DATE=10/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TIMOR / HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255613
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Three United Nations human rights experts will
go to East Timor next week to look into allegations of
torture, illegal executions and violence against
women. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the experts
will present their findings to the current session of
the United Nations General Assembly.
TEXT: The United Nations says the situation in East
Timor is so serious that it has decided that a special
investigation into the allegations of human rights
violations is warranted.
The U-N human rights spokesman, Jose Dias, says the
investigators will look into alleged atrocities that
occurred before and after East Timor's pro-
independence referendum on August 30th.
/// DIAS ACT ///
They will be taking forensic expertise with
them. They also will be interviewing witnesses.
They will also look at any evidence or testimony
that has been collected by U-N staff prior to
the holding the ballot. It's a very thorough
work. It's in line with the work that these
investigators do for the Commission on Human
Rights. But, with a special emphasis given this
time, given the very serious situation that
developed in East Timor.
/// END ACT ///
Although the investigators are acting as independent
experts, their information is expected to be included
as part of a more comprehensive United Nations
examination of the human rights situation in East
Timor.
On October 15, the United Nations' top human rights
official, Mary Robinson, appointed a special five-
member commission of inquiry into East Timor. Its job
is to investigate allegations of mass killings,
disappearances and widespread destruction of property
by anti-independence militias and Indonesian soldiers.
However, the work of the commission cannot begin until
it is formally endorsed by ECOSOC, the U-N Economic
and Social Council. The human rights group Amnesty
International has criticized this delay, saying it
puts important evidence at risk. Mr. Dias admits the
delay is of great concern.
/// DIAS ACT ///
The more the time that passes, the more the
chances that evidence will deteriorate. I
think, unfortunately for the people of East
Timor, there is a lot of evidence out there of
abuses and it has to be looked at to see if
these allegations can be confirmed. So, I don't
think we will see total disappearance of
evidence.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Dias says it would be beneficial for investigators
to go to East Timor sooner rather than later to see
what evidence has been preserved. Reports from
witnesses, U-N officials and humanitarian workers
indicate that thousands of people may have been
killed. The United Nations estimates more than 250-
thousand people either fled or were forcibly deported
from East Timor by militias. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/JP
29-Oct-1999 10:54 AM EDT (29-Oct-1999 1454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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