By Jon Land
Indonesian soldiers continue to carry out brutal acts of torture, murder and arbitrary detention throughout East Timor. Many of the worst incidents have occurred in the town of Baucau and surrounding districts.
The East Timor Human Rights Centre (ETHRC) has released several urgent action appeals in response to the crackdown by the Indonesian military on suspected members of the clandestine resistance. On May 13, ETHRC received news confirming the execution of Costodio da Silva Nunes from the village of Gugleur on May 7.
Nunes had been harassed by soldiers before the shooting. When approached by soldiers and ordered to stop he fled, fearing for his safety. A short while later troops from the nearby sub-district military command caught Nunes and executed him. His family and friends were not permitted to attend his burial.
There are grave fears held for Armando da Silva, who is being held in incommunicado detention following his arrest by the notorious Kopassus regiment. He was detained in early May and is being held at one of the two Kopassus buildings in Baucau, possibly one which is a known torture centre called "Rumah Merah" ("Red House" — a reference to the blood of the East Timorese beaten and interrogated there).
On May 10, Armando da Silva was tortured so badly he was forced to provide the names of other East Timorese alleged to be involved in the clandestine resistance. Later that day, soldiers from Kopassus went to the house of Carlos da Silva and Carlos da Costa and shot them. An urgent action appeal released by ETHRC on May 27 states concerns for the two men. They are being held at the Wirahusuda Military Hospital in Dili.
Armando da Silva has still not been charged of any crime. He has been denied access to family members and legal representation.