Dili, October 12, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The Human Rights Defenders Network (RDDU) together with HAK are concerned about the acts of violence committed by 6 members of the F-FDTL against the victim (a man) in Lauhata, Bazartete, Liquiça on October 5, 2024. This press conference was held at the HAK Campaun, Farol, Dili, on Friday.
In a press conference delivered by MC Isaias Soares, based on the chronology of the case on October 5, 2024 at 04.00am, Jorge dos Santos received physical resistance from 6 members of the F-FDTL along with complete equipment at a weeding event held in Aipelu, Liquiça.
“The purpose of the physical fight carried out by 6 F-FDTL members against a young man was because the victim was drunk and unhappy with the wedding party that ended at 4 am, so he said something like, ‘Timor-Leste bitches, why did you end the party so early?’ Suddenly one of the F-FDTL members walked up to Jorge to hit him which shocked him and made him apologize and said, ‘what wrong have I done, brother?’ then another F-FDTL member walked up to him and hit him again until he fell and they used a gun to hit Jorge and continued to hit him until he passed out, the F-FDTL members used a gun to hit Jorge’s body until one of the members’ gun fell and Jorge was in an unconscious state he turned his body towards the member’s gun, so the owner of the gun who was a member of F-FDTL took his gun and shouted, ‘shoot him until all his bones are broken’” said the MC
The MC continued, the action carried out by the 6 members of F-FDTL took place in front of many people because it happened after the party was over but no one dared to approach, because the action was carried out by members of F-FDTL, so only Jorge’s sister stopped the action carried out by the 6 members of F-FDTL, because she saw that her younger brother was already unconscious, and she took him from inside to outside the party and he began to regain consciousness and tried to run to save himself from being chased by the 6 members of F-FDTL.
“After the incident, on Saturday morning, F-FDTL members returned to look for Jorge at his house on the grounds that one of their members’ teeth had fallen out, and they suspected Jorge was the mastermind behind the incident when they fought at the party. The search did not stop there, they went to Jorge’s house in full uniform, stood around Jorge’s house to wake up his family and asked them to tell them where Jorge was hiding. On the same day at around 10 am, F-FDTL members returned to Jorge’s house with PNTL Liquiça to ask for information from Jorge’s mother, uncle, brother and sister, at that time the members forced Querido dos Santos as Jorge’s brother to follow them to go to the PNTL Liquiça residence.” MC added
He added that 6 F-FDTL members said, “ride the F-FDTL car” but the PNTL members did not agree for the victim’s brother to ride the F-FDTL car, so Querido dos Santos rode the PNTL car to make a statement at the Liquiça PNTL residence. On Saturday night, on the same day, F-FDTL members, some in full uniform and some in civilian clothes, continued to force the victim’s brother to meet the Village and Hamlet Heads to tell them where the victim was hiding.
“On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, 8/10/2024, 6 members of F-FDTL were still looking for the victim and threatened the victim’s family by saying “if you don’t tell us and find where he is hiding, we will flatten your house” from the intimidation, the victim’s family was afraid and traumatized. On the other hand, after receiving quite severe violence from F-FDTL members, the victim also did not return home for 3 days and his family really did not know where he was hiding, after October 8 the victim decided to return home and the family decided to take him to the Guido Valadares National Hospital for consultation because his condition was seriously injured and swollen. ” Said MC
MC said, the actions carried out by the 6 F-FDTL members resulted in serious injuries to the mouth, hands, chest, legs and bleeding from the mouth and nose (stated by witness Anabela dos Santos Barreto, the victim’s sister). The family felt, the actions were like during the Indonesian colonial era, because they did not feel safe when they saw the military in uniform.
On the other hand, Exisance RDDU, Inocencio de Jesus Xavier said that the above case was carried out by 6 members of F-FDTL in physical abuse against the victim which resulted in serious injuries to the body, based on the results of the HNGV.
“Based on the notes that have been submitted previously, the situation was not appropriate for F-FDTL members to do to the victim, because it was unprofessional, based on Army procedures, the victim did not take action against them. Regarding the situation, RDDU is concerned about the actions taken by the 6 F-FDTL members, so RDDU considers the actions taken by the F-FDTL members as an act of human rights violence and abuse of power because they used arbitrariness while in uniform.” Said RDDU, Inocencio de Jesus Xavier
In connection with this case, RDDU demands:
- To the F-FDTL unit leaders to take firm action and immediately investigate the 6 F-FDTL members who received reports of alleged acts of physical violence against the victim Jorge dos Santos in Lauhata Village which were very serious.
- To the F-FDTL unit leaders must firmly take action against their uniformed members who are involved in the weeding, because this situation is not an emergency.
- To F-FDTL, there needs to be gradual coaching for F-FDTL members and administrators regarding human rights and other laws such as organic law and disciplinary law as well as F-FDTL SOP so that the handling is not haphazard, because based on our observations, most of the handling by several individuals in the field is not in accordance with procedures and is haphazard.
Reported by : Press Conference
Photo : Domingas