DATE=8/23/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - E. TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253025
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=DILI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: United Nations officials in East Timor are
accusing pro-Indonesia militia groups of stepping
up a campaign of terror and intimidation in the
disputed territory. Patricia Nunan reports from
the East Timorese capital, Dili, the comments
come as East Timor's political campaign moves
into its last week.
Text: U-N spokesman David Wimhurst says the pro-
Indonesia militia groups are trying to intimidate
people so they will not vote in the UN-supervised
autonomy referendum next Monday. Mr. Wimhurst
says it is clear that in the past two weeks there
has been an upsurge in militia activity.
The United Nations is in East Timor to hold a
special autonomy referendum on the territory's
political future. The vote is part of a plan to
bring peace between East Timor's independence
faction and the pro-Indonesia militia groups --
which are fighting to keep the territory a part
of Indonesia.
The Indonesian military denies that the militias
are continuing to receive support from the
military. But military officials in East Timor
warned on Monday that more bloodshed was likely
to break out after the vote. They say neither the
pro-Indonesia groups nor the independence faction
is ready to accept defeat if the autonomy
referendum.
The East Timorese people will vote on whether to
accept an Indonesian government offer of wide-
ranging autonomy for territory, but it would
remain part of Indonesia. If they reject that
plan, E. Timor would move towards becoming an
independent nation.
Indonesian troops have occupied East Timor since
1975, when they launched an invasion to take over
the former Portuguese colony. The military has
been fighting against a guerrilla independence
movement in East Timor ever since.
Meanwhile, the head of the Indonesian Armed
Forces, General Wiranto, has given a green light
for an increase in the number of civilian police
in the territory.
U-N officials say the present 260 civilian police
officers will be reinforced with about 180 more. A U-N
military liaison group will also be increased from 50
to 300 officers.
NEB/MPN/FC/PLM
23-Aug-1999 06:24 AM EDT (23-Aug-1999 1024 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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