DATE=9/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR / VIOLENCE (L)
NUMBER=2-253359
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=DILI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In East Timor, the United Nations mission to
the territory has released a message from the U-N
secretary general, condemning the violence that took
place on Wednesday outside U-N headquarters in the
capital, Dili. At least two people were killed in
clashes between pro-Indonesian militia members and
independence supporters, just days after the U-N-
supervised autonomy referendum on East Timor's
political future. As Patricia Nunan reports, the U-N
is repeating its long-standing call for Indonesian
authorities to do more to ensure security in the
territory.
TEXT: The head of the United Nations mission in East
Timor, Ian Martin, read a statement from the U-N
Secretary General, Koffi Annan, condemning the
violence.
//MARTIN ACT//
The Secretary General calls on the Indonesian police
to arrest those responsible for the violence and take
immediate steps to ensure it does not happen again.
He urges the Indonesian authorities to take firm
action to control arms groups and reminds them of
their responsibility to protect all UNAMET staff, both
international and local.
//END ACT//
Clashes broke out on Wednesday in front of the U-N
headquarters in Dili, forcing some two hundred people
to seek shelter inside the compound.
Witnesses say the violence started after a minor
disagreement between a member of a pro-Indonesian
militia and an independence supporter.
Members of the militias, armed with automatic rifles,
machetes and Molotov cocktails then set fire to a
house, sparking clashes with independence supporters.
The militia groups are fighting to keep East Timor a
part of Indonesia. The Indonesian government has
promised to clamp down on the militias which human
rights officials says are responsible for scores of
deaths in recent months and a climate of fear in East
Timor.
Mr. Martin also called upon leaders of both militia
groups and the independence movement to honor an
agreement, signed earlier in the week, in which the
factions pledged not to carry weapons.
//MARTIN ACT//
They've made clear that that action has not been
taken. I call again for those commitments to be
fulfilled, because it is clear that it is only by
preventing armed groups from continuing to move around
and terrorize others in Dili and elsewhere in East
Timor that security can be restored.
//END ACT//
The violence came just three days after the U-N
supervised the holding of an autonomy referendum on
East Timor's political future. U-N officials say
voting day itself was largely successful, with almost
99 percent of registered voters casting ballots.
The vote is intended to end more than two decades of
fighting in East Timor, by allowing the people to
choose whether the territory should remain apart of
Indonesia or push for full independence. (Signed)
NEB/PN/GC/FC
02-Sep-1999 06:10 AM LOC (02-Sep-1999 1010 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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