Darwin – Six East Timorese who have sought refuge in the Austrian embassy in Jakarta, since September 19, are in danger of being handed over to the Indonesian authorities.

Handwritten messages, smuggled out, have been received, here in Darwin, from the East Timorese holed up in the Austrian embassy, asking for help in the form of pressures to the Austrian government.

The Austrian embassy claims they are not pressuring the six to leave the premises and give themselves up to the authorities. According to the embassy, the six are vacillating between staying on and giving themselves up to the Indonesians.

However, from the smuggled messages, the Austrian embassy is applying subtle pressure to get the Timorese to give themselves up voluntarily. The six are prevented from receiving any information from outside and the only contact they are allowed to have is with Lopez da Cruz, who works for the Suharto regime!

The six East Timorese are also being told that their case is hopeless and that they better use the current offers of guarantees of protection if they give themselves up at this stage. The Austrian embassy is also seeking a written note from the six "that they are leaving on their own free will."

Background information

The six , including a family of four, sought refuge in the Austrian embassy on September 19, fearing detention and torture by the Indonesian military (Abri).

Indonesian authorities allege that two of the asylum-seekers have been involved in the manufacture of homemade bombs and are members of a "terrorist group."

Abri on October 22 said Avelino Maria Coelho da Silva and Nuno Vincente Pereira carried out "terrorism, sabotage and murder, aimed at creating instability in the country." Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and Suharto's daughter Tutut have urged Austria to hand over the two for questioning. It is claimed that they are linked with 13 East Timorese arrested on September 13 and 15 following the discovery of homemade bombs in Semarang and Dili.

According to a Reuters report of November 10, Ali Alatas was quoted as saying: "Our stance remains the same. The Indonesian government will keep demanding that the two are handed over to the police for investigation. If the others want to go to Portugal, just go ahead." Alatas said Indonesia would not permit the Avelino and Nuno to leave for Portugal.