June 1999 Military News

EAST TIMOR SITREP Voice of America 30 June 1999 -- THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY TO EAST TIMOR SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL MISSION -- ORGANIZING AN AUTONOMY REFERENDUM FOR THE TERRITORY -- WILL NOT BE SCARED OFF BY THE ATTACK ON A U-N POST TUESDAY.
EAST TIMOR Voice of America 30 June 1999 -- PEACE TALKS BETWEEN EAST TIMOR'S WARRING FACTIONS HAVE COME TO AN END IN THE INDONESIAN CAPITAL, JAKARTA, WITH NO FIRM AGREEMENTS REACHED BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE KEY ISSUE OF DISARMAMENT.
TURKEY VERDICT REACT Voice of America 30 June 1999 -- IN TURKEY, THE NEWS MEDIA ARE HAILING THE DEATH SENTENCE HANDED DOWN TUESDAY TO KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, COMMENTATORS DISAGREE ON WHETHER THE SENTENCE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
NORTHERN IRELAND Voice of America 30 June 1999 -- IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE MIDNIGHT DEADLINE HAS PASSED AND NO BREAKTHROUGH HAS BEEN REPORTED BUT CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS ARE STILL TALKING.
CONGO REBELS Voice of America 30 June 1999 -- IN ZAMBIA, PEACE TALKS ON THE CONGO CRISIS HAVE BEEN STALLED BY AN INTERNAL CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO OF THE THREE REBEL FACTIONS. THE TROUBLE PITS ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA, THE FORMER LEADER OF THE MAIN REBEL GROUP, AGAINST THE MEN WHO OUSTED HIM FROM HIS POSITION LAST MAY.
SAF CONGO Voice of America 30 June 1999 -- SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI SAYS HIS COUNTRY WILL BE PART OF A PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN CONGO-KINSHASA -- IF A CEASE-FIRE IS AGREED TO END THAT COUNTRY'S CIVIL WAR.
EAST TIMOR / U-N ATTACK Voice of America 29 June 1999 -- A UNITED NATIONS OFFICE IN EAST TIMOR HAS COME UNDER ATTACK BY A GROUP SUSPECTED TO BE A PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA.
EAST TIMOR / U-S Voice of America 29 June 1999 -- THE UNITED STATES IS ACCUSING INDONESIA'S GOVERNMENT OF FAILING TO DISARM ANTI-INDEPENDENCE MILITIAS BLAMED FOR AN ATTACK ON A U-N OFFICE IN EAST TIMOR.
TIMOR VIOLENCE / U-N REACT Voice of America 29 June 1999 -- U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS HE HOLDS THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ATTACK (TUESDAY) ON A U-N COMPOUND IN EAST TIMOR.
OCALAN / NEWSMAKER Voice of America 29 June 1999 -- WHETHER OR NOT THE DEATH PENALTY IS CARRIED OUT AGAINST MR. OCALAN, IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT HIS CAREER AS ONE OF THE MOST FEARED OPPONENTS OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT IS OVER.
TURKEY VERDICT REACT Voice of America 29 June 1999 -- EUROPEAN CAPITALS ARE ON ALERT FOR A POSSIBLE VIOLENT BACKLASH AS KURDS REACT TO TURKEY'S DEATH SENTENCE FOR REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN.
TURKEY TRIAL VERDICT Voice of America 29 June 1999 -- A SPECIAL SECURITY COURT IN TURKEY HAS SENTENCED KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN TO DEATH ON CHARGES OF TREASON.
CONGO TALKS Voice of America 29 June 1999 -- AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED ON THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN TROOPS FROM CONGO. ALL SIDES ACCEPTED A UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF "INVITED" AND "NON-INVITED" TROOPS.
KURDISH GROUPS ENHANCE RECONCILIATION EFFORT By William B. Reinckens USIA 28 June 1999 -- A senior Clinton Administration official briefed reporters on June 28 on the recently concluded talks between senior representatives of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Washington.
