DATE=8/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=E.TIMOR VIOLENCE (L-O)
NUMBER=2-252892
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A pro-Indonesia militia group in East Timor
launched an attack (Wednesday) on a student center.
As Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, the attack was
apparently intended to disrupt the political
campaigning for the U-N supervised autonomy referendum
to be held August 30th.
Text: U-N officials confirm a militia group attacked
and destroyed a student center outside the town of
Maliana. The incident took place early in the day,
and groups of militiamen were still roaming the city
when U-N officials arrived after midday. No further
incidents were reported.
Witnesses say at least four people suffered stab
wounds in the attack by the miltia group -- which is
fighting to keep East Timor a part of Indonesia.
Residents say dozens of people ran into a nearby
forest to escape the militia violence. Others sought
protection in a U-N compound.
The attack comes as East Timor's political campaign is
in full swing before the August 30th autonomy
referendum on the territory's future political status.
The East Timorese people will vote on whether to
accept an Indonesian government offer of wide-ranging
autonomy for the territory. If they reject that plan,
the government says it will consider granting East
Timor independence.
The plan is intended to bring peace to East Timor
after more than two-decades of fighting between the
Indonesian military and a guerrilla independence
movement.
Human rights officials say they are growing
increasingly concerned about incidents of violence and
intimidation during the campaign. A report released
this week by the International Federation for East
Timor accuses the Indonesian government of tacitly
encouraging violence during the campaign, by failing
to rein in the militia groups.
The group says the lack of security could affect the
credibility of the ballot itself. The Indonesian
government pledged to maintain security in East Timor
when it agreed last May to hold the U-N supervised
referendum. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/FC/RAE
18-Aug-1999 07:51 AM LOC (18-Aug-1999 1151 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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