DATE=1/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258160
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Peacekeepers in East Timor exchanged fire
with pro-Indonesia militiamen in three different
clashes on Monday. As Patricia Nunan reports from
Jakarta, officials from the Australian-led
peacekeeping force believe one militia member was
killed, in the worst outbreak of violence in East
Timor in several months.
TEXT: The head of the international peacekeeping
mission Australian Major-General Peter Cosgrove
says international troops opened fire at
pro-Indonesia militia men in three different
incidents Monday, in the enclave of Oecussi.
In the first incident, groups of militiamen
crossed the border from West Timor and attacked
local civilians. The peacekeepers fired at the
attackers, forcing them to flee. In the second
clash about an hour later, peacekeepers believe
one militiaman was critically injured. The
international troops then repelled a third attack
by militia-members later in the day.
Major-General Cosgrove says the peacekeepers
received unofficial word that the critically
wounded militiaman later died of his injuries. No
international troops were injured in the clashes.
Major-General Cosgrove also said the leader of
the militia-group, Moko Soares, had told his men
that he had a "magic potion" that would protect
them from harm.
The general says he has complained to the
Indonesian Armed Forces's regional commander
General Kiki Syanakri, whom he says has close
links to Mr. Soares.
The coastal enclave of Oecussi is surrounded on
three sides by the Indonesian province West
Timor, where militia groups fled after the
arrival of the peacekeepers in September.
The Australian-led peacekeeping force called
INTERFET was deployed to East Timor after the
anti-independence militia groups launched a
campaign of terror and destruction. The militias
are believed to have killed hundreds in the weeks
after the East Timorese voted to break free of
Indonesian rule, in a special referendum. United
Nations investigators say the militias received
weapons and support from the Indonesian Armed
Forces.
Analysts say the clashes have increased tensions,
just a few weeks before INTERFET hands over
jurisdiction in East Timor to United Nations
peacekeepers.
The U-S government recently warned that the
militia-groups-- backed by the Indonesian
military -- were planning cross-border attacks.
NEB/PN/FC
18-Jan-2000 05:38 AM EDT (18-Jan-2000 1038 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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