DATE=9/28/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=E TIMOR RAIDS (L)CQ
NUMBER=2-254392
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
//Editors- Re-issuing to correct day that raids took
place. It was Monday not Tuesday. First correction
is in the first sentence of the intro, the second
correction is in the first sentence of the text.//
INTRO: United Nations troops conducted two raids on
East Timorese militia strongholds Monday. As Amy
Bickers reports from Jakarta, the
raids come amid reports that pro-Indonesia militias
plan to launch a guerilla war against the multi-
national peacekeeping force.
Text: United Nations troops in Blackhawk helicopters
moved in on a militia stronghold in the East Timorese
town of Com Monday,
taking about 15 armed men into custody.
Colonel Mark Kelly, chief of staff to the
international force commander, said that no shots were
fired during the encounter. He said the troops raided
the town following reports that it was a militia
stronghold, and the site of ongoing murder, arson and
violence.
/// KELLY ACT ///
This swift action has provided immediate support to
the many hundreds of people in the location who have
clearly been under threat and duress
throughout the period.
/// END ACT ///
The anti-independence militias have waged a campaign
of terror since the East Timorese voted
for independence from Indonesia last month.
The action came after a raid on the western town of
Liquica (prono: lee-qee-sha), another area where the
militias were active.
The raids come amid threats from pro-Jakarta
militiamen. According to Indonesia's
official Antara news agency, they say they plan to
launch a guerrilla war against the multinational force
in East Timor.
Militia commanders reportedly made the comments to
thousands of supporters at a rally on Monday night in
West Timor, where up to 150-thousand refugees are now
living in camps.
One top commander is quoted as saying the battle would
be launched in a few days.
(Signed)
NEB/AB/FC/PLM
28-Sep-1999 06:15 AM EDT (28-Sep-1999 1015 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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