Rights programs in Timor assisted

Rights programs in Timor assisted

JAKARTA: Australia will provide A$300,000 to the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its work protecting
civilians and "security detainees" in East Timor.

The Australian embassy said in a statement yesterday that the
grant is part of an ongoing program of assistance through the
ICRC's regional activities, totaling more than A$4 million since
1982.

The statement said that the ICRC's Jakarta regional delegation
plays a crucial role in monitoring the security situation in East
Timor, Aceh and Irian Jaya.

"In security incidents in East Timor, ICRC delegates work to
facilitate peaceful solutions between demonstrators and military
authorities," the statement said quoting the Australian Minister
of Development Cooperation Gordon Bilney. (pan)