Liquiçá Church Massacre
Encyclopedia
The Liquiçá Church Massacre was an atrocity that occurred in the war torn country of East Timor
, in April, 1999. It was the first case to be heard by the Second Special Panel.
s (primarily the Besi Merah Putih
) and Indonesian soldiers and police in Liquica has never been fully determined, ranging from a low of 61 claimed by Indonesia
, to more than 200 by local sources.
The crime was investigated by an elite team of International Police
which became known as the UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
, serving under the United Nations
and representing the countries of the United States
, Great Britain
, and the Philippines
, as well as Australian and New Zealand
Military Police
Crime Scene Specialists. The unit was initially commanded by police officer Steve Minhinett, of Great Britain. It was later commanded by American police officer Karl Clark
, and relied heavily on American intelligence officer Allen Williams. This investigation led to a large number of exhumations of the dead, witness statements taken, and ultimately charges of assassination, torture, forced deportation and murder being filed against 21 Indonesian Officers, and pro-Indonesian East Timorese Militia.
The Liquiçá Church massacre and the attack at Manuel Carrascalão
's house were two of the ten priority investigations of the Serious Crimes Unit
. This case was the first of several indictments arising from these investigations to reach trial. The trial was the first to be heard by the Second Special Panel, consisting of Judge Benfeito Mosso Ramos (Cape Verde) presiding, Judge Antero Luís (Portugal) and Judge António Helder (East Timor). The hearing was conducted in five languages: Portuguese, English, Indonesian, Tetum and Tokodede, the local language of the Liquiçá
area. The court heard detailed testimony
from the accused about involvement in the Besi Merah Putih
militia
, including a militia
ceremony in which they were allegedly forced to drink a cocktail of alcohol, animal blood and drugs before killing, as a part of the attack on the Liquiçá Church. Testimony implicated the direct participation in the attacks by Indonesian soldiers, who were allegedly dressed in civilian clothes to look like militia members. Leoneto Martins, Tomé Diogo, Eurico Guterres
and João Tavares were the primary suspects and leading figures during the massacre
, all were East Timorese.
A prominent business associate of the Suharto family and "spokesman for the Indonesian Loyalist faction" , Gil Alves, confirmed to the media that "the Red and White militia [Besi Merah Putih] had conducted the attack. But he said the attack started after shots were fired from inside the church grounds. He claimed that the Red and White had surrounded the priest's home to disarm members of the CRNT (anti-Indonesian forces loyal to Mr Xanana), who had stored weapons there. He said the police were present to prevent violence and fired tear gas in self-defence. He denied that the militia had been armed by the Indonesian military, as Mr Xanana has claimed." (Tim Dodd 'Massacre has Timor living on the edge' Australian Financial Review, April 9, 1999). However in 2007 Xanana Gusmão, as Prime Minister, appointed Gil Alves his Minister for Commerce and Tourism.
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, in April, 1999. It was the first case to be heard by the Second Special Panel.
Events and Aftermath
During the event, up to some 200 East Timorese people were murdered at the local Catholic church. The event left many witnesses, including the local Catholic Priest, Raphael dos Santos. The total number of victims at the hands of pro-Indonesia militiaPro-Indonesia militia
Pro-Indonesia militias were East Timorese paramilitary militia groups that formed to show loyalty to the Indonesian government during the movement for East Timorese independence in the late 1990s...
s (primarily the Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih , meaning 'red and white iron' in Indonesian, is the official name of a pro-Indonesia militia operating in the district of Liquiçá, and originating in the village of Maubara.- Acts of Murder, Torture and Intimidation :...
) and Indonesian soldiers and police in Liquica has never been fully determined, ranging from a low of 61 claimed by Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, to more than 200 by local sources.
The crime was investigated by an elite team of International Police
International Police
The International Police is the title used for an organization of police officers representing various countries throughout the world, brought together to assist in the training, organization, stabilization of a destabilized region, or creation of indigenous police forces primarily in war-torn...
which became known as the UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
The UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment was the common title for an elite investigative unit created in the war torn and newly liberated country of East Timor in November 1999, under the direction of the United Nations mission in East Timor, consisting of International Police, Australian Military Police...
, serving under the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and representing the countries of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, as well as Australian and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
Crime Scene Specialists. The unit was initially commanded by police officer Steve Minhinett, of Great Britain. It was later commanded by American police officer Karl Clark
Karl Clark
Osby Karl Clark, or Karl Clark is an American police officer from North Carolina, and a former police chief, best known for his service on international assignments with the International Police...
, and relied heavily on American intelligence officer Allen Williams. This investigation led to a large number of exhumations of the dead, witness statements taken, and ultimately charges of assassination, torture, forced deportation and murder being filed against 21 Indonesian Officers, and pro-Indonesian East Timorese Militia.
The Liquiçá Church massacre and the attack at Manuel Carrascalão
Manuel Carrascalão
Manuel Viegas Carrascalão was an Indonesian parliamentarian and prominent East Timorese independence leader. The Carrascalão family is of mestiço ancestry; Carrascalao was born on Atauro Island....
's house were two of the ten priority investigations of the Serious Crimes Unit
Serious Crimes Unit
The Serious Crimes Unit was the official title given to an elite unit of International Police investigators during the United Nations 1999 to 2004 mission in East Timor....
. This case was the first of several indictments arising from these investigations to reach trial. The trial was the first to be heard by the Second Special Panel, consisting of Judge Benfeito Mosso Ramos (Cape Verde) presiding, Judge Antero Luís (Portugal) and Judge António Helder (East Timor). The hearing was conducted in five languages: Portuguese, English, Indonesian, Tetum and Tokodede, the local language of the Liquiçá
Liquiçá
Liquiçá is a coastal city in East Timor, 32 km to the west of Dili, the national capital. Liquiçá is the capital of Liquiçá district...
area. The court heard detailed testimony
Testimony
In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter. All testimonies should be well thought out and truthful. It was the custom in Ancient Rome for the men to place their right hand on a Bible when taking an oath...
from the accused about involvement in the Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih , meaning 'red and white iron' in Indonesian, is the official name of a pro-Indonesia militia operating in the district of Liquiçá, and originating in the village of Maubara.- Acts of Murder, Torture and Intimidation :...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, including a militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
ceremony in which they were allegedly forced to drink a cocktail of alcohol, animal blood and drugs before killing, as a part of the attack on the Liquiçá Church. Testimony implicated the direct participation in the attacks by Indonesian soldiers, who were allegedly dressed in civilian clothes to look like militia members. Leoneto Martins, Tomé Diogo, Eurico Guterres
Eurico Guterres
Eurico Barros Gomes Guterres Eurico Barros Gomes Guterres Eurico Barros Gomes Guterres (born 1971 is a pro-Indonesian or anti-independence militia terrorist recruited by the Indonesian military. He was involved in several massacres in East Timor, and a chief militia leader during the...
and João Tavares were the primary suspects and leading figures during the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
, all were East Timorese.
A prominent business associate of the Suharto family and "spokesman for the Indonesian Loyalist faction" , Gil Alves, confirmed to the media that "the Red and White militia [Besi Merah Putih] had conducted the attack. But he said the attack started after shots were fired from inside the church grounds. He claimed that the Red and White had surrounded the priest's home to disarm members of the CRNT (anti-Indonesian forces loyal to Mr Xanana), who had stored weapons there. He said the police were present to prevent violence and fired tear gas in self-defence. He denied that the militia had been armed by the Indonesian military, as Mr Xanana has claimed." (Tim Dodd 'Massacre has Timor living on the edge' Australian Financial Review, April 9, 1999). However in 2007 Xanana Gusmão, as Prime Minister, appointed Gil Alves his Minister for Commerce and Tourism.
External links
- Sydney Herald, Williams and Other Investigators Estimates
- ABC Online article on negotiations with Australia about border
- Genocide Watch, Besi Merah Puti - Alan Williams
- Health Alliance International website - More information on health projects in East Timor by HAIHealth Alliance InternationalHealth Alliance International in a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA. HAI is an international public health organization, loosely affiliated with the University of Washington, currently working in Mozambique, East Timor, Côte d'Ivoire and Sudan...
- Jornal Nacional - Semanário (Portuguese)
- Links to Timor Leste government sites
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
- Suara Timor Lorosae - (Tetum and Indonesian)
- CIA World Factbook on East Timor
- ETAN Links - Extensive links on East Timor
- Governo Timor Leste - Official governmental site
- http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/01/21/easttimor.indonesia.reut/index.html