DATE=9/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANNAN - TIMOR (L)
NUMBER=2-253708
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: At the United Nations (today/Friday) Secretary-
General Kofi Annan strongly urged Indonesia to accept
an international peacekeeping force to stop what he
calls East Timor's descent "into anarchy" following
the territory's August referendum on independence.
Correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports from New York.
TEXT: Mr. Annan says the time has come for Indonesian
President B-J Habibie to admit his government cannot
fulfill its responsibility to keep law and order in
East Timor.
Mr. Annan says even the introduction of martial law
has not stopped anti-independence militias from
looting, burning and killing.
//// ANNAN ACT ////
Before the eyes of the world, the people of East
Timor are being terrorized and massacred because
they exercised their right of self-determination
in a ballot organized by the United Nations
under an agreement reached, with my help,
between Portugal, the former colonial power, and
Indonesia, the currently occupying power.
/// END ACT ////
Repeated threats have forced the United Nations to
close 12 of its 13 regional centers in East Timor and
withdraw most of its staff. Mr. Annan says the
militias continue to threaten the U-N compound in
Dili, the capital where hundreds of people have taken
refuge along with a skeletal U-N staff.
//// ANNAN ACT ////
Last night there was a new incident at our
compound and at the adjoining school compound.
Militias fired their weapons in the air and
threatened to invade the UNAMET compound itself.
Yet the Indonesian forces who are supposed to be
protecting the compound did nothing. So far,
they have been either unable or unwilling to
take effective steps to restore security.
//// END ACT ////
The Secretary-General says the time has clearly come
for Indonesia to seek help from the international
community. Mr. Annan says New Zealand, the Philippines
and Malaysia are willing to participate in a
peacekeeping force led by Australia.
//// REST OPT ///
Speaking with U-N reporters, Mr. Annan said the United
Nations cannot authorize a force to go to Indonesia
without a request from Jakarta.
//// ANNAN ACT ///
We all talk of the U-N and the international
community. The international community is governments,
governments with the capacity and the will to do. The
governments have made it clear that it would be too
dangerous for them to go in and they will not do it
without, if you wish, the consent of Indonesia. This
is why I believe that Indonesia must be pressured to
change its mind and let them come in.
//// END ACT ////
Mr. Annan says the international community must bring
collective pressure on Indonesia to admit it has
failed and needs help.(Signed)
NEB/NYC/BJS/BA/JO
10-Sep-1999 16:16 PM EDT (10-Sep-1999 2016 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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