Rights body faults use force in E. Timor protest<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The use of force to quell the March 23
\npeaceful demonstration in the East Timorese capital has drawn
\nfire from National Commission on Human Rights members.<\/p>\n
Clementino dos Reis Amaral and Albert Hasibuan said Thursday
\nthat the security authorities' heavy-handed approach to
\ndemonstrators showed that human rights were yet to be duly
\nrespected and the rule of law should be put above anything else.<\/p>\n
They made the remarks after visiting 24 protesters detained in
\nthe Becora prison, 11 demonstrators hospitalized in the military-
\nrun Wirahusada hospital and two female students detained at
\nDili's police precinct.<\/p>\n
Amaral, who is an East Timorese native, said all the
\nprotesters sustained injuries they claimed were the result of
\nsecurity authorities' maltreatment during the anti-integration
\ndemonstration.<\/p>\n
"All of the 24 protesters detained in the prison sustained
\ninjuries which suggest they were beaten up. They had swollen
\neyes, mouths, backs and chests," he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Neither Amaral nor Hasibuan could confirm claims that some of
\nthose arrested had sustained gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n
The youths had demonstrated at the Mahkota Hotel where
\nvisiting United Nations special envoy Jamsheed Marker was
\nstaying. They intended to meet with Marker to discuss human
\nrights conditions in the former Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
Earlier, East Timor police chief Col. Yusuf Mucharam said the
\ndemonstrators were injured by broken glass when they ran from the
\nhotel amid scuffles with security authorities.<\/p>\n
"We conclude that he (Mucharam) received false reports from
\nfield officers," he said. "Beating up protesters is a violation
\nof human rights. The authorities should not resort to violence in
\nhandling a protest."<\/p>\n
Clementino said some of the detainees told him they were
\narrested on their way to a nearby church. Apparently, they were
\nmistaken for demonstrators, he added.<\/p>\n
None of those detained or treated in the hospital admitted to
\nhaving brought sharp weapons, as the authorities claimed, but
\nthey did admit they carried posters, he said.<\/p>\n
According to Amaral, the scuffle occurred after security
\nofficers inside the hotel prevented the youths from meeting with
\nMarker. As they arrived, no one barred them from entering the
\nhotel.<\/p>\n
Hasibuan said the authorities shouldn't have taken the law
\ninto their hands.<\/p>\n
"Law enforcers in East Timor should put the law above anything
\nelse in handling any affairs. The law has not been enforced as
\npeople expect," he said.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the 33 East Timorese youths who left the Austrian
\nEmbassy at dawn Thursday after spending two nights in the mission
\nwere detained at city police headquarters.<\/p>\n
Sources at police headquarters told The Jakarta Post yesterday
\nthat the 33 youths were taken from the Austrian embassy at dawn
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
According to the sources, the youths refused to be called
\nIndonesian citizens and claimed that East Timor was an
\nindependent country.<\/p>\n
The youths scaled the embassy's wall Monday in an attempt to
\nmeet with Marker but not to seek political asylum.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted the embassy's first secretary, Eleonora
\nWindisch, as saying that the youths were taken away by the police
\nin a waiting bus.<\/p>\n
She said the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has promised to treat
\nthem well. (33\/04\/pan)<\/p>\n
Marker -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-body-faults-use-force-in-e-timor-protest-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }