the other as well as far as possible avoid feelings of mutual suspicion," he said.
The revised white paper projected that Indonesia's armed forces, which include the national police, would reach a strength of 505,000 troops by the end the sixth Five-Year Development Plan in 1998/99.
Officials said these figures were not available at the time the white paper was first published in October 1995.
Sudradjat said it was forecast that by the end of this period the Indonesian army would increase to 243,000 from 235,237 troops. This would include raising the strength of the elite special forces to 5,000 from the current 2,000.
In the same period, the navy would reach 47,000 personnel with 127 warships and the strength of the air force would rise to 23,000, Sudradjat said, quoting from the white paper.
The police strength will increase to 192,000 personnel from their current 180,000, he added.
The report said that between 3.5 and five percent of Indonesia's population of more than 200 million would be "trained civilians," often given duties such as neighbourhood or village security.
Sudradjat stressed that despite the size of the Indonesian armed forces, its current $2.3 billion military budget, including the police, was only 1.8 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
He added the defence budget would increase to between two and three percent of GDP but did not give a time frame.
"Thailand spends roughly $3.5 billion on its military, excluding the police, and Singapore roughly $3 billion," he said.
"By comparison, Indonesia's defence budget in 1994 was 1.4 percent of GDP, while Thailand's was 2.8 percent, Malaysia's 4.0 percent and Singapore 5.2 percent."
The Australian - July 16, 1997
Patrick Walters, Jakarta – One of Indonesia's most experienced infantry officers with extensive combat experience in East Timor has been named socio-political chief of armed forces.
The promotion of Major-General Mohammad Yunus Yosifiah, 53, to three-star rank is the latest in a wave of changes in senior ranks which will see five new regional commanders installed this month.
Currently commander of the armed forces staff college in Bandung, General Yunus, a Buginese from South Sulawesi, has served three tours of duty in East Timor.
More than any other serving military officer, he knows the circumstances surrounding the deaths of five Australian-based journalists in Balibo, East Timor in 1975.
On October 16, 1975, as a captain in Indonesia's special forces he helped co- ordinate the assault by Indonesian and East Timorese irregular forces on Balibo - the action that resulted in the deaths of the five journalists.
In December, 1978, he commanded battalion 744 in East Timor that killed Fretilin guerrilla leader Nicolao Lobato.
He also served as the local military commander in East Timor from the military academy, General Yunus is married to a Timorese.
He is a graduate of the US army's staff college at Fort Leavenworth and the Royal College of Defence Studies in Britain.
The position of chief of socio-political affairs is a sensitive, high-profile post, with it's heavy emphasis on political liaison as well as contact with the media.
Under the dual function of the armed forces, the military continues to play a vital role in national politics, with a guaranteed block of 75 seats in the 500-seat parliament in addition to its traditional defence and security functions.
General Yunus will take over as socio-political affairs chief from Lieutenant General Syarwan Hamid, who will lead the armed forces faction in the House of Representatives. General Yunus's new assistant will be one of the army's brightest stars, Major General Bambang Yudhoyono, 47, currently military commander in South Sumatra.
The armed forces chief, General Feisal Tanjung, said on Monday that five regional commanders would soon retire from their commands and take up positions as MPs in parliament's armed forces faction.
They are:
Maj. Gen. Abdul Rivai, Udayana command which includes East Timor; Maj. Gen. Sedaryanto, Bukit Barison military commander (command covers Aceh, North and West Sumatra and Riau; Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi of the West Java command; Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo of the East Java command; Maj. Gen. Namoeri Anoem, the Kalimantan region commander.
ITAR-TASS - July 9, 1997
Moscow – Indonesia is analysing the combat characteristics of Russian military equipment and is considering the possibility of acquiring some, [Indonesian] Minister of State Bacharuddin J. Habibie said at a news conference in Moscow today. He said that the technology and the quality of the goods manufactured by the Russian aircraft industry was not inferior to that of the world's leading aviation firms. He admired the combat aircraft of the latest generation: Su-37, Su-30 and MiG-29 and also the Ka-50 ("Black Shark" ) helicopter and other aviation equipment manufactured by the Russian military and industrial complex.
The Indonesian armed forces, B.J. Habibie said, are composed of ground forces, air force, navy and police forces. At present they are equipped with old specimens of American and European weapons. In line with strategic modernization plans, Jakarta intends to renew its aircraft pool and to equip its ground forces with very modern armoured equipment and the navy with modern ships. The minister of state did not rule out that this renewal may be effected through deliveries of Russian military equipment.
The minister of state did not specify the accords reached on deliveries of Russian armaments, but noted that during his meeting with Yakov Urinson, the deputy head of the Russian government, at whose invitation he arrived in Moscow, they signed "a protocol note" on mutually advantageous cooperation between the two countries, including in the military and technical sphere.
