State Department Noon Briefing, September 25, 2000
STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING
BRIEFER: RICHARD BOUCHER, DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN
STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ROOM
WASHINGTON, D.C.
1:00 P.M. EDT -- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2000
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
Q: Yes, Richard, over the weekend, the Indonesian Defense Minister
gave an interview in the newspaper in which he said that the East
Timorese who are really just dying to rejoin Indonesia were being
prevented from doing so by foreign powers. I'm wondering if you have
any -- maybe I shouldn't have said "dying to rejoin Indonesia" -- that
they really want to go back to Indonesia? What do you make of these
comments?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, we find the Defense Minister's comments both
astonishing and irresponsible. The East Timorese people voted
overwhelmingly to separate from Indonesia in a UN-sponsored referendum
in August of 1999. That referendum was universally regarded as a free
and fair expression of the people in East Timor. There is no reason to
believe that there has been any significant shift in East Timorese
opinion on this subject. The East Timorese continue to work closely
with the United Nations Transitional Authority for East Timor to
realize the independence that they have chosen.
Similarly, if I can add in, claims that foreign powers are fomenting
violence in East and West Timor are unfounded, absurd, and an insult
to the members of the international community, who are working to
assist the Indonesian Government and the people of East and West
Timor. In truth, the violence in Timor is being staged from Indonesian
territory under the eyes of Indonesian officials. The Government of
Indonesia must move quickly and decisively to disarm and disband the
militias operating out of West Timor and to hold them accountable for
their violence, which has taken the lives of Indonesian citizens as
well as United Nations relief workers.
Q: (Inaudible) -- status of refugees in West Timor?
MR. BOUCHER: Nothing new. This was something that was discussed very
extensively during the Secretary's meetings in New York, including the
meetings with the Indonesian Foreign Minister and the Indonesian
President. The goal, as we stated it at that time, was, one, to bring
the militia violence under control; to prosecute those responsible;
and to take steps to move refugees back to East Timor if they want to
go there. And we made quite clear that we are prepared to assist in
that effort if we can.
(The briefing was concluded at 2:15 P.M.)
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