SERIOUS CRIMES UNIT: INFORMATION RELEASE 23 September 2003
DetainedD
East Timorese TNI Soldier Indicted fro Torture and
Disappearance in Liquica District in April 1999
The Acting
Deputy General Prosecutor for Serious Crimes filed a single
indictment with the Special Panel for Serious Crimes at Dili District
Court
in Timor Leste on 23 September 2003. The indictment charges Rusdin Maubere
with Crimes against Humanity for the torture and enforced disappearance
of
a pro-independence supporter in Liquica District on 26 April 1999.
In the indictment
Rusdin Maubere is described as a First Private in the
Liquica District TNI Military Command. The indictment alleges that the
Besi
Merah Putih (BMP) militia group in Liquica district was under the effective
command and control of the civil administration and TNI military in Liquica
district.
The indictment
specifically charges Maubere with the torture and enforced
disappearance of Andre de Oliviera in Dato village in Liquica district.
It
is alleged that Oliviera had fled to the forest to hide following the
attack on Liquica church on 6 April 1999 returning to Dato village on
26
April 1999. That night, Oliviera was allegedly arrested by TNI soldiers
including Maubere and BMP militia members. It is alleged that Oliviera
was
taken to a nearby militia post where he was beaten until unconscious by
TNI
soldiers and BMP militia under the orders of Maubere and a TNI Sergeant.
On the night
of 26 April 1999, the indictment further alleges that the body
of Oliviera was buried near Aipelu BMP militia post by Maubere and a group
of TNI soldiers and BMP militia members. The TNI Sergeant involved in
Oliviera's arrest allegedly threatened to kill militia members at the
BMP
post if they disclosed that a dead body had been buried close to the
militia post. The BMP militia members later uncovered the body of a person
believed to be Oliviera at a newly-dug grave. Oliviera has not been seen
since his arrest in Dato village and the dead body has not since been
found
at the grave site.
Maubere
was arrested in March 2003 after entering Timor Leste from West
Timor and is currently in detention in Timor Leste. It is expected that
Maubere will stand trial at the Special Panel for Serious Crimes in the
coming months.
Until now,
35 accused have been convicted by Judges of the Special Panels
for Crimes against Humanity or serious crimes committed in 1999 since
trials began in January 2001 in Timor Leste.