DATE=10/1/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254552
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says it is preparing to airlift emergency relief aid
for thousands of displaced people from East Timor who
fled or were deported to West Timor. Lisa Schlein in
Geneva reports that the first airlift is expected to
begin next week from Darwin, Australia.
TEXT: The U-N Refugee Agency says tens of thousands of
people living in appalling conditions in West Timor
are in desperate need of aid. The Agency plans to
airlift plastic sheeting, water containers, blankets
and mats to the refugees. It says the East Timorese
are living in squalid camps. Many are out in the
open. The Agency says the refugees are at the mercy of
militias who continue to intimidate them.
At the same time, U-N-H-C-R spokesman, Kris Janowski,
says the Agency is drawing up plans for the
repatriation of thousands of Timorese who want to
return to their homes in East Timor. But, he says
the United Nations won't be able to begin airlifting
the refugees back to the East Timorese capital, Dili,
until it receives the go-ahead from the West Timorese
authorities.
///JANOWSKI ACT///
There's a need for a majority of those who have
either fled or been deported to West Timor to go
home. Even according to the Indonesian
government, which has no reasons to exaggerate
these figures, 60 percent of the people, some
230-thousand people - East Timorese in West
Timor - want to go back. These people have to
be taken back.
///END ACT///
Mr. Janowski says the situation in Dili is much
calmer. However, he says security remains precarious
in other parts of the province.
Meanwhile, the U-N Human Rights Office says it hopes
to begin an inquiry into alleged human rights abuses
in East Timor next week. Human Rights spokesman, Jose
Dias, says the practical arrangements of the
investigation are being worked out now. He says the
office is in the process of choosing five high-level
experts to conduct the investigation. They will look
at allegations of rape, murder and other violations
allegedly committed by militias and Indonesian
soldiers against the East Timorese. Mr. Dias says
there will not be any forensic experts among the five
experts.
/// DIAS ACT ///
But, we do hope to deploy a forensic team also
to look at that evidence. In past operations,
the Office of the High Commissioner has relied
on groups such as Physicians for Human Rights,
or the Argentinian Group of forensic experts to
help these international inquiries. I think
this will probably be the case in this
investigation as well.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Dias says a final report on the investigation has
to be submitted to the U-N Secretary-General by
December 31. He will then make recommendations to the
U-N Security Council. Similar investigations on human
rights violations in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda
have led to the creation of a war crimes tribunal.
The Indonesian government has said it will not
cooperate with the U-N investigation. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/JO
01-Oct-1999 09:52 AM EDT (01-Oct-1999 1352 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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