DATE=9/5/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=E. TIMOR VIOLENCE (L-O)
NUMBER=2-253488
BYLINE=LISA WEAVER
DATELINE=JAKARTA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A day after the people of East Timor voted to
reject remaining a part of Indonesia, the fighting
continues as militias allied to Indonesia's military
wage a campaign of terror that is escalating rapidly.
Lisa Rose Weaver reports from Jakarta.
TEXT: Late Sunday there were reports pro-Jakarta
militia had opened fire around groups of people taking
refuge in various places in Dili, East Timor's
capital. More than 15-hundred people were inside the
headquarters of the U-N mission as pro-Jakarta
militia's fired tracer bullets overhead.
Militia's also opened fire around the Australian
consulate late Sunday. Witnesses reported they had
seen East Timorese being forced to cross the border by
land into West Timor or taken at gunpoint to the ferry
for Kupang, the capital of West Timor.
Violence unleashed by militias had escalated sharply
throughout the day.
//// ACT CHURCH SERVICE ///
A dawn Catholic service relieved some of the tension
from the previous night of automatic gunfire
throughout the East Timorese capital. Residents in
one neighborhood said they believed 10-people might
have been killed.
About 500 people are taking refuge in this cathedral,
only one of several places that have received
thousands fleeing from the militias.
/// ACT MAN ///
One man despairs the terror campaign has jeopardized
their hope the referendum and the independence it
promised would bring peace to East Timor. He says as
long as Indonesia stays in East Timor, the violence
will stay. He added he is not confident the arrival
of Armed Forces Chief General Wiranto will calm the
militias.
The general has said he would recognize the outcome of
the ballot, even if it leads to independence.
By mid-day thousands of people flooded toward the
ferry pier as columns of smoke spiraled on the
horizon. Militia, with the cooperation of Indonesian
troops and police ruled the streets of the capital.
As the level of intimidation by pro-Indonesia
supporters mounted for the second day, most of the
remaining foreign journalists chartered flights out of
the territory -- reducing the chances for the
militias' activities to be reported. (SIGNED)
NEB/LRW/RAE
05-Sep-1999 14:27 PM LOC (05-Sep-1999 1827 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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