Rights body in awkward position

JAKARTA: East Timorese are scared to report possible violations to the local representative of the human rights commission because the office is near a military base.

The observation came from Marzuki Darusman, deputy chief of the National Commission on Human Rights when he met Monday with John Shattuck, U.S. under secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.

Marzuki said some East Timorese had openly complained about the office's location and about the procedures they had to go through when filing complaints.

"Over the past eight months, people in East Timor have complained they do not feel free to go to our representative office. They feel they are being watched," he said as quoted by Antara.

Shattuck, who arrived here Sunday, plans to go to East Timor tomorrow or Thursday to meet with local officials and non- governmental organizations. (pan)