East Timorese protest in Jakarta

By Jon Land

More than 1000 East Timorese students held a protest and sit-in in the grounds of the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on June 12. The students had travelled from across Java and Bali to demand independence for East Timor and the release of Xanana Gusmao and all East Timorese political prisoners.

The peaceful protest, organised by the East Timor National Youth Front (Fronpetil), was violently attacked by the Indonesian military.

Students began gathering early in the morning, waving banners and chanting independence slogans. A petition prepared by Fronpetil called for immediate steps by Indonesia and the international community to begin the process of self-determination.

The students demanded to meet with foreign minister Ali Alatas and other senior government officials. They refused to leave until they had met with Alatas.

A delegation of 10 students was eventually able to meet with the ministry's Asia Pacific director and information director. When the meeting failed to reach an agreement, the students vowed to continue the sit-in. Seven hours after the action began, 800 military personnel moved in with batons and bayonets to break it up.

According to the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute, 25 people were seriously injured (including two students with broken legs) and taken to hospital. Three students were arrested and more than 500 students were bussed, under guard, to three locations in Jakarta for questioning by the military.

In other developments, 12 East Timorese prisoners at Becora jail in Dili who have been granted freedom have refused to leave until Xanana Gusmao and all other East Timorese political prisoners are released.

From GLW issue 321