EAST TIMOR Voice of America 27 June 1999 -- : NOBEL LAUREATE, JOSE RAMOS-HORTA AND OTHER EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE LEADERS ARE MEETING AT THE HOME OF INDEPENDENT LEADER XANANA GUSMAO DURING A BREAK IN PEACE TALKS IN JAKARTA.
ALGIRIA / PARDON Voice of America 27 June 1999 -- ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIA BOUTEFLIKA SAYS HE WILL PARDON THOUSANDS OF ISLAMIST PRISONERS. THE PARDON MAY MARK THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRST SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD REACHING A POSSIBLE CONCESSION WITH SOME OF ALGERIA'S REBEL GROUPS.
ZAMBIA/TALKS Voice of America 27 June 1999 -- CONGOLESE PEACE TALKS TOOK AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD (SUNDAY) AS NEGOTIATORS AGREED ON A DRAFT CEASE-FIRE ACCORD. THE DRAFT IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY REGIONAL FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS, WHOSE APPROVAL IS NECESSARY BEFORE THE CEASE-FIRE CAN BE SIGNED BY THE HEADS OF STATE INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT.
INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR Voice of America 26 June 1999 -- EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE ACTIVIST AND NOBEL LAUREATE JOSE RAMOS HORTA HAS ARRIVED IN JAKARTA, BUT HE WILL WAIT FOR PERMISSION FROM THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE MAKING ANY EFFORTS TO GET BACK TO EASTTIMOR.
ZAMBIA / TALKS Voice of America 25 June 1999 -- ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA SAYS TALKS AIMED AT SECURING A CEASE-FIRE IN CONGO-KINSHASHA WILL REQUIRE MORE TIME.
CLINTON / IRELAND Voice of America 25 June 1999 -- THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS HAVE SET A DEADLINE OF NEXT WEDNESDAY FOR FORMING A POWER-SHARING CABINET IN NORTHERN IRELAND AS STIPULATED IN THE ACCORD.
TURKEY / KURDS DISPLACED Voice of America 25 June 1999 -- BECAUSE OF THE 15-YEAR CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTRY'S ETHNIC KURDS, WHO LIVE PRIMARILY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS MOVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KURDS OUT OF REMOTE RURAL VILLAGES INTO COMMUNITIES NEAR THE CITIES.
INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR Voice of America 24 June 1999 -- THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY HAS ARRIVED IN EAST TIMOR -- AMID RISING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT OVER A DELAYED REFERENDUM ON THE FUTURE OF THE DISPUTED TERRITORY.
OCALAN TRIAL Voice of America 24 June 1999 -- DEFENSE LAWYERS PRESENTED CLOSING ARGUMENTS THURSDAY IN THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH OCALAN. A VERDICT IS EXPECTED TUESDAY.
TURKEY AFTER KOSOVO Voice of America 24 June 1999 -- AS HIS TRIAL RESUMED IN TURKEY, KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN ONCE AGAIN SAID IF HIS LIFE IS SPARED, HE WOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO END THE LONG CONFLICT BETWEEN HIS P-K-K MOVEMENT AND THE TURKISH STATE.
NORTHERN IRELAND Voice of America 24 June 1999 -- LESS THAN A WEEK FROM YET ANOTHER DEADLINE, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS IN NORTHERN IRELAND SEEM JUST AS FAR AS EVER FROM COMPROMISE OVER THE ISSUE OF DEMILITARIZING REPUBLICAN PARAMILITARY GROUPS.
U-N / EAST TIMOR VOTE Voice of America 23 June 1999 -- UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS POSTPONING THE VOTE ON EAST TIMOR'S FUTURE, BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY IN THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY. THE MOVE IS BEING WELCOMED BY SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF INDEPENDENCE FOR THE TERRITORY.
INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR Voice of America 23 June 1999 -- THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED WITH SURPRISE TO THE DECISION BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO DELAY THE PLANNED INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM ON EAST TIMOR BY AT LEAST TWO WEEKS.
OCALAN TRIAL Voice of America 23 June 1999 -- KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN, ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE IN TURKEY, HAS RENEWED THREATS OF MORE VIOLENCE IF HE IS SENTENCED TO DEATH.
OCALAN TRIAL / KURD REACT Voice of America 23 June 1999 -- THE GENERAL ATTITUDE IS ONE OF WAIT-AND-SEE -- WHETHER MR. OCALAN WILL BE CONVICTED AND IF SO, WHETHER HE WILL BE EXECUTED. MOST BELIEVE HE WILL BE CONVICTED. AND THE FACT THAT MR. OCALAN ADOPTED A CONCILIATORY ATTITUDE AT THE TRIAL ANGERS MANY PEOPLE HERE. THEY SAY HE HAD NOTHING TO GAIN AND SHOULD HAVE REMAINED DEFIANT.
THE TRIAL OF PKK LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN: 'WHAT'S AT STAKE' FOR TURKEY USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report 23 June 1999 -- The trial of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) chief Abdullah Ocalan on charges of treason against the Turkish state, which began on May 31 and is set to resume today on the prison island of Imrali after a brief recess, attracted the attention of European media along with a handful of observers from other regions. Some offered views on the proceedings themselves, and particularly Mr. Ocalan's "extraordinary" opening day testimony in which he asked that his life be spared so that be may "serve the Turkish state." Opinion in Turkey and elsewhere ranged from skepticism to puzzlement and even slight optimism over his offer to "bring down my men from the mountains" if the government agrees to negotiate "a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem." Meanwhile, papers in leading EU countries argued that the stakes are high for Turkey in this trial and that much--including Turkey's hoped-for membership in the EU--is riding on its outcome. Many pointedly observed that the Ocalan hearing is in fact "a litmus test" for the Turkish system of justice and democracy, and worried that the country will opt for short-sighted "revenge instead of the rule of law."
U-N / ETHIOPIA - ERITREA Voice of America 23 June 1999 -- THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS (WEDNESDAY) DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE IN FIGHTING BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA.
ZIMBABWE / CONGO Voice of America 23 June 1999 -- TALKS AIMED AT ENDING THE WAR IN CONGO-KINSHASA ARE SCHEDULED IN THE ZAMBIAN CAPITAL, LUSAKA, ON SATURDAY. BUT THE SUMMIT IS BEING VIEWED WITH SUSPICION BY SOME OF THE NATIONS INVOLVED.
OCALAN TRIAL / PREVIEW Voice of America 22 June 1999 -- THE TREASON TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN RESUMES WEDNESDAY ON A PRISON ISLAND SOUTH OF ISTANBUL.
AFGHAN FIGHTING Voice of America 22 June 1999 -- IN AFGHANISTAN, THE COMMANDER OF THE OPPOSITION FORCES HAS ACCUSED THE TALEBAN OF BOMBING THE MAIN OPPOSITION HEADQUARTERS NORTH OF KABUL TUESDAY. THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE LEADER TOLD A WESTERN NEWS AGENCY THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK.
EAST TIMOR Voice of America 22 June 1999 -- THE FIRST CONTINGENT OF UNITED NATIONS CIVILIAN POLICE OFFICERS TO ARRIVE IN EAST TIMOR HAS BEEN DEPLOYED ACROSS THE TERRITORY TO HELP PREPARE FOR A PLANNED REFERENDUM ON EAST TIMOR'S FUTURE STATUS. BUT THEIR MISSION BEGINS AMID GROWING CONCERN THAT THE LONG-AWAITED BALLOT WILL BE DELAYED DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS.
TIMOR VOTE POSTPONED Voice of America 22 June 1999 -- THE UNITED NATIONS IS POSTPONING THE SCHEDULED AUGUST EIGHTH VOTE ON THE FUTURE OF EAST TIMOR. UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS THERE WILL BE A BRIEF DELAY IN THE EAST TIMOR VOTE, BUT ADDS THAT THE BALLOT WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST.
