DATE=8/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UNHCR / TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265362
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-
C-R, says it will not resume the repatriation
of East Timorese refugees from West Timor for at
least several more days because of continued
attacks against refugees and aid workers. Lisa
Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The United Nations Refugee Agency says
tensions remain very high along the West Timor
border. It says the offices of several aid
agency in the border town Atambua were threatened
by anti-independence militia on Friday.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says several
dozen former militia members belonging to the
Itarak group gathered in front of the agency's
office and taunted staff members and threatened
to attack the office.
/// REDMOND ACT ///
The Itarak was one of several militia
groups blamed for the violence in East
Timor following last year's vote for
independence. This morning Indonesian
soldiers in Atambua were called and the
situation was brought under control after
several tense hours.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says about 120 East Timorese refugees
are at the transit center in the West Timor
capital, Kupang. He says they will proceed to
the East Timorese capital of Dili as soon as a
boat organized by the International Organization
for Migration is available to transport them.
But a spokesman for the organization says the
increased level of tension could jeopardize the
planned sailing of the ship. He says his agency
is bracing itself for further attacks in the run-
up to a major demonstration planned by the
militias for next Wednesday's Indonesian
Independence Day.
An estimated 250-thousand East Timorese fled
across the border to escape the violence which
followed last year's pro-independence referendum.
About 170-thousand refugees have been
repatriated. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/KL
11-Aug-2000 10:07 AM EDT (11-Aug-2000 1407 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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