Militia attacks continue in West Timor in wake of murder of UN relief workers
8 September -- Against the background of wide international condemnation of the murder of three United Nations workers in West Timor, the situation in the area continued to be very volatile, with militia members attacking civilians and terrorizing aid staff, UN officials said today.
A senior official of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) in East Timor said that some staff of non-governmental organizations (NGO) were still in hiding and being hunted by militia elements, although nine workers had been able to make it to safety in Suai, East Timor, last night. "Among them there are five individuals we've been extremely worried about the last 48 hours," the agency's Chief of Operations, Bernard Kerblat, told reporters in Dili. "I'm happy to report that they are exhausted, terrified, traumatized, but they are in safety."
UNHCR has also received unconfirmed reports of 20 killings in Betun. "We do not know if they are Indonesian citizens or refugees but we know that there are no NGO personnel among these 20," Mr. Kerblat said, adding that some international staff remained in West Timor, but no details could be given on their whereabouts or number, for security reasons. The agency did not know the number of wounded in the Betun violence.
In New York, a UN spokesman said that a total of 391 aid workers - both Indonesian and international -- had been evacuated to safety from West Timor as of yesterday. An additional 73 local staff and dependents were transported out of Kupang to Indonesia today, while 14 workers travelled overland from Atambua to Batugade, East Timor, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, in a letter released today at UN Headquarters, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid conveyed to Secretary-General Kofi Annan the "very deep sorrow" felt by the people and Government of Indonesia over the deaths of the relief staff. "We are in disbelief and outraged that such unspeakable crimes were committed against the good people of UNHCR," the President wrote, adding that his Government intended to conduct a full-scale investigation into the "brutal murders." President Wahid pledged to "get to the bottom" of the incident and take "firm measures against those found guilty."
In Geneva, a UNHCR spokesman said that the bodies of the slain aid workers -- Samson Aregahegn, Carlos Caceres and Pero Simundza -- were now in Dili awaiting positive identification of their remains before being flown out. Mr. Aregahegn, a 44-year-old supply officer from Ethiopia, joined UNHCR in 1990 as a field assistant. Mr. Simundza, 29, a telecommunications operator from Croatia, began working for the agency in 1993. Mr. Caceres, a 33-year-old American citizen, had been with UNHCR for three years, the last six months in Indonesia as a protection officer.
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