DATE=9/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TIMOR-REFUGEES (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266431
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Concern for the plight of refugees in the
Indonesian-controlled portion of the island of Timor
continues to grow. The deaths of three foreign aid
workers at the hands of marauding militia bands there
last week caused international aid agencies to
evacuate their staff from West Timor. As VOA
Southeast Asia correspondent Gary Thomas reports,
fears are being raised that food will soon run short
in the refugee camps.
TEXT: International and local officials are concerned
that intimidation by militias - opposed to East Timor
independence - is preventing desperately needed
assistance from reaching refugees in West Timor.
With the departure of foreign aid workers from West
Timor, the task of feeding an estimated 120-thousand
refugees has now fallen on local staff of humanitarian
organizations. But local aid workers are too fearful
of the militias. An official of the Indonesian Red
Cross says militia gangs harass and intimidate those
workers who are willing to risk trying to help the
refugees.
Aid officials say it is difficult to get hard
information out of West Timor, but they believe the
situation could soon turn critical. The governor of
West Timor said Wednesday that food and medical
supplies are already running low. Speaking in East
Timor, Chris Gascon of the International Organization
for Migration says he believes the refugees are, as he
put it, hungry and scared.
The militias were armed and trained by elements of the
Indonesian army to stifle pro-independence sentiment
in East Timor, and went on a rampage there last year
when East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia.
Thousands of people fled to safety in neighboring West
Timor, which remains under Indonesian control. East
Timor is administered by the United Nations.
But the militias continue to operate with impunity in
West Timor, despite promises by Indonesia to bring
them under control. Indonesia has been widely
criticized internationally for what foreign officials
say is either an unwillingness or inability to rein
them in.
A memorial service was held Wednesday in East Timor
for the three foreign aid workers murdered in West
Timor.
On Thursday, an Indonesian delegation, led by Vice-
President Megawati Sukarnoputri, will meet on the
resort island of Bali with U-N officials and East
Timorese leaders to discuss the shaky security
situation. (signed)
NEB/HK/GPT/JO
13-Sep-2000 06:08 AM LOC (13-Sep-2000 1008 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
