Jailed East Timor students request help

Issue 

By Bernie Brian
DARWIN — Two students from the University of East Timor, currently imprisoned in Dili's Becora prison, have written to Northern Territory University students requesting help in their campaign for release. The letter, dated June 20, is addressed to the student union, the Student Supporters of East Timor and the Resistance Club. The two students, Jose Antonio Belo and Jose Gonco Pinto, were adopted as associate members of the student union in May.
In the letter, Belo and Pinto thank NTU students for their timely support, since they will probably be expelled from their own university. They write: "We never recognised ourselves as Indonesian citizens but we always said that we are the young nationalists fighting for freedom, justice and peace for East Timor. We never recognised the integration of East Timor into Indonesia."
The NTU students are particularly concerned by Belo and Pinto's revelations that they were both tortured by prison authorities in April and May. Student Supporters of East Timor and Resistance will be meeting with the NTU student union regarding further action to help Belo and Pinto, and the 64 other East Timorese political prisoners in Becora prison.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.