Subject: REU - U.S. concerned about violence in East
Timor
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 15:19:51 -0700
From: Donald L Ferry <wolfbat359@mindspring.com>U.S. concerned about violence in
East Timor
WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday expressed concern about an
upsurge of violence in the troubled territory of East Timor, citing "credible
reports" of civilian deaths during a recent military sweep.
"We are disturbed at reports of renewed violence in East Timor," State
Department spokesman James Rubin said. "We call on all sides to refrain from violence
and to take all measures necessary to assure that civilians are not mistreated or denied
access to necessities."
Indonesia invaded the territory of 800,000 people in 1975 and annexed it the following
year, in a move not recognised by the United Nations.
Rubin said that three Indonesian soldiers were killed and as many as 13 others taken
hostage during an attack on an Indonesian outpost on East Timor on Nov 9.
He said International Committee of the Red Cross representatives had reported large
numbers of civilians taking refuge in churches and fleeing villages as the Indonesian
military swept the area in an attempt to free the hostages and track down the attackers.
"There have been credible reports of civilian deaths in the military sweep, but we
do not have confirmed numbers," Rubin said.
He noted the Indonesian state news agency had reported that the military operation had
been halted, but said the United States had not been able to confirm this.
In Jakarta, meanwhile, the Indonesian government on Monday denied a report that 44
people had been killed during a military crackdown on separatists in East Timor.
"It is not true that 44 people died," foreign ministry spokesman Gafar Fadyl
told Reuters. "We have checked our data. We found out that names and other details
are inaccurate," he said without elaborating.
In the territory's capital Dili, thousands of East Timorese students staged a protest
against the crackdown at a local legislators' office.
Indonesia still faces armed resistance in the territory, mostly from the Fretilin
guerrilla movement.
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