Security Council condemns militia attacks in West Timor
8 September -- Condemning the recent wave of militia attacks in West Timor, in which three United Nations relief workers were killed, the Security Council today insisted that Indonesia take "immediate additional steps" to disarm and disband the militias, restore law and order, ensure the safety of refugees and humanitarian workers, and prevent incursions into East Timor.
Adopting unanimously a resolution at a late evening meeting, the Council stressed that those responsible for the attacks against international personnel in West and East Timor must be brought to justice.
Following the vote, the Security Council President, Ambassador Moctar Ouane of Mali, announced the decision to dispatch a mission of the Council to Indonesia and East Timor to discuss the implementation of the resolution.
In its resolution, the Council noted Indonesia's decision to deploy additional troops to West Timor to improve the security situation, but stressed that UN refugee workers could not return until there was credible security and real progress towards disarming and disbanding the militias.
Expressing outrage at the reported attacks in West Timor on 7 September in which a number of refugees had reportedly been killed, the Council called on the Indonesian authorities to ensure the safe return of refugees choosing to go back to East Timor and stressed the need for parallel programmes to resettle those who chose not to return. The Council also welcomed the 7 September letter of the Indonesian President to the Secretary-General, in which he expressed outrage at the killings and stated its intention to launch a full-scale investigation and take firm measures against those found guilty.
The Council underlined that the UN Transitional Mission in East Timor (UNTAET) should respond "robustly" to the militia threat in East Timor, consistent with the Council's October 1999 resolution.
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