UN envoy briefed on rights in E. Timor<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio
\nSoares yesterday explained the human rights situation in the
\nprovince to visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human
\nRights Jose Ayala Lasso.<\/p>\n
Abilio told the UN envoy that the presence of troops in the
\nprovince has been, and still is, motivated by a need to keep
\nconflicting East Timorese groups apart, his spokesman Exspedito
\nDiaz Ximenes told reporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
He referred to the civil war that broke out in 1975 after the
\ndeparture of the Portuguese colonial administration.<\/p>\n
Abilio said the government of Indonesia is committed to
\nupholding human rights in the province.<\/p>\n
The meeting at the governor's office was also attended by the
\nEast Timor military chief Col. Mahidin Simbolon and the East
\nTimor Police Chief Col. Andreas Sugianto.<\/p>\n
Exspedito said Ayala Lasso raised questions about the fate of
\ndozens of people reported missing since the November 1991
\nincident and about the recent wave of people from East Timor
\nseeking asylum.<\/p>\n
The 1991 incident was a clash between troops and East Timorese
\nprotesters in the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili. The government
\nsaid around 50 people were killed and dozens went missing. The
\nincident sparked an international outcry and accusations of
\nblatant human rights violations.<\/p>\n
Mahidin said the soldiers responsible for the incident had
\nbeen tried and convicted by the military tribunal.<\/p>\n
The governor explained that the government is still looking
\nfor those reported missing after the November 1991 incident. The
\nEast Timor administration, he added, has also proposed that
\nJakarta provide compensation for the victims of the incident.<\/p>\n
On the asylum seekers, Abilio said the government would not
\nstop the youths from leaving, but underlined that none of them
\nwere being prosecuted or wanted for any crime.<\/p>\n
Ayala Lasso also visited the Santa Cruz cemetery and met with
\nthe speaker of the East Timor legislative council Antonio Freitas
\nParada, and the local representatives of the International
\nCommittee for the Red Cross.<\/p>\n
Today, he is scheduled to meet with Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe
\nXimenes Belo and other non-government figures before returning to
\nJakarta. The UN envoy began his visit on Sunday with talks with
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas. (yac\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/un-envoy-briefed-on-rights-in-e-timor-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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