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)