NORTHERN IRELAND Voice of America 22 June 1999 -- A IRISH NATIONALIST CONVICTED OF TRYING TO KILL FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER HAS BEEN RELEASED EARLY FROM AN IRISH JAIL.
TURKEY CLASHES Voice of America 21 June 1999 -- TURKISH FORCES HAVE REPORTEDLY KILLED SEVEN KURDISH REBELS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY, WHILE SUSPECTED KURDISH REBELS HAVE ATTACKED THE HOME OF A LOCAL OFFICIAL IN THE REGION.
HAITI / U-S POLICY Voice of America 19 June 1999 -- CRITICS SAY THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY AND PROMOTE STABILITY IN HAITI HAVE FAILED, AND THAT A FAR-REACHING REASSESSMENT OF U-S POLICY IS IN ORDER.
EAST TIMOR / VIOLENCE Voice of America 18 June 1999 -- THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN EAST TIMOR SAYS IT HAS WITNESSED INDONESIAN SOLDIERS WORKING WITH A PRO-JAKARTA MILITIA GROUP USING VIOLENCE TO INTIMIDATE THOSE WHO SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE FOR THE TERRITORY.
U-N / RWANDA INQUIRY Voice of America 18 June 1999 -- AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO THE UNITED NATIONS' RESPONSE TO THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA FORMALLY BEGAN TODAY (FRIDAY) IN NEW YORK.
TURKEY / MILITARY COURT Voice of America 18 June 1999 -- THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY ON FRIDAY TO REMOVE MILITARY JUDGES FROM THE SPECIAL STATE SECURITY COURTS WHICH HANDLE "TERROR AND SECURITY" CRIMES.
WARRI / AFTERMATH Voice of America 14 June 1999 -- TEN DAYS AFTER VIOLENT ETHNIC CLASHES ENGULFED THE CITY OF WARRI, IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA, RESIDENTS ARE NOW ASSESSING THE DAMAGE AND SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO PREVENT ANOTHER FLARE-UP.
ISRAEL/MUNICH ATTACK Voice of America 13 June 1999 -- ISRAEL SAYS A PALESTINIAN WHO ORGANIZED AN ATTACK ON ISRAELI OLYMPIC ATHLETES 17-YEARS AGO WILL NOT BE ALLOWED BACK INTO THE COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN THE WEST BANK FROM TIME TO TIME FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
NIGERIA DELTA Voice of America 13 June 1999 -- NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO HAS APPEALED FOR COOPERATION AND PATIENCE FROM RIVAL ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE STRIFE-TORN NIGER RIVER DELTA. TOURING THE REGION ON FRIDAY MR. OBASANJO PAID AN EMOTIONAL VISIT TO THE CITY OF WARRI WHERE DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ETHNIC CLASHES OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. MR. OBASANJO'S FINAL STOP IN THE DELTA WHERE HE ALSO MET WITH LOCAL LEADERS.
U-N / EAST TIMOR Voice of America 11 June 1999 -- THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (FRIDAY) FORMALLY AUTHORIZED U-N INVOLVEMENT IN EAST TIMOR'S UPCOMING VOTE ON AUTONOMY.
TURKEY-KURDS Voice of America 11 June 1999 -- OFFICIALS FROM THE MAIN KURDISH POLITICAL FACTIONS BASED IN NORTHERN IRAQ ARE TO RESUME TALKS IN WASHINGTON. THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED UNDER U-S AUSPICES LAST SEPTEMBER. THIS IS AN INTERVIEW OF THE LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY DELEGATION, SAMI ABDURRAHMAN
SAF/TREASON Voice of America 11 June 1999 -- SOUTH AFRICA MAY BE PREPARING FOR ITS FIRST TREASON TRIAL SINCE THE END OF THE APARTHEID ERA. IT COULD PROVE AN EMBARRASSING AFFAIR FOR THE MAN CONSIDERED LIKELY TO BECOME THE COUNTRY'S NEXT DEPUTY PRESIDENT.
