Virtual anarchy in East Timor. The pro-Indonesia militia have been blamed for five deaths. Extended Coverage of events.
BREAKING NEWS: Foreign Affairs Minister is about to make a statement in Parliament. Don McKinnon live from the house.
"We remain very concerned about the situation….it is primarily Indonesia's responsibility to ensure security…if things
go particularly bad we would hope for the UN to be able to escalate its role there….Indonesia is giving this
consideration…..APEC begins in Auckland next week…East Timor is not on the APEC agenda however I have no doubt that the
issue will be discussed in the margins….East Timor needs all the friends they can get".
VIOLENCE IN DILI: On the streets killings on film outside the UN compound. BBC reporter attacked. The militia surrounded
the UN HQ. The only protection comes from the Indonesian police they could control the militia but they don't. Thousands
of people stream into the UN compound. In their yearning for independence these people pose a threat for Indonesia.
Press Conference room turned into a refugee camp. At the port hundreds of people trying to leave by boat. Kiwi cameraman
working for Spanish Television says that at the Army HQ the soldiers laughed at the attacks taking place in the streets.
EAST TIMOR - LIVE INTERVIEW: Ewart Barnsley in Dili Live: Siesta time here now. Tried to leave today at the airport but
no luck. No commercial flights out of Dili for two or three weeks at least. When I came back a hotel down the road with
journalists in it was attacked by militia men who told all the journalists staying there to leave. This is worse than
anarchy it is anarchy backed by the state. At the moment there is a creeping sense of apprehension and fear. We feel
this hotel is the safest place in Dili because it is owned by the Indonesian army.
EAST TIMOR - NZ REACTION: Linda Clark - New Zealand in the thick of it. New Zealand police are coming back but army
staff are staying. Don McKinnon I/V - I spoke to Indonesian Foreign Minister Alitas last night and he said that he was
sending more police we hope they will do what they are supposed to do. Calls for a special meeting at APEC on the
crisis. The fact East Timor is on the edge of civil war will be the talk of the town at APEC.
EAST TIMOR - MPS ON WAY HOME: Five New Zealand MPs are believed to be on their way home. Roger Maxwell says it would be
good for NZ to keep a presence in East Timor. Phil Goff - NZ and Australia could provide peace and security here. Matt
Robson - Indonesia needs to be told that the leaders could face legal sanctions personally if Indonesia does not keep
the peace.
EAST TIMOR: Linda Clark Live: Indonesia will have to pull something out of the hat before APEC. China is likely to veto
any attempt to put in UN peacekeepers. But there is a glimmer of hope that Indonesia may allow peace keepers in if the
ballot is conclusively in favour of independence.
EAST TIMOR : Foreign Affairs say that there are a dozen NZers still in East Timor and 300 elite Indonesian police have
just arrived.