DATE=9/7/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR - MARTIAL LAW (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253532
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Indonesian military has imposed martial
law in East Timor, after armed militia groups spent
days rampaging through the territory, killing hundreds
and forcing thousands out of their homes. But as
Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, the military has
been accused of aiding the militia groups.
Text: The Indonesian military says it declared martial
law in East Timor at midnight on Tuesday -- and the
order was backed up by a Presidential decree. All
power belonging to the civilian administration has
been passed to the military, which has the authority
to arrest anyone suspected of creating disturbances.
The move comes after East Timor spiraled into violence
in the days following a special autonomy referendum,
supervised by the United Nations.
Armed militia groups -- which are fighting against
East Timor's separation from Indonesia -- rioted
throughout the territory. Hundreds of people are
believed to have been killed, and thousands forced
from their homes.
But some witnesses say the military has been
participating in the campaign of terror. The witnesses
report that Indonesian soldiers escorted militia
members during an attack on refugees taking shelter at
the home of Nobel Laureate Bishop Carlos Belo. At
least 39 people were killed in the incident. The house
was burned to the ground, but Bishop Belo was not
injured.
Journalists in the East Timorese capital Dili report
that the military has done little to stop the militias
from taking control of the city. Militia members could
be seen crossing police lines with impunity.
In the worsening violence, militia men are reported to
have rounded up roughly two thousand people who had
taken shelter at the International
Committee of the Red Cross headquarters. Their
whereabouts are now unknown.
Some 25-hundred refugees continue to take shelter at
the headquarters of the United Nations, where sporadic
gunfire can still be heard.
Seventy eight and one half percent of voters decided
East Timor should separate from Indonesia, in the
August 30th autonomy referendum supervised by the
United Nations. Attacks by the militias began almost
immediately after the vote, with at least four U-N
staff members killed and six more left unaccounted for
-- forcing the U-N to evacuate from two towns.
The U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan warned that if
the Indonesian government did not take steps to
restore order in East Timor, the international
community would consider what measures it could take
to stop the chaos. (Signed)
NEB/PN/GC/PLM
07-Sep-1999 00:54 AM EDT (07-Sep-1999 0454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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