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Eighteen people detained in East Timor

Source
Amnesty International - April 25, 1997

Eighteen people believed to have been detained in East Timor on suspicion of links with the armed resistance in East Timor, Falintil, are feared to be at risk of torture or ill-treatment in custody.

On 30 March 1997, four men, Felisberto Maria dos Santos, Domingos Larangguira, Jose Sobral and Marcelino de Fatima dos Santos, were arrested as they were travelling on motorbikes in the town of Liquisa. Felisberto Maria dos Santos was allegedly arrested on suspicion of being a member of Falintil while the three with him are thought to have been arrested on suspicion of their involvement with the unarmed underground resistance movement in East Timor. One report stated that the four were taken into military intelligence custody but it is not clear precisely where they are being held. It is believed they are being held incommunicado detention.

On 8 April, another 14 people whose names are not yet known are believed to have been arrested in Lautem, in Los Palos, in connection with the earlier killing of an Indonesian Armed Forces soldier. It is not clear where the 14 are being held but it is also believed that they too are being held incommunicado.

Amnesty International is concerned that all 18 risk torture or ill-treatment while in military custody, particularly if they are being denied access to their families and to independent lawyers.

Background information

East Timorese alleged to be connected with the East Timorese resistance who are taken into military and police custody continue to be at risk of torture and ill-treatment, particularly during interrogation. Safeguards against the use of torture and other violations of detainees' rights, provided for under Indonesia's Code of Criminal Procedures, are often ignored by the military and police. Detainees are denied access to legal counsel and their families, placing them at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

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