East Timorese seek asylum in embassies

East Timorese seek asylum in embassies

By Jon Land

Six East Timorese youths entered the Spanish embassy in Jakarta on February 11, requesting asylum and travel to Portugal. They are the third group of East Timorese to seek asylum in foreign embassies this year, fleeing repression by the Indonesian authorities.

Since September 1996, a total of 146 East Timorese have fled Indonesia via foreign embassies.

Eight youths who entered the Spanish embassy on January 28 and five who entered the French embassy (the seventh group in two years) on January 15 are already in Portugal. All of the asylum seekers have described intimidation, harassment or torture by Indonesian military and police.

A spokesperson for the five who entered the French embassy told reporters in Portugal, "The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to two East Timorese has changed nothing. The persecutions, arrests and torture go on ."

The five, all members of the resistance, received assistance from Indonesian pro-democracy groups for several months while they were in hiding in Jakarta.

A group of six East Timorese remain holed up at the Austrian embassy, where they have been since September 19. Indonesian authorities allege that the group, which includes two children, is part of a "terrorist" group and are refusing them permission to leave Indonesia.

From GLW issue 306