DATE=10/30/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / TIMOR (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-255646
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Witnesses say the last remaining Indonesian
soldiers have withdrawn from East Timor under the
supervision of international peacekeepers. As Patricia
Nunan reports from Jakarta, their withdrawal ends more
than two decades of Indonesian military occupation in
East Timor.
TEXT: The departure of the last 900 Indonesian troops
from East Timor ends 24 years of military occupation
that began when they invaded the former Portuguese
colony in 1975. Human rights officials say at least
200-thousand people died as a result of the initial
invasion and Indonesia's occupation, during which
troops were never able to defeat guerrillas from East
Timor's independence movement. East Timor was wracked
by more violence in September, when anti-independence
militia groups backed by the Indonesian military went
on a campaign of terror across the territory.
They were reacting to an announcement that most East
Timorese decided the territory should break free of
Indonesian rule, in referendum supervised by the
United Nations. Estimates by human rights officials
about the number of people killed by the militias
range from the hundreds to the thousands. The United
Nations says at least 300 thousand others fled their
homes or were forced to leave by Indonesian troops.
They are now hiding in refugee camps in the East
Timorese jungle, or in neighboring West Timor.
Violence prompted the deployment of an Australian-led
international peacekeeping force to the territory to
help restore order.
Earlier this month, the Indonesian government granted
independence to East Timor. Since then the
peacekeepers have had to begin protecting the
departing Indonesian soldiers. Ordinary East Timorese
have vented their anger at troops by taunting them and
occasionally throwing rocks. A spokesman for the
peacekeepers say the Indonesian military cancelled
plans to hold a public memorial service for the five
thousand Indonesian soldiers who died in East Timor,
because of concerns a riot might break out. The
responsibility for much of the security in East Timor
was officially passed to the peacekeepers Friday. But
Indonesian troops are still sharing responsibility for
security at the airport, where most troops are
expected to depart. (signed)
Neb / pn / wd/JP
30-Oct-1999 14:55 PM EDT (30-Oct-1999 1855 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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