1 September 1999.
International Concern Growing About Violence in East Timor
Corso's National Co-ordinator, Suzanne Menzies-Culling today appealed to the New Zealand Government to urge the UN to
take a firmer stand with the Indonesian Government as violence continues to escalate in East Timor.
We are receiving information from the International Federation for East
Timor Observer Project (IFET-OP) that since the ballot on Monday, East Timorese workers for the UN especially are being
targetted and murdered by the Indonesian sponsored militias.
"Monday's balloting that was largely free of violence and intimidation is seen more as an exception, than the rule and
we do not expect it is a sign of things to come, " Ms Menzies-Culling said today. "And the fact that nearly all
registered voters cast their ballots as a tribute to their determination to transcend the climate of terror."
IFET-OP has informed us that yesterday 151 UNAMET staff and other international observers including seven from IFET-OP,
were held hostage for several hours by the militias. After the wave of killings late last week, strong reaction from the
international community stemmed the tide of violence to make Monday's balloting possible. IFET-OP is concerned that this
pressure will wane as visiting ambassadors, parliamentarians, observers and journalists leave East Timor.
"IFET observers (including two NZers) will remain in East Timor for a few more weeks, but our international volunteers
cannot sustain a permanent presence here," an IFET spokesperson said from Dili yesterday
Although UNAMET will maintain and expand its presence in East Timor over the next few weeks, their unarmed presence has
already proven inadequate to prevent violence in East Timor, or even protect their own staff.
If the peace continues to deteriorate, it will be the result of the short attention span of the international community
and its failure to confront Indonesia's illegal military presence in East Timor.
"The international community can prevent further bloodshed by expanding UNAMET's mandate and giving the East Timorese
people the security they deserve," Suzanne Menzies-Culling said.
For further information:
Suzanne Menzies-Culling (03) 477 3395.
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Peace Movement Aotearoa
PO Box 9314, Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand
tel +64 4 382 8129, fax +64 4 382 8173, pma@xtra.co.nz
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/
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