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DATE=4/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248781
TITLE=TIMOR THREATS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS AND THE DIPLOMATS SAY THEY ARE 
CONCERNED ABOUT A THREAT IN EAST TIMOR BY A PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA
GROUP, WHICH REPORTEDLY SAYS IT IS PLANNING TO ATTACK THE EAST 
TIMORESE CAPITAL OF DILI ON FRIDAY.   PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS FROM
JAKARTA, THE GROUP  IS SAID TO HAVE THREATENED TO KILL EVERY MAN,
WOMAN AND CHILD WHO SUPPORTS INDEPENDENCE FOR THE DISPUTED 
TERRITORY. 
TEXT:  FEW PEOPLE HAD HEARD OF THE "RED BLOOD" MILITIA BEFORE 
THURSDAY.  A LEADER OF A MAJOR PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA, "RED AND 
WHITE IRON" SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW THE WHO IS IN THE GROUP. 
NEVERTHELESS, THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
AND DIPLOMATS IN THE INDONESIAN CAPITAL JAKARTA, SAY THEY ARE 
CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL VIOLENCE.  
EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE LEADER MANUEAL CARRASCALAO FLED THE 
TERRITORY ON THURSDAY.  OTHER INDEPENDENCE ACTIVISTS ARE SAID TO 
BE IN HIDING.  MR. CARRASCALAO'S IS REPORTEDLY AMONG SEVERAL 
INDEPENDENCE LEADERS IDENTIFIED AS TARGETS FOR ASSASSINATION.  
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, MR. CARRASCALAO'S TEENAGE SON WAS KILLED IN 
AN ATTACK ON HIS HOME BY THE "RED AND WHITE IRON" MILITIA GROUP.
ACCORDING TO  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, THE   RED BLOOD MILITIA SAID
THURSDAY  IT PLANS TO EVACUATE EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS INTEGRATION 
WITH INDONESIA FROM THE EAST TIMORESE CAPITAL ON FRIDAY EVENING. 
THE GROUP SAID IT WOULD  "EXTERMINATE" THE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND -- 
ALL OF WHOM , ACCORDING TO THE THREAT, WOULD BE SUPPORTERS OF 
EAST TIMOR'S INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT. 
THE THREAT OF THE MAY 1ST ATTACK COMES AS OTHER PRO-INDONESIA 
GROUPS SAY THEY WILL REFUSE TO ACCEPT A UNITED NATIONS PLAN TO 
SEND AN INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN POLICE FORCE INTO THE DISPUTED 
TERRITORY. 
INDONESIAN PRESIDENT B-J HABIBI  EARLIER THIS WEEK ENDORSED THE 
IDEA OF A POLICE FORCE TO HELP COORDINATE A BALLOT ON EAST TIMOR'
FUTURE STATUS.  
IN AUGUST, THE EAST TIMORESE WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT A 
GOVERNMENT OFFER OF AUTONOMY FOR THE TERRITORY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW
EAST TIMOR SOME SPECIAL RIGHTS WHILE REMAINING PART OF INDONESIA.
IF VOTERS REJECT THE OFFER, EAST TIMOR WILL MOVE TOWARDS BECOMING
AN INDEPENDENT NATION. 
THE PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA GROUPS HAVE INTENSIFIED VIOLENCE 
AGAINST INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTERS IN EAST TIMOR SINCE JANUARY, WHEN
THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT MAY GRANT THE DISPUTED 
TERRITORY FULL INDEPENDENCE LATER THIS YEAR.  
A CIVIL WAR HAS BEEN FOUGHT IN EAST TIMOR SINCE 1975, WHEN THE 
INDONESIAN MILITARY INVADED THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/PN/FC 
30-Apr-99 3:16 AM EDT (0716 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.