DATE=9/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR PEACKEEPER REACT (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253798
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Indonesia, there has been mixed reaction to
the announcement by President B-J Habibie that the
government would accept U-N peacekeepers in East
Timor. As Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, some
Indonesian government officials have questions about
which countries should be allowed to participate in
the peacekeeping force.
Text: Indonesian parliamentary leaders say they
understand the President's reasons for accepting U-N
peacekeepers in East Timor. But the leader of
parliamentary commission says Australia, New Zealand,
Portugal, and the United States do not deserve to be
involved in a peacekeeping mission.
The commissioner says those nations are not neutral
about the East Timor crisis.
After days of increasing pressure by the international
community, Indonesian President B-J Habibie announced
Sunday that Indonesia would accept peacekeepers in
East Timor. Thousands of East Timorese people are
believed to have died at the hands of pro-Indonesia
militias, which virtually took over the territory
nine-days ago.
The militias -- which are against independence for
East Timor -- began their bloody rampage after the
United Nations announced the majority of East Timorese
voters decided the territory should break free from
Indonesia. Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese
colony 24-years ago.
Government officials have also warned of a
"nationalistic backlash" against the United Nations by
Indonesians who are angry about what they perceive to
be foreign meddling in Indonesian affairs. Last week,
about 100-protesters stormed the Australian embassy.
Australia has been one of Indonesia's harshest critics
and made some of the first demands for U-N
intervention in East Timor.
Meanwhile, there is growing concern about food and
water shortages in East Timor. The United Nations
says an estimated 200-thousand people who have fled
militia violence are desperately short of food. But
the security situation has prevented aid officials
from reaching refugees in East Timor's interior or in
camps along the West Timor border.
Despite the government's announcement U-N peacekeepers
would be accepted in East Timor, the pressure from the
international community may not be over.
The head of the U-N Human Rights Commission, Mary
Robinson says the international community should hold
Indonesia responsible for atrocities committed in East
Timor. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/GC/RAE
13-Sep-1999 07:40 AM LOC (13-Sep-1999 1140 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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