THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST INTERVENE IMMEDIATELY...OR THERE WILL BE NO EAST TIMOR
CNRT National Council for Timorese Resistance
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 8 September 1999
The Field Commander of Falintil, Taun Matan Ruak, called today from his base in the mountains of East Timor. He made an
impassioned plea for help and detailed further atrocities committed by the Indonesian military machine as it continues
its genocide and ethnic cleansing program.
Taun Matan Ruak said: "The international community must intervene urgently in East Timor -- or tomorrow there will be no
Timor to save. "I call on Timorese everywhere to mobilise to press in every way they can for international
intervention."
Taun Matan Ruak made a special appeal to Australia: "Our thanks to you for what you are doing. But we need more help. Do
not forget, Australia, that we were there to help when Australia needed us, dying in these very mountains to save
Australian troops."
The situation in Dili: "It is chaotic. People are fleeing to the mountains, being arrested, killed and forced on to
trucks to go to West Timor. "Some East Timorese in the police force have been murdered, some have fled to the mountains
to join us. "Indonesia is disarming Battalion 744 (an East Timorese territorial battalion); the Indonesians do not trust
them."
The situation in the Districts: Suai: "The Indonesians attacked and destroyed the church at Suai yesterday. Of 2000
people taking refuge there, they will 100-200, including two priests and two nuns." Ermera: "They attacked the church.
All the priest and nuns and everyone sheltering there fled to a hiding place and are safe at present. Commander Ular
(the local Falintil commander) says they are seeking safety in the mountains." Manatuto: "The church was attacked.
Father Domingos and the people sheltering there escaped to the mountains. Father Eduardo and another group are also on
their way into the mountains. Laleia, Ossu and Venilale: "Some residents and some local armed people got away from the
military. We are trying to find them to stop them sacrificing themselves in a hopeless local fight back. That is going
to be difficult; they are very determined people."
The situation in the mountains: "There are tens of thousands of refugees in the mountains now; they are in a terrible
situation. "They are hungry, thirsty, sick and in abject misery. "The roads are blocked, food is very short already. "We
are hungry, but we are doing everything we can to save our people."
STATEMENT BY: João Carrascalão Head of CNRT in Australia - President of UDT (Timorese Democratic Union)