Subject: UN: April 6 press briefing
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 09:40:39 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>6 April 1999 Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
19990406
[excerpt]
**East Timor
The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman on the subject of East Timor:
The Secretary-General is seriously concerned by continuing reports from East Timor of
an escalation of violence. A high degree of political maturity and statesmanship is
required at this time so that the opportunity now on the table can be seized.
He emphasizes his commitment to the continuation of the diplomatic process towards the
settlement of the East Timor question, and urges the parties not to allow the process to
be jeopardized by increasing armed conflict.
...
Question: Was the Secretary-General aware Xanana Gusmao has announced this week that
he's essentially ordering his guerrillas back into action after asking them to abstain
from military action for several months?
To paraphrase his statement, he's basically saying that he thinks the Indonesian
Government is negotiating in bad faith -- negotiating here while creating facts on the
ground that would undermine any move towards independence. Did the Secretary-General have
any more specific comment about that statement?
Spokesman: No, he does not. We're looking forward to the return of the assessment team
that's been in the region; they're coming back next week.
Ambassador Jamsheed Marker will be here, I believe on Tuesday, to meet with them, not
only to review what they went out to assess -- which was how to sample opinion on the
autonomy proposal among East Timorese -- but the situation more broadly in East Timor.
It's a very worrying situation, and that's why the Secretary-General made this appeal this
morning.
Back to April Menu
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu
June '98 through February '99 |
