Another Kosovo on our doorstep? Over the weekend the referendum result in East Timor was announced and the security
situation has deteriorated severely. Scoop is covering the crisis closely.
SCOOP SPECIAL- EAST TIMOR ERUPTS IN VIOLENCE
The Aftermath - Evacuation And Massacre - Security Council Meeting
- An Australian airlift operation has begun to evacuate Australian nationals from the Indonesian territory of East
Timor. In Dili hundreds are feared dead as rampaging militias have been active all night. The UN Security Council is due
to meet to discuss the rapidly worsening situation in East Timor starting at 9am NZT.
The Result
- The East Timor Independence referendum result has been announced in New York by Secretary General Kofi Annan. 78%
voted against the proposal for special autonomy and, as expected, overwhelming result in favour of independence. Kofi Annan - 78% In Favour Of Timor Independence [1] in the Headlines wire. See also East Timor: Kofi Annan Statement To UN [2] .
Fear And Apprehension From East Timorese
- Statement by: Mr. Joao Carrascalao Head of CNRT in Australia (National Council for Timorese Resistance) President,
UDT (Timorese Democratic Union). See... CNRT: Indonesia planned post-ballot slaughter [1]
Analysis - The UN's Darkest Hour?
- Events over the past week have now brought the true situation in East Timor into the open, and in the process the
innocence and naivete of the wider international community has been harshly exposed. Scoop's Alastair Thompson analyses
the latest developments. See... UN Provides Bait For East Timor Disaster [1] in the Headlines wire.
Secret Meetings Arrange Bloodbath
- On Saturday Night the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Kerry O'Brien talked with an East Timorese activist who
says he has details of secret meetings between the Indonesian military and pro-Jakarta militia to plan a new wave of
violence. See a transcript of the interview… ... ABC:Secret Kopassus-militia meetings plan violence [1] .
Political Reaction:
- GOVERNMENT: Don McKinnon - "The people of East Timor have made a clear statement about their future". See... McKinnon - East Timor Ballot result loud and clear [1].
- ALLIANCE: Jim Anderton - "Mrs Shipley's government must now guarantee the people of East Timor that as APEC host, she
will use the advantage that role gives her to put pressure on Indonesia for a peaceful transition to independence."
See... East Timor's triumph is APEC's challenge [2] .
- LABOUR – ALLIANCE: The Labour and Alliance representatives on the East Timor Parliamentary delegation, Phil Goff and
Matt Robson, will urge Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon in talks this evening to put intense pressure on Indonesia
to protect the East Timorese people. See… Joint Labour-Alliance plea to McKinnon on Timor [3] .
- GREENS: Six Indonesian soldiers training in New Zealand should be sent home and Indonesian participation planned for
three Armed Forces courses in coming months cancelled, the Green Party says. See... Indonesian Soldiers Should Be Sent Home [4] .
Earlier: On The Eve Chaos Threatens
- The UN operation in East Timor has entered siege mode as militia violence escalates and the announcement of the
independence referendum result approaches. See... Maliana In Flames As Chaos Envelopes East Timor [1] in the Headlines wire.
BACKGROUND:
- UNAMET Briefing Summary for Friday, 3 September [6] . All in the General wire.