Indonesian Minister of Research and Technology B.J.Habibie arrived in Moscow on 1st July. He visited a number of scientific and research centres and production associations of the military-industrial complex in Moscow Region, St Petersburg and Nizhniy Novgorod. Here he familiarized himself with the most up- to-date armaments.
Having completed his visit to Russia, B.J. Habibie today flies to Indonesia.
| Economy and investment |
Interfax - July 10, 1997
Moscow – Russia intends to help Indonesia in developing that country's nuclear power industry, in particular in the construction of nuclear power plants, Russian Atomic Energy Minister Viktor Mikhailov told a news conference in Moscow Thursday.
He said an understanding had been reached during a recent visit to Russia by Indonesian Science and Technology Minister Yusuf Habibi that a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on peaceful use of nuclear energy be drafted before the end of 1997.
That agreement will cover the construction in Indonesia of power plants from 100 to 300 megawatts, Mikhailov said. Such plants will help Indonesia meet its increasing energy needs, he said.
French, Canadian and Japanese companies are the ministry's chief competitors, Mikhailov said. Russia can outdo them only by offering more, in particular in thermonuclear synthesis, nuclear fuel and personnel training, he said.
"In our relations with other countries we actively use such offers in a package with construction of nuclear power plants," Mikhailov said. Speaking on the toughening of the U.S. position on sales of two super-computers to Russia, he said: "What is certain is that the Americans did not offend the ministry and we will find a solution to the situation."
Occasional Western news reports which portray in military terms Russia's agreement with Iran to build a nuclear plant at Bushehr are slanderous, Mikhailov said. Iran is faithfully abiding by all the IAEA requirements and the assumption that a Russian nuclear reactor will enable Iran to develop nuclear technologies is unrealistic, he said.
He said the ministry would not seek nuclear cooperation with Israel in the coming years.
American Reporter - July 11, 1997
Andreas Harsono, Jakarta – Rumors have started to circulate in Jakarta that President Suharto is hinting that Harmoko – like many Indonesians, he uses just ne name – the chairman of the Suharto's ruling party, Golkar, will not become the speaker of the Indonesian parliament when it convenes to elect a new president next year.
Foreign diplomats and observers saY the political career of the stone-faced Harmoko, a former information minister and once one of Suharto's closest aides, stumbled on several issues – including his exaggerated display of triumph soon after Golkar had gained more than 74 percent of the votes in the May 29 general election, as well as in his plan to set up a shadow cabinet.
They said such moves had apparently angered Suharto, who dislikes the idea of being dictated to even by a Golkar leader like Harmoko. "The cabinet lineup is the prerogative of the president. Harmoko has overstepped his limits," said one analyst.
In addition to the rumors, Gen. Feisal Tanjung, the commander of the powerful Armed Forces (Abri), unexpectedly said last week that the military is to assign Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, the second-in-command of the socio-political role of the military, to become a member of parliament.
That soon raised more speculations that Hamid is to compete with Harmoko to head the parliament. Some even said that Suharto had probably made the request to have Hamid sitting in parliament himself, apparently to replace Harmoko, who has lost the president's favor.
It is widely believed here that Harmoko was demoted last month when Suharto unexpectedly installed former army chief Gen R. Hartono as the new information minister, putting Harmoko in the office of State Minister for Special Affairs, a new position without a clear assignment.
"It all depends on the President. If the President says he [Harmoko] goes, Harmoko will go," said political observer Frans Seda, an observation that Suharto, who has been ruling Indonesia since 1966, has always had the final say on almost every political decision here.
Hamid, a hardliner who last year spearheaded the removal of opposition figure Megawati Sukarnoputri from her position as the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party, is the only three-star general to have a seat in the lower house. He topped the list of 75 high-ranking officers who will occupy parliamentary seats reserved for Armed Forces members, who have no voting rights.
The general, however, dismissed speculation that he would compete with Harmoko. "I don't think I'm a strong candidate, nor do I feel I'm a weak one. Nobody will win or lose in this matter. And I remind you all that I do respect Harmoko," he said.
Under Indonesian law, the speaker of the House of Representatives, which makes the nation's laws, also functions as the speaker of the 5,000-member People's Consultative Assembly, which under the constitution holds the highest state power in Indonesia and has the rights to appoint a president. The House is the day-to-day parliament of Indonesia. Harmoko, an unpopular figure among journalists here after he closed down three popular newsweeklies in 1994, still has some officials among supporters of his nomination for the speakership.
State Secretary Moerdiono, another close aide to Suharto, surprised many on Wednesday when he said that logically, Harmoko deserves the parliament's top job because Harmoko is chairman of the party which won the election.
"Logically, his supporters, who will rule the roost in the House, will nominate him for the position." Moerdiono confirmed that Harmoko would enter the parliament on Oct. 1, when he ends his short tenure as the state minister of special assignments.