DATE=9/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR - HORTA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254035
BYLINE=PAMELA TAYLOR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: East Timorese Independence leader and Nobel
Peace Prize winner, Jose Ramos Horta says the Clinton
administration has assured him the United States is
committed to independence for the island nation. Mr.
Ramos Horta met with White House and Congressional
officials in Washington today/Friday and later
addressed a rally by supporters of East Timor. VOA's
Pamela Taylor was there and filed this report:
TEXT: Following his White House meeting with National
Security Advisor Sandy Berger,the 1996 Nobel winner
told the demonstrators it was President Clinton who
turned the tide of international opinion in favor of
intervening in East Timor. Mr. Ramos Horta said the
president's strong statements at the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation summit in Aukland, New Zealand
resulted in Indonesia's acceptance of U-N
peacekeepers.
Mr. Ramos Horta said his meetings with members of the
U-S Congress and officials at the White House were
very positive.
// Ramos Horta ACT one //
I am persuaded that the United States
administration is genuinely committed,
determined to see this process through. That
Indonesia leaves the Island (of East Timor),
that there is accountability for the crimes and
destruction; that there is going to be an
effective U-N presence there through a multi-
national force; an effective civilian
administration and an independent East Timor.
// END ACT //
Mr. Ramos Horta said East Timor has been totally
destroyed by the Army supported pro-Indonesia
militias. The militias have been blamed for the
violence which has shaken the island following the
August 30 referendum. The vote showed that 80 percent
of East Timorese want independence from Indonesia. But
Mr. Ramos Horta says the world now knows who was
really behind the violence.
// Ramos Horta ACT two //
They know only too well what has been the role
of the Indonesian Army. Members of the
Indonesian (army)forces are the ones who must be
brought to trial. There has to be a war crimes
tribunal for East Timor, not as revenge but as
justice for those who died and as prevention for
future crimes.
// END ACT //
Several other speakers at the rally also called for
the creation of an International War Crimes Tribunal
for East Timor similar to those that exist for the
former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
Mr. Ramos Horta says he hopes to return to East Timor
in the next few weeks and assist in the rebuilding of
his country. But he said this rebuilding must be done
in a spirit of reconciliation and not revenge.(Signed)
NEB/PAM/PT
17-Sep-1999 20:59 PM LOC (18-Sep-1999 0059 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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