ETHIOPIA / ERITREA Voice of America11 June 1999 -- IN EAST AFRICA, FIGHTING BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA CONTINUED FRIDAY FOR A SECOND DAY. THE HOSTILITIES COME AFTER A BRIEF LULL IN THE YEAR-LONG WAR, WHICH HAS CLAIMED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES.
SRI LANKA / FIGHTING Voice of America 10 June 1999 -- MORE THAN 60 TAMIL TIGER REBELS AND GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN FIGHTING IN NORTHERN SRI LANKA.
RICE DOES NOT RULE OUT U.S. ROLE IN CONGO PEACEKEEPING PHASE USIA 10 June 1999 -- Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Susan Rice has not ruled out the possibility of U.S. involvement in a peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC) once a diplomatic settlement is reached in the civil war that has embroiled nine African nations in the region.
NIGERIA/CLASHES UPDATE Voice of America 09 June 1999 -- AFTER MORE THAN 10 DAYS OF VIOLENCE, CALM HAS REPORTEDLY RETURNED TO THE CITY OF WARRI, IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA.
TURKEY TRIAL / KURDS Voice of America 08 June 1999 -- THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN RESUMED TUESDAY. PROSECUTORS PRESENTED THEIR FINAL ARGUMENTS AND DEMANDED THE DEATH PENALTY. JUDGES SUBSEQUENTLY GRANTED A 15-DAY ADJOURNMENT AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEFENSE.
TURKEY OCALAN Voice of America 08 June 1999 -- TURKISH PROSECUTORS DEMANDED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN, WHO IS STANDING TRIAL ON CHARGES OF TREASON. THE COURT THEN ADJOURNED FOR 15 DAYS TO PERMIT MR. OCALAN'S LAWYERS TO PREPARE THEIR FINAL DEFENSE ARGUMENTS.
CONGO REBELS Voice of America 08 June 1999 -- REBELS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ARE CLAIMING NEW GAINS IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY. THE NEWS COMES AMID FRESH REPORTS OF BOMBINGS BY GOVERNMENT-ALLIED AIRCRAFT IN NORTHERN CONGO- KINSHASA.
TEXT: RICE BRIEFS SENATE AFRICA SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONGO WAR USIA 08 June 1999 -- Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Susan E. Rice June 8 told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on African Affairs that the current conflict in the Congo is "the widest interstate war in Africa in modern history."
TEXT: SENATOR BROWNBACK URGES END TO SUDANESE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES USIA 08 June 1999 -- Senator Sam Brownback, a key figure on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a strong critic of the Sudanese government, issued the following press release June 8, following his return from a visit to southern Sudan:
TURKEY-KURDS Voice of America 07 June 1999 -- TURKEY'S MILITARY REJECTS CLAIMS THAT SOME OF ITS OFFICIALS MET WITH KURDISH REBELS TO BROKER A CEASE-FIRE. THE TURKISH GENERAL STAFF SAYS IT REMAINS DETERMINED AS EVER TO KEEP UP ITS BATTLE AGAINST THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY WHICH IS BANNED IN TURKEY.
EGYPT ISLAMIC PARTY Voice of America 07 June 1999 -- THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REJECTED THE LATEST BID BY A GROUP OF MODERATE ISLAMISTS TO ESTABLISH A POLITICAL PARTY. MEMBERS OF THE WOULD-BE EGYPTIAN "WASAT" PARTY SAY THEY WILL KEEP TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL SCENE.
CONGO-SUMMIT Voice of America 07 June 1999 -- THE THREE SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES SUPPORTING CONGO-KINSHASA PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA HAVE REJECTED RWANDA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE, CALLING IT A GIMMICK AND WARNING THAT THE WAR WILL CONTINUE.
