From: John MacDougall <apakabar@access.digex.net>
SOLIDARITY WITH THE MAUMERE 34
The trial of the 34 Florinese who were arrested last April
after a demonstration against the persecution of the Catholic Church began last
week in Maumere. Local sources indicate that the streets of Maumere are being
heavily guarded by the securuty forces and that approximately 600 people
attended the first day of the trial.
Latest information confirms that the trial was
interrupted when the Magistrate refused to accept a plea of not guilty and
abuse of process. Their legal aid lawyers Yosef Mbele, Silvester Nong Manis and
Simplexius Asa from the Catholic Legal Aid LBH VERITAS in Jakarta have stated
that the defendants were illegally detained and without arrest warrants.
Many were kidnapped by the Indonesian
military [ ABRI ] at midnight before being brought to KODIM Military HQ and
systematically tortured to obtain confessions relating to alleged destruction
during the demonstration, which was sparked by the deliiberate desecration of
the Communion Host in the Church of Waipelit by a Javanese Muslim and his
subsequent light treatment by the Courts.
A two - year long campaign of desecration of
Catholic Churches has been conducted in the Provinces of NTT and Tim-Tim [ East
Timor ]. Informed local sources suspect a deliberate campaign by elements of
ABRI working in symbiosis with Islamic elements from outside the Province.
Following are the names of the accused :
Amos Embu (24) Adrian Kantinus (25) Joni Bainoro (23) Yosep Pera Da Lopez (20)
Gerardus Valerianus Moan Bajo (20) Robertus Raja (23) Yuvensius Junedi (33)
Viktor Manek Mali (20) Andreas Ade (20) Delang Nong (43) Gregorius Gunadi (17)
Endisius Bae (15) Maurirus Rendo (21) Yeresmus Arabusman (21) Rudolfus Supraman
(23) Melki Yanuarius Soru (23) Eldenus Frimus Wadon (20) Lambert Lejo (21)
Yulius Heripanto (18) Arnoldus Anton Bura (30) Frans Hans Soru (29) Pasif Yosef
Jaya (30)
Robertus Antonius (22) Servanius Nong (26) Donatus Saba (24) Frumens Mimo (19)
Yos Kalasensius (22) Agustinus Soru (27) Andreas Ande (22) Hendrikus Lotak (21)
Robertus Nio (25) Thomas Paulus (34) Siprianus Jano (41). All are Catholic
except for Joni Bainoro (protestant). Two names were found too difficult to
decipher. A campaign is needed to support the defendants and their families and
pressure the Indonesian Government to ensure them a fair trial.
Alan Dermody.