Military

DATE=6/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250804
TITLE=EAST TIMOR / VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: 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.  AS PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS FROM JAKARTA, THE 
UNITED NATIONS  SAYS THE VIOLENCE COULD POSE AN OBSTACLE TO THE 
SUCCESSFUL HOLDING OF A  REFERENDUM ON THE TERRITORY'S POLITICAL 
FUTURE PLANNED FOR AUGUST. 
TEXT:  U-N  MISSION CHIEF IAN MARTIN (FRIDAY) SAYS THE MILITIA 
GROUP -- ARMED WITH MACHETES  -- LOOTED HOUSES IN LEOTELA 
VILLAGE, 20 MILES WEST OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL DILI,  THEN SET 
THEM ON FIRE. THE MILITIA ALSO ASSAULTED AN OLD MAN.
THE UNITED NATIONS IDENTIFIED THE GROUP AS "BESIH MERAH PUTIH" OR
"RED AND WHITE  IRON" -- ONE OF SEVERAL PRO-JAKARTA MILITIAS 
FIGHTING TO KEEP EAST TIMOR PART OF INDONESIA.
VIOLENT ATTACKS BY THE PRO-INDONESIA MILITIAS HAVE RISEN SINCE 
JANUARY,  WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT WOULD CONSIDER 
GRANTING EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE -- IF THE PEOPLE REJECT A 
SPECIAL AUTONOMY PLAN ALLOWING THE TERRITORY TO REMAIN UNDER 
INDONESIAN SOVEREIGNTY .
A REFERENDUM ON THE FATE OF EAST TIMOR WILL  BE HELD ON AUGUST 
EIGHTH. THE PLAN COULD BRING AN END TO MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF 
BLOODSHED IN TERRITORY --  WHICH BEGAN WHEN THE INDONESIAN 
MILITARY INVADED THE FORMER  PORTUGUESE COLONY IN 1975. 
MR. MARTIN SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS WILL TAKE ITS  REPORT OF THE 
INCIDENTS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE INDONESIAN MILITARY.  HE 
SAYS ANY DECISION ABOUT DELAYING THE REFERENDUM DUE TO SECURITY 
CONCERNS WOULD BE MADE AT U-N HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK.(SIGNED)
NEB/PN/GC/JO
18-Jun-99 5:53 AM EDT (0953 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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