DATE=7/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251905
TITLE=ACEH-EAST TIMOR / WRAP (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN INDONESIA'S NORTHERN PROVINCE OF ACEH, GUERRILLA
SEPARATISTS ARE SUSPECTED OF KILLING THREE GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS
AND INJURING 10 OTHERS IN A GUN BATTLE EARLY MONDAY. IT IS THE
LATEST INCIDENT IN A WAVE OF VIOLENCE IN ACEH. MEANWHILE IN EAST
TIMOR -- ANOTHER INDEPENDENCE-SEEKING PROVINCE IN INDONESIA --
U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH THE WAY VOTER
REGISTRATION FOR AN AUTONOMY REFERENDUM IS PROCEEDING -- DESPITE
SOME INTIMIDATION TACTICS. PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS FROM JAKARTA.
TEXT: LOCAL HEALTH WORKERS SAY AN INDONESIAN ARMY PATROL WAS
CAUGHT IN AN AMBUSH BY SUSPECTED REBELS, 60 KILOMETERS WEST OF
ACEH'S REGIONAL CAPITAL, LHOUKSEUMAOWE. INDONESIAN
AUTHORITIES SAY THE REBELS RETREATED INTO THE JUNGLE AFTER THE
DEADLY SKIRMISH.
AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN ACEH IN A WEEK OF CLASHES BETWEEN
THE INDONESIAN MILITARY AND SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS. // OPT //
THE GOVERNMENT BLAMES THE REBELS FOR THE PROVOCATIONS.
SEPARATIST LEADERS SAY THE INDONESIAN MILITARY IS CARRYING OUT
THE ATTACKS IN ORDER TO DISCREDIT THE "FREE ACEH MOVEMENT." //
END OPT //
MONTHS OF VIOLENCE IN ACEH HAVE PROMPTED MORE THAN 82 THOUSAND
PEOPLE TO FLEE THEIR VILLAGES FOR THE SAFETY OF MOSQUES, REFUGEE
CAMPS AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS BLAME THE INDONESIAN MILITARY FOR MORE THAN
TWO-THOUSAND DEATHS AND DISAPPEARANCES IN ACEH SINCE IT
UNDERTOOK A MISSION TO CRUSH A SEPARATIST REBELLION IN 1989.
THEY SAY THE MILITARY'S MISTREATMENT OF CIVILIANS HAS FUELED
CALLS FOR ACEH'S INDEPENDENCE.
MEANWHILE IN THE DISPUTED TERRITORY OF EAST TIMOR, UNITED NATIONS
OFFICIALS SAY PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA GROUPS ARE USING THREATS AND
INTIMIDATION IN AN EFFORT TO DISRUPT VOTER REGISTRATION FOR NEXT
MONTH'S AUTONOMY REFERENDUM.
BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE LARGELY PLEASED WITH THE WAY VOTER
REGISTRATION HAS BEEN PROCEEDING SINCE IT OPENED ON FRIDAY.
// OPT // THE U-N SUPERVISED AUTONOMY REFERENDUM IS INTENDED TO
END MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF BLOODSHED IN EAST TIMOR BY ASKING
THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE IF THE TERRITORY SHOULD REMAIN A PART OF
INDONESIA UNDER A WIDE-RANGING AUTONOMY PLAN, OR PUSH FOR FULL
INDEPENDENCE. // END OPT //
ATTACKS AND THREATS BY PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA GROUPS ALREADY
PROMPTED THE UNITED NATIONS TO DELAY VOTER REGISTRATION BY THREE
DAYS AND THE AUTONOMY REFERENDUM ITSELF BY TWO WEEKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/GC/JO/PLM
17-Jul-99 6:26 AM EDT (1026 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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