DATE=2/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR REPORT (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258802
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The top United Nations official in East Timor,
Sergio Vieira de Mello, said today (Thursday) that the
challenge for the world organization is to help build
a country literally from the ground up. VOA
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United
Nations.
TEXT: In a report to the U-N Security Council, Mr.
Vieira de Mello drew a picture of almost total
devastation in East Timor as a result of the violence
before and after last year's independence vote. He
said private homes and virtually all public buildings
were destroyed. The infrastructure -- including such
things as water, electricity and telecommunications --
was effectively disabled.
Mr. Vieira de Mello, who heads the U-N Transitional
Administration in East Timor, said unemployment is a
huge problem and the East Timorese people must be put
back to work.
///Vieira de Mello act///
The country must be moved out of the phase of
humanitarian relief and basic public services
brought fully on-line. Reconstruction must
start. Health services and the education system
must be put back onto an even keel, and vital
infrastructure, such as electricity and water
supply systems must be fully restored.
///end act///
Mr. Vieira de Mello said all work must initially be
provided through a civil service system because
private investment in East Timor is unlikely in the
near term.
Regarding the East Timorese refugees in West Timor,
part of Indonesia, Mr. Vieira de Mello told the
Security Council that many of those refugees are not
returning because of intimidation by pro-Indonesian
militia groups. However, he also expressed hope that,
once conditions in East Timor improve, the refugees
will return in greater numbers.
///Begin opt/// United States ambassador Richard
Holbrooke repeated his concern about the slow return
of refugees and indicated the office of the U-N High
Commissioner for Refugees - U-N-H-C-R - could do more.
///Holbrooke act, opt///
I remain extremely puzzled by the inability of
the U-N-H-C-R and other agencies to do more in
this regard. I am told repeatedly that the U-N-
H-C-R is doing everything it can but I find that
hard to believe given the objective situation on
the ground.
///end act ///
Mr. Holbrooke said it is incumbent on the Indonesian
government to bring those guilty of human rights
violations in East Timor to justice. If Indonesian
authorities can not do that, Mr. Holbrooke said,
pressure will grow for an international criminal
tribunal.
///end opt///
The U-N's East Timor Administrator Sergio Vieira de
Mello summed up the report on his first three months
of work by saying the East Timorese people are
entitled to international help.
///Vieira de Mello act///
As a remote country of some 800-thousand people
with relatively few resources, East Timor is, in
the final analysis, of little strategic
importance. Nevertheless, the people of East
Timor have fought and suffered for decades to
achieve their independence. And, until very
recently, they did so in the face of general
indifference with the exception of this Council.
Thus I believe the United Nations owes East
Timor a debt.
////end act///
Mr. Vieira de Mello said East Timor presents the
United Nations with the opportunity to prove what it
can do as the representative of the international
community.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/PT
03-Feb-2000 17:00 PM EDT (03-Feb-2000 2200 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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