DATE=8/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / TIMOR
NUMBER=2-265783
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
has suspended [Wednesday] its aid operations in West
Timor, after pro-Indonesian militiamen attacked and
severely injured three U-N workers. Lisa Schlein
reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency calls this the worst
attack of more than 100 recorded cases of harassment
and intimidation of aid workers and refugees. The
three aid workers were distributing plastic sheeting
at a refugee camp in West Timor when they were
savagely beaten, U-N officials say, by militiamen
armed with machetes, clubs and stones.
Fernando Del Mundo of U-N-H-C-R, says the Indonesian
army was asked to provide help, but failed to respond
immediately. He says the three aid workers were
rescued by some of the refugee leaders in the camp.
/// 1ST DEL MUNDO ACT ///
This has always been the case in most of these
incidents in West Timor. We are not really
getting the kind of cooperation that officials
in Jakarta have promised us, and this is one of
the reasons why we have suspended our operations
in West Timor, to get them to act immediately.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Del Mundo says the attack was traumatic for the
aid workers, who will have to undergo medical
examinations. He says a senior U-N-H-C-R official is
going to the West Timorese capital, Kupang, to
investigate the incident with Indonesian authorities.
U-N aid workers are suspending all activities in the
camps in West Timor, as well as its repatriation
operation. Mr. Del Mundo says this means a cut-off of
food, medical supplies and other relief for 125-
thousand East Timorese refugees in the area.
The spokesman says U-N-H-C-R activities will not
resume until the Indonesian government meets certain
conditions.
/// 2ND DEL MUNDO ACT ///
We issued very clear statements to the
Indonesian government. ... The imposition of law
and order in the camps, separation of militias
from refugees [is necessary] and unless
something is done, obviously we can not work in
a place where our staff is going to be at risk
all the time.
/// END ACT ///
The U-N refugee agency called off a plan to register
the East Timorese refugees in West Timor last month
because of an upsurge in security incidents. It also
closed a field office along the border. Mr. Del Mundo
says the agency expects more attacks by the militias
in the run-up to August 30th, the anniversary of the
pro-independence referendum in East Timor last year.
(Signed)
NEB/LS/WTW/ENE/FC
23-Aug-2000 11:22 AM EDT (23-Aug-2000 1522 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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