Fatchett receives accounts of atrocities in E. Timor<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): At the end of a half-day visit here on
\nMonday, British Junior Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett
\nconcluded that much has still to be done before any agreements
\ncan be implemented.<\/p>\n
Exposed to differing views regarding the direct ballot,
\nplanned for Aug. 8, and the impending presence of the United
\nNations police force, Fatchett said there was a \"long way to go
\nbetween signing the agreement and its implementation\".<\/p>\n
He expressed doubt about a peaceful balloting process after
\nvisiting the Motael clinic, which is treating victims of the
\nviolence which occurred in Dili on April 17.<\/p>\n
He said he witnessed \"atrocious injuries... from a bygone
\nera\", referring to slash wounds from machetes. He said he found
\nit hard to understand this level of violence, saying it was
\ndamaging chances of reconciliation in East Timor.<\/p>\n
He commended the clinic staff, who were working with \"bare
\nessentials\" and themselves under threat of violence.<\/p>\n
Dili Police chief Col. Timbul Silaen assured Fatchett police
\nwould act on reports from clinic management of death threats
\nagainst the violence victims.<\/p>\n
Fatchett added that the military and police had promised to
\nprovide access for relief organizations to reach the needy.<\/p>\n
Non-governmental organization representatives conveyed to
\nFatchett their demands that the civilian militia be disarmed.<\/p>\n
Church sources told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that from
\nApril 11 to April 24 -- three days after last Wednesday's
\nsigning of the peace pact -- 18 people had been confirmed dead in
\nSuai, Covalima. Ten people were tortured and nine more were
\nmissing. Twenty-two homes and two kiosks were set on fire.<\/p>\n
However, military commander Col. Tono Suratman said only one
\nhad died in a clash between prointegration and proindependence
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
In his address to the NGO forum, Fatchett, accompanied on the
\ntour by British Ambassador Robin Christopher, said, \"I understand
\nthe difference between an agreement signed in New York and life
\non the ground\".<\/p>\n
\"We'll do what we can to try to make sure that what happens on
\nthe ground is as close, if not totally in line, with what is
\nthere in the international agreement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The direct ballot was the only way to lift people out of their
\nmisery, Fatchett said.<\/p>\n
He said the Indonesian government was expected to maintain its
\ncommitment, meaning the police and Armed Forces would have to
\nensure equal protection and freedom for all parties in the
\nconducting of the ballot.<\/p>\n
However, the NGOs said in a statement that \"from its
\nreputation of 23 years in East Timor, no one can believe that the
\nmilitary can be neutral\".<\/p>\n
Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares and military commander Col.
\nTono Suratman told Fatchett separately that while they were only
\nacting on orders, they both personally would rather that a direct
\nballot not be conducted for fears of further unrest.<\/p>\n
Tono also said he preferred that UN police did not come,
\nsaying that, unlike in Kosovo, the security problem here was
\ninternal. He said he preferred \"a small UN team\" to make public
\nwhat the government meant by wide-ranging autonomy.<\/p>\n
After meeting with Fatchett, prointegration leaders said they
\nrejected the direct ballot plan. \"If the United Nations continues
\nto impose it on us we will see what the consequences will be,\" an
\nexecutive of the Forum for Unity, Peace and Justice, said.<\/p>\n
Manuel Lorenco Mario Viare Soares and Aitarak prointegration
\nmilitia leader Eurico Guetterres were among those who met with
\nthe British delegation.<\/p>\n
Manuel said a ballot would bring further suffering to the
\npeople after 23 years of being under Indonesian rule. People were
\nmostly illiterate and politically immature, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Don't try to come here with weapons,\" Manuel said. \"We'll
\nfight anybody trying to force us.\"<\/p>\n
The United Kingdom is one of six countries asked by Habibie to
\nbe involved in overseeing the implementation of the UN
\nagreements.<\/p>\n
Fatchett also visited Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo,
\nwho conveyed his gratitude for Britain's commitment to help
\noversee the agreements. Belo said he supported the presence of
\nthe UN police. (33\/anr)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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