DATE=12/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-EAST TIMOR PROGRESS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257407
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council heard a
generally positive report today (Wednesday) on
conditions in East Timor. However, as V-O-A
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports, there is still
concern about tens of thousands of refugees who have
yet to return from West Timor.
TEXT: Hedi Annabi, Assistant U-N Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping, told the Council that the security
situation in East Timor is stable and that plans are
proceeding to involve East Timorese civil servants in
the U-N Transitional Administration there.
Mr. Annabi expressed great appreciation for the more
than one-half billion dollars in pledges made to East
Timor by donor nations at a recent conference in
Tokyo. The money will be used for humanitarian
assistance, reconstruction, and the building of a
civil administration in advance of eventual
independence for East Timor.
The Assistant Secretary-General said the military
component in East Timor, currently led by Australia,
will be handed over to United Nations peacekeepers by
the end of February. He noted that, with the security
situation stable, it will be possible to reduce the
number of military personnel from 11-thousand to
eight-thousand and the number could be cut even more
if conditions warrant in the future.
But despite the generally upbeat report, Mr. Annabi
drew the Security Council's attention to the
continuing problem of refugees in West Timor, part of
Indonesia. He said thousands of those refugees are
still refusing to return to East Timor.
/// ANNABI ACT ///
I think several factors may account for this.
One of them is the continued intimidation and
misinformation of refugees in West Timor by
militias. Another is the lack of infrastructure,
aggravated by the rainy season, which may be
acting as a deterrent. In addition, there are
indications that a number of refugees still in
West Timor do not foresee or do not wish for
various reasons to return in the immediate
future to East Timor.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Annabi said the government of Indonesia has agreed
to help end militia harassment of refugees in West
Timor. Some of the refugees, he suggested, voted for
autonomy within Indonesia in the August election in
East Timor and may be afraid to return to a land where
voters overwhelmingly rejected the autonomy option,
preferring independence.
Members of the Security Council were generally pleased
with the contents of Mr. Annabi's report. However,
many took note of the continuing refugee problem and
said those responsible for human rights violations
during the turmoil following the referendum in East
Timor should be brought to justice.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/gm
22-Dec-1999 15:53 PM EDT (22-Dec-1999 2053 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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