DATE=6/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / WEST TIMOR (L-O)
NUMBER=2-263570
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-N refugee agency says it has suspended
activities in three West Timor camps following what it
calls three extremely worrisome security incidents.
Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency says violence that
erupted in the three West Timor camps points to a
pattern of increased tensions. U-N-H-C-R spokesman
Kris Janowski says the suspension will affect more
than 24-thousand East Timorese refugees.
Mr. Janowski says U-N-H-C-R has notified local
authorities and told them the agency will not resume
its work without additional security guarantees.
/// JANOWSKI ACT ONE ///
These include a separation of the "bad elements"
inside the camps, the militia elements inside
the camps, and a clarification of the status
those camp residents who are former employees of
the Indonesian government and army have.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says that in the first incident an ex-
militia member disrupted a repatriation Friday from
the town of Betun by climbing aboard a truck and
intimidating one returning refugee. He says
Indonesian military escorts who were present did
little to intervene.
On the same day, he says nine East Timorese refugees
forced their way into a vehicle in Noelbaki camp near
the West Timor capital, Kupang. He says the refugees
threatened the driver and forced him to take them to
Kupang.
/// JANOWSKI ACT TWO ///
The final incident occurred on Saturday
afternoon when U-N-H-C-R staff and Indonesian
officials attempted to meet with refugee leaders
to discuss the previous day's incident. And,
shortly after their arrival and for an extremely
tense two-hours, the group was blocked from
leaving the camp. They were threatened by a mob
of 60 to 70-persons.
/// END ACT ///
The U-N refugee agency repeatedly has urged Indonesian
authorities to stop ex-militia members from
intimidating refugees. Mr. Janowski says that despite
pledges to control the militia, the Indonesian
government has done little to improve the situation.
Last year, about one-quarter-million East Timorese
fled to West Timor to escape violence in the east.
Since then, more than 165-thousand of the refugees
have returned home. But an estimated 80-thousand
refugees remain in West Timor. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
20-Jun-2000 09:03 AM EDT (20-Jun-2000 1303 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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