Academic abducted

I would like to draw readers' attention to the abduction of an East Timorese academic in Indonesia.

Lucas da Costa disappeared on December 23 1997 on his way to deliver a lecture at the Dharma Cendika Catholic University in Surabaya, a province of East Java.

Other than a rumour that he has been taken to Jakarta by the military intelligence, the BIA, there is still no news of his whereabouts.

Could fellow academics please write to Ali Alatas, the minister for foreign affairs, to ask that da Costa be returned to his family.

Write to: Menteri Luar Negeri, J1 Medan Taman Pejambon No 6, Jakarta, Indonesia. Fax: 62 21 360 541.

Judith Clarke, East Timor International Support Center

* See story, page 10