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União Democrática Timorense TIMORESE DEMOCRATIC UNION MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release: 2 pm AEST, Sunday 15/11/98 Indonesians run amok; slaughter civilians, traditional leader, in East Timor DARWIN: Indonesian soldiers are running amok murdering civilians in the rural Barlique and Alas districts on East Timor's central south coast. The troops, from 744 Battalion, have executed the traditional leader in the area, the Liurai of Barlique, and threatened more killings, according to a report from the Falintil guerrilla leader in the area, Taur Matan Ruak. He and his resistance fighters have issued a challenge to the Indonesian army: "If you want to fight, fight us. Leave civilians alone."

He has also threatened to kill two Indonesian soldiers "with rank" being held captive by the Falintil group. They were captured in a clash on Monday as the group fought back against the massive Indonesian military drive to isolate and eliminate Falintil resistance. Falintil killed several soldiers of the Indonesian occupation force and captured fourteen. They released twelve immediately.

Taur Matan Ruak reported that the Indonesian army, ABRI, had rushed at least 19 truckloads of reinforcements into the area from Dili and Lospalos. The World President of the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT), João Carrascalão, today condemned the execution of the Liurai, the continuing indiscriminate killing of civilians, and the Indonesian army's continuing drive against Falintil.

"The Indonesians are demonstrating once again the degree of deceit and duplicity involved in Indonesian President Habibie's promises of 'autonomy' and 'special status' for East Timor if it is integrated into Indonesia. "The huge military build-up, the drive against Falintil, the assassination of a highly respected traditional leader, and the continuing indiscriminate slaughter of East Timorese civilians, all tell us clearly what special status East Timorese hold in the eyes of Indonesians.

"They regard us as vermin to be eradicated so they can occupy and exploit our fertile, oil-rich country for the benefit of Javanese," Mr Carrascalão said. Mr Carrascalão will fly to New York this week to observe the next stage in UN-sponsored talks between Indonesian and Portugal on the future of East Timor. At the talks, senior officials will examine a UN response to the Indonesian proposal to integrate East Timor. "I haven't seen the plan, but from what I hear, it is bad for East Timorese. It is about handing innocent people over to the murderous Indonesian army for target practice," Mr Carrascalão said.

Mr Carrascalão rejects integration as a solution to the East Timor situation. "We want a free referendum with East Timorese voting and no Indonesian involvement. I believe nearly all East Timorese inside and outside East Timor would reject integration with Indonesia. Certainly UDT rejects it; Xanana Gusmão, as leader of CNRT, the non-partisan Timorese resistance movement, recently released statements rejecting it; the Movement for Reconciliation and Unity for the Liberation of East Timor rejects it. "Earlier this year, the leaders of all East Timorese political parties in East Timor, including Apodeti, the party founded on integration with Indonesia, released a signed joint statement rejecting integration and calling for a referendum and self-determination." "These latest killings, along with the slaughter in Biak in West Papua , and the killings in Jakarta, can only harden our attitude towards Indonesia. The only relationship we want with Indonesia is that of neighbouring nations."

NOTE FOR EDITORS: 1. PLEASE REFER TO THE RESISTANCE AS 'FALINTIL'. IT IS THE NAME THE ARMED RESISTANCE HAS ADOPTED TO EMPHASISE THAT IT INCLUDES PEOPLE FROM ALL POLITICAL BACKGROUNDS, FRETILIN, UDT, APODETI, ETC. 2. PLEASE DO NOT USE THE TERM 'REBELS' WHEN REFERRING TO FALINTIL. THEY ARE NOT MALCONTENTS REBELLING AGAINST LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY, AS PRESENTED BY INDONESIA, RATHER THEY ARE GUERRILLAS OR RESISTANCE FIGHTERS RESISTING THE ILLEGAL ARMED TAKE-OVER OF THEIR HOMELAND. FURTHER INFORMATION: João Carrascalão, President, UDT % 0418 767 101 Issued on behalf of UDT by Geoffrey Heard & Associates Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Geoffrey Heard MarketNOW Marketing - PR - Advertising that sells like crazy. Tel: +61 3 9583 0788 Email: gheard@surf.net.au

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