ICRC enters E. Timor conflict area of Suai

DILI, East Timor (JP): The International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) began operations in Suai in the Covalima regency of East Timor where scores of people reportedly have died in civilian conflicts.

ICRC press officer Sri Wahyu Endah told The Jakarta Post the commission had heard there were "many victims" in need of humanitarian aid.

"The priority will be medical services," Endah said, declining to elaborate on the number of injuries and deaths. The police and military have denied conflicts have taken place in Suai.

A local prointegration leader, Rui Emiliano Treixeira Lopes, said on Monday that "several" people killed last week were dumped in Salele River in Suai. A legal aid office has reported 30 people missing in the past week.

The ICRC has been in East Timor since early April when two people were killed in Liquica regency, followed by the violence in Liquica on April 16 when between seven and 25 people were killed. However, the commission's attempts to gain access to Liquica have repeatedly failed.

Declining military or police protection, this week the ICRC gained access to Covalima.

A number of relief organizations have had their operations hampered by safety concerns. In Liquica, journalists saw an ICRC staffer being threatened by armed civilians while military personnel stood by.

Victims of the Liquica violence are in dire need of food aid and their homes and belongings have been burned. Few dare to venture outside the regency to seek help.

Even vegetable plants in people's yards have been stolen, a woman from Liquica who lost three relatives in clashes between proindependence supporters and prointegration militia, said.

"What are the children supposed to eat? Their father has been killed, the house is burned and even the corn has been stolen," she said.

The National Commission on Human Rights lashed out at local administrations' failure to remain neutral, which has hampered the commission's efforts to act on behalf of an estimated 18,000 internally displaced people in East Timor.

"They have not done anything, even though it is their job," commission member Koesparmono Irsan said.

National Commission for Violence Against Women member Agustine Nunuk Murniati and Koesparmono agreed that deep suspicion and fear among locals were preventing authorities from helping East Timorese.

In a related development, Portuguese envoy Ana Gomes arrived here late Tuesday to observe the latest developments in the province.

"I wish to directly observe the disputing parties in East Timor and I will meet them during my visit; including the political leaders of both parties," the head of Portugal's interest section in Indonesia said on her arrival at Comoro Airport for a two-day visit.

"I have already met the governor (Abilio Jose Osorio Soares) on the plane and I will meet the local military commander and the Dili Police chief," she said, referring to Col. Tono Suratman and Col. Timbul Silaen, respectively.

She said she also would meet Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and Baucau Bishop Basilio do Nascimento.

On the same flight with Gomes was Belgian envoy Luk Darras, who also arrived to observe the latest developments in the province.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) is discussing whether to dismiss council member Mario Viegas Carrascalao, who recently fled Indonesia to Macao fearing for his life.

"He (Carrascalao) will be dismissed from the council," deputy chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro said here on Tuesday.

Carrascalao, a former governor of East Timor and a former Indonesian ambassador to Rumania and the Maldive Islands, fled to the Portuguese colony last week after receiving death threats from unidentified persons. He said he was on the hit list of the prointegration militia in East Timor.

He recently criticized the Armed Forces for supplying weapons to the prointegration militia.

Carrascalao said he did not report his move to Macao to President B.J. Habibie because there was no time.

Ahmad Bagja, a DPA member, said Carrascalao's motive for fleeing the country could have been to discredit Indonesia.

"If he really was threatened, he could have asked for protection from the security authorities. I believe his political motive was to give the international community the impression that Indonesia, especially East Timor, is unsafe," he said after accompanying Achmad to a meeting with Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid on Tuesday. (33/anr/rms)