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DATE=4/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248184
TITLE=EAST TIMOR/PARAMILITARIES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIAN AND 
PACIFIC AFFAIRS, STANLEY ROTH, SAYS (FRIDAY) THAT INDONESIA MUST 
ENSURE THAT PARAMILITARY GROUPS OPERATING IN EAST TIMOR DO NOT 
COMMIT ANYMORE ACTS OF VIOLENCE. FROM JAKARTA, JENNY GRANT 
REPORTS THAT EAST TIMORESE ARE FLEEING FROM THE TERRITORY FEARING
THE GROWING LEVELS OF VIOLENCE.
TEXT: MR. ROTH SAYS THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN EAST TIMOR ARE 
ARMED, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT WHO IS PROVIDING THE GUNS.
HE SAYS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CLAIM IT IS  NOT  AN OFFICIAL POLICY
TO ISSUE WEAPONS TO THE PARAMILITARIES, WHO HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF
TOWNS ACROSS THE WESTERN PART OF THE TERRITORY.
AFTER A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT B-J HABIBIE, MR. ROTH SAID WHILE 
EAST TIMOR IS UNDER THE SOVEREIGNTY OF INDONESIA, THE GOVERNMENT 
MUST STOP THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY THE MILITIA GROUPS.
                           // ACT ROTH //
         I HAVE EMPHASIZED IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICIALS THAT 
         INDONESIA ASSERTS CORRECTLY THAT IT HAS THE OBLIGATION 
         TO PROVIDE SECURITY TO EAST TIMOR WHILE IT IS PART OF 
         INDONESIA AND THAT, THEREFORE, PART OF THAT IS 
         OBLIGATION IS TO ENSURE THAT PARAMILITARY GROUPS DO NOT 
         COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE OR KILL OR INTIMIDATE PEOPLE. IT
         IS THEIR OBLIGATION TO SEE THAT THIS CEASES.
                           // ACT ENDS//
PARAMILITARY MEMBERS TOLD V-O-A RECENTLY THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING
FUNDS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THE PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT BUDGET.
MANY PARAMILITARIES USE MILITARY PLACES AND POLICE STATIONS TO 
REST, AND THE MILITARY CARRIES MILITIA CHIEFS AROUND EAST TIMOR 
IN THEIR HELICOPTERS.
THE MILITARY HAS ADMITTED PROVIDING SOME ARMS TO CERTAIN MILITIA 
GROUPS, KNOWN AS PEOPLES RESISTANCE UNITS. HOWEVER, IT CLAIMS IT 
IS  NOT  ARMING THE RADICAL MILITIAS, WHO ARE NOW CREATING FEAR 
IN EAST TIMOR.
MR ROTH SAYS RESISTANCE LEADER XANANA GUSMAO IS EAGER FOR HIS 
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TIMORESE RESISTANCE TO BE INVOLVED WITH A NEW
PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL -- TO BE SET UP BY THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HUMAN 
RIGHTS -- WILL TRY TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THE CONFLICTING PARTIES.
DOZENS OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE EAST TIMORESE HAVE FLED EAST TIMOR 
THIS WEEK, FEARING THEY WILL BE ATTACKED BY THE PRO-JAKARTA 
PARAMILITARIES.
PARAMILITARY GROUPS PLAN TO STAGE A SHOW OF FORCE IN THE CAPITAL,
DILI, ON SATURDAY.
BUT RESIDENTS SAY THE PARAMILITARIES ARE INTIMIDATING THEM INTO 
HOISTING THE RED AND WHITE INDONESIAN FLAGS FOR THE EVENT.
MANY ACTIVISTS AND PRO-INDEPENDENCE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN SAFE 
HOUSES, AND THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF EAST TIMOR ARE NOW 
LOOKING TO TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA OR PORTUGAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/LTD/GE
16-Apr-99 8:04 AM EDT (1204 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.