U.N. LOOKING TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT OF SANCTIONS AGAINST UNITA USIA 07 June 1999 -- The chairman of the Security Council's Angola Sanctions Committee has recommended that U.N. monitors be sent to southern Africa in an effort to stop the sanctions busting that is supplying UNITA with arms and petroleum in its war against the Angolan government.
EAST TIMOR / PREPARATIONS Voice of America 06 June 1999 --INDONESIAN POLICE HAVE TAKEN OVER SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS IN EAST TIMOR, IN ADVANCE OF A BALLOT ON THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE IN AUGUST. EAST TIMORESE WILL ALSO VOTE IN INDONESIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS, MONDAY.
NIGERIA ETHNIC CLASHES Voice of America 06 June 1999 -- ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA HAS CLAIMED MORE LIVES OVER THE WEEK-END. THESE LATEST CLASHES BRING THE WEEK'S DEATH TOLL IN THE AREA TO MORE THAN 200.
ALGERIA CEASEFIRE Voice of America 06 June 1999 -- THE MAIN REBEL GROUP IN ALGERIA SAYS IT HAS DECIDED TO END ITS ARMED ANTI-GOVERNMENT STRUGGLE AND THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL OFFER AMNESTY TO REBELS WHO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS.
SUDAN/CONGO Voice of America 05 June 1999 -- REBELS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO HAVE ACCUSED SUDAN (SATURDAY) OF AIDING AN AIR RAID AGAINST TERRITORY THEY CONTROL -- KILLING AT LEAST 24 PEOPLE AND WOUNDING 19 OTHERS. SUDAN INSISTS IT IS NOT GIVING DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT IN CONGO-KINSHASA IN ITS TEN-MONTH-OLD CIVIL WAR.
ALGERIA-MASSACRE Voice of America 05 June 1999 -- THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS SUSPECTED MUSLIM MILITANTS KILLED 19 CIVILIANS AND WOUNDED FOUR OTHERS -- IN THE WORST WAVE OF VIOLENCE SINCE THE COUNTRY'S NEW PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED IN APRIL.
Background Questions and Answers Regarding East Timor Issues Department of Foreign Affairs Indonesia 04 June 1999 -- In August 1975, the colonial authorities in Dili, in a most irresponsible manner, simply packed up and left East Timor, after allowing the situation in the territory to deteriorate to the point of civil war. Portugal was, in fact, guilty of practically instigating civil war by secretly turning over its arms andammunition to one particular minority group, FRETILIN.
TURKEY / TRIAL Voice of America 04 June 1999 -- THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS BEEN ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY (6/8) TO ALLOW PROSECUTION LAWYERS TO PREPARE THEIR FINAL ARGUMENTS. FRIDAY'S SESSION WAS DISRUPTED BY AN OUTBURST FROM FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE REBEL ATTACKS.
ALGERIA / MILITANTS Voice of America 04 June 1999 -- ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA IS EXPECTED TO SET OUT CONDITIONS FOR REACHING AN ACCORD WITH THE ISLAMIC SALVATION ARMY. THE A-I-S, ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MAIN MILITANT FACTIONS, HAS RECENTLY SIGNALED ITS OWN WILLINGNESS TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS Voice of America 03 June 1999 -- IN TURKEY, LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AKIN BIRDAL HAS GONE TO PRISON FOR SPEECHES IN WHICH HE MENTIONED THE KURDISH REBELLION IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY. MR. BIRDAL HAD APPEALED FOR A DELAY OF THE SENTENCE BUT THAT REQUEST WAS TURNED DOWN AT THE LAST MINUTE.
CONGO BOMBING Voice of America 02 June 1999 -- REBELS FIGHTING TO OUST CONGO-KINSHASA PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA SAY A GOVERNMENT PLANE HAS BOMBED TWO TOWNS IN THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY. THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL.
