UN urges government to stop violence in East Timor
DILI, East Timor (JP): Violent incidents in which five civilians were killed Sunday led representatives of the United Nations here to strongly urge action on the part of the Indonesian government to provide security ahead of the August ballot, as it had pledged in the New York agreement.
It was the first formal statement from the members of an advance team working ahead of UN civilian police who will supervise the Aug. 8 ballot, through which East Timorese will determine their future.
Three soldiers were also killed Sunday in an ambush which a prointegration group blamed on the proindependence Falintil militia in Bobonaro regency.
The UN representatives themselves had to be escorted by police when they were at a restaurant in Metiaut district in Dili on Sunday, a foreign correspondent said, when about 10 houses were burned down.
"Words from the Indonesian government are not enough," the statement signed by David Wimhurst of the UN Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) said.
"Determined action must be taken by the appropriate Indonesian security authorities to curtail the activities of the armed militias, whose members roam the streets of Dili and other towns at will, shooting citizens and burning homes.
"The United Nations urgently reminds the Indonesian government that it agreed, on May 5 1999, to establish a secure environment devoid of violence or other forms of intimidation so that a free and fair ballot can be held."
UNAMET cited the "brutal attack" against Atara villagers who were preparing to go to mass in Atsabe district, Ermera, by "about 60 armed men" of the Tim Pancasila militia, and the burning of homes in Metiaut, East Dili by Aitarak militia.
Leaders of prointegration and proindependence camps had just attended a weekend meeting in Bali where Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas briefed them on the government's offer of autonomy. Last week at least four were killed in two incidents.
East Timor deputy police chief Col. Muafi Sahudji said police were investigating the Sunday ambush against four soldiers in Bobonaro's Lolotoe district. Victims were identified as Chief Sgt. Caitano Bernardo, 48, Pvt. Benedito Besi, 45, Pvt. Vitorino, 47. Muafi said another, Pvt. Gabriel, 50, was seriously injured.
Obuchi
Separately, Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi expressed hopes that President B.J. Habibie would be able to secure the direct ballot in East Timor.
In his letter to Habibie, Obuchi, as quoted by special envoy Seiichiro Noboru, also said, "The security and safety situation in the region must be secured."
The UN has requested Japan to join supervision of the ballot. A Japanese mission in East Timor is surveying conditions there, after which Japan will decide whether to meet the UN request. Noboru was accompanied by Japanese envoy Takao Kawakami during the meeting with the President at Merdeka Palace.
Also on Monday a joint statement from the National Commission Against Violence towards Women and the National Commission on Human Rights urged that the military and police actively help volunteers channel food and medical aid to some 35,000 refugees.
Most refugees, comprising 98 percent women and children and the rest elderly people, are now in Atambua town in the western border of East Timor. Volunteers were repeatedly blocked access to the refugees who were in "depressing" condition, they said.
In a discussion in Jakarta on Monday, Governor of the military's think tank, the National Resilience Institute Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, said it was of national interest to make the implementation of the New York agreement on East Timor a success.
In Dili, Timor Lorosae Students Forum (Formatilos) in a statement on Monday reiterated calls to Minister of Defense and Security/TNI Commander Gen. Wiranto that the violence stop to allow for a peaceful ballot.
Some 300 officers from civilian police force from a number of UN member countries will be stationed in East Timor to help with the security of the balloting process. (33/byg/prb/aan)