DATE=9/8/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR SITREP (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253585
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Thousands of refugees have begun
streaming out of East Timor, to flee violence by
armed militia groups rampaging throughout the
territory. As Patricia Nunan reports from
Jakarta, international relief workers say the
refugees now face food and water shortages and
continued terror by pro-Indonesia militiamen.
TEXT: Officials from the International Committee
of the Red Cross say refugees are streaming into
West Timor at a rate of about 3000 people per
hour. The United Nations says it believes that
up to one-third of East Timor's 800 thousand
people may eventually be forced to leave, by
armed militias intending to overturn the results
of the UN-supervised autonomy referendum held
last week.
Almost 79 percent of East Timorese voters decided
the territory should separate from Indonesia in
the UN-supervised ballot. Soon after the results
were announced, armed militias which oppose East
Timor's independence began rampaging throughout
the territory. Hundreds of people are believed
to have been killed. Thousands more are reported
to have been rounded up and forced to leave East
Timor.
In Kupang, the capital West Timor, the pro-
Jakarta militias are reportedly targeting aid
workers and foreign journalists who are there to
witness the influx of refugees. Aid workers say
armed militias can be seen in refugee camps along
the West Timor border, but so far no violence has
been reported.
Violence continues to rock the East Timorese
capital of Dili, with fires burning just 40
meters away from the headquarters of the United
Nations. About 400 U-N staff members and one
thousand refugees have been trapped inside the
compound since the militias took over Dili last
weekend. But U-N officials in Dili are denying
reports that they have asked to be evacuated from
East Timor.
The Indonesian government declared martial law in
East Timor at midnight on Tuesday, in an effort
to bring calm to East Timor. But U-N officials
say the Indonesian military is participating in
the violence. They say some soldiers have
changed out of uniform, in order to join the
militias, and later have been seen changing back
into uniform again.
The allegations were echoed by residents earlier
in the week, who said Indonesian soldiers
assisted militia-men when they attacked the home
of East Timorese spiritual leader Bishop Carlos
Belo, killing at least 39 people. Bishop Belo
escaped without injury. Soldiers are also
reported to be looting the city.
Meanwhile in the Indonesian capital Jakarta,
protests were held outside the Ministry of
Defense and the United States embassy to call for
action to be taken in East Timor.
NEB/MPN/FC/KL
08-Sep-1999 07:23 AM EDT (08-Sep-1999 1123 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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