INDONESIA ELECTION / EAST TIMOR Voice of America 02 June 1999 -- ASIA'S LARGEST PRIVATE ELECTION MONITORING GROUP SAYS A SMOOTH GENERAL ELECTION IN EAST TIMOR IS ESSENTIAL, IF THERE IS TO BE A FAIR AUTONOMY REFERENDUM IN THE TROUBLED TERRITORY IN AUGUST. INDONESIA ENTERS ITS LAST DAYS OF ELECTION CAMPAIGNING.
NIGERIA / ETHNIC CLASH Voice of America 02 June 1999 -- NIGERIA HAS SENT MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS TO THE VOLATILE NIGER RIVER DELTA AREA, FOLLOWING SEVERAL DAYS OF DEADLY CLASHES BETWEEN RIVAL ETHNIC GROUPS. REPORTS FROM THE CITY OF WARRI, SOUTHEAST OF LAGOS, SAY MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE FIGHTING.
LANKA / TAMIL TIGERS Voice of America 02 June 1999 -- SRI LANKA'S TAMIL TIGER REBELS HAVE DENIED MEDIA REPORTS OF A PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIAN CONGRESS PARTY, SONIA GANDHI.
OCALAN TRIAL Voice of America 02 June 1999 -- KURDISH REBELS SAY THEY ENDORSE PEACE CALLS MADE BY THEIR LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN, WHO IS ON TRIAL FOR TREASON ON A SMALL TURKISH PRISON ISLAND IN THE SEA OF MARMARA. THE REBELS MADE CLEAR THEY WILL NOT SURRENDER THEIR ARMS UNLESS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENTS AGREES TO THEIR DEMANDS FOR POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS.
FRANCE TERROR Voice of America 01 June 1999 -- TWENTY-FOUR PEOPLE, DESCRIBED BY PROSECUTORS AS ALGERIAN ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS, WENT ON TRIAL IN PARIS TUESDAY FOR THEIR ALLEGED ROLE IN BOMB ATTACKS IN FRANCE FOUR YEARS AGO. THE ATTACKS LEFT 12 PEOPLE DEAD AND DOZENS MORE WOUNDED.
ISRAEL/LEBANON Voice of America 01 June 1999 -- UNDER FIRE FROM HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS, ISRAEL'S SOUTH LEBANON ARMY MILITIA ALLY, THE S-L-A, HAS BEGUN WITHDRAWING FROM THE CHRISTIAN ENCLAVE OF JEZZINE, NORTH OF THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION ZONE.
LANKA / AMNESTY Voice of America 01 June 1999 -- HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHDOG AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS THERE ARE ALMOST DAILY REPORTS OF TORTURE IN THE ARMED CONFLICT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT SECURITY FORCES AND TAMIL TIGER REBELS IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST.
OCALAN NEWSMAKER Voice of America 01 June 1999 -- KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN WENT ON TRIAL TODAY (ED'S: MONDAY) ON AN ISLAND PRISON OFF THE COAST OF TURKEY. THE REBEL CAREER OF A MAN REVERED BY MANY KURDS AS THE FOUNDER OF THEIR AUTONOMY MOVEMENT AND BY MANY TURKS, AS A RUTHLESS TERRORIST. THIS IS A PROFILE OF THE KURDISH LEADER.
TURKEY TRIAL TUESDAY Voice of America 01 June 1999 -- KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS QUESTIONED AT LENGTH BY TURKISH LAWYERS ON TUESDAY ABOUT SUPPORT FOR HIS ORGANIZATION AND ALLEGATIONS OF MURDER AND DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE QUESTIONING CAME DURING THE SECOND DAY OF HIS TREASON TRIAL
RICE SAYS U.S. HAS ENDED MOST ASSISTANCE TO ETHIOPIA, ERITREA USIA 01 June 1999 -- Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Susan Rice May 25 told the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa that the U.S. government would use its "good offices" to help bring an end to the bloody Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, but its offer does not include financial assistance to either party for now.