In July 1997 President Nelson Mandela of South Africa called for the release of the leader of the independence movement in East Timor, Xanana Gusmao, following an unprecedent meeting between the two men granted by Indonesia’s President Suharto. Amnesty International welcomes the initiative by President Mandela and hopes that his call for the release of Xanana Gusmao will also focus light on the fate of dozens of other East Timorese political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. This briefing provides background information on Xanana Gusmao’s arrest, trial and imprisonment.
