ABC concern for East Timorese.
According to Pilita Clark in Canberra (_Sydney Morning
Herald_, 17/12/1990, p.3), the Australian Broadcasting Commission
(ABC) has expressed concern about reports that Indonesian
authorities are cracking down on East Timorese people who helped
an Australian trade union official interview the Fretilin
guerilla commander, Xanana Gusmao.
Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported last week that one
East Timorese student who helped Mr. Robert Domm interview Mr.
Xanana was in hiding because he feared arrest by Indonesian
troops.
The student claimed the authorities were trying to retrace
Mr. Domm's steps to arrest those who helped him get the interview
with Mr. Xanana who has managed to avoid arrest for nearly 15
years, despite the efforts of thousands of troops.
Mr. Domm's interview was recorded for ABC Radio National's
Background Briefing program and has been published extensively in
international media during the past few weeks, as well as in the
_Herald_.
The director of ABC Radio, Mr. Malcolm Long, said he was
concerned about those who helped Mr. Domm.
"All these young people did was to help to organise for Mr.
Domm to conduct an interview with the guerilla leader whose views
have not been available to the world for 15 years", he said.
"They should not suffer as a result of Mr. Domm's interest in
this story which has also been of great interest in the world
media".
The producer of Background Briefing, Mr. Mark Aarons, said
yesterday sources had told him that whole villages had been
searched where Mr. Domm travelled and villagers had been
threatened with being "wiped off the surface of the earth" unless
they gave up those who had helped Mr. Domm.
Amnesty International Australia has called for the Australian
Government to take immediate steps to get information about the
attempted arrests reports.