Subject: ABC: Senior Indonesian ministers to visit E
Timor
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 16:53:46 -0400
From: "Sharon R.A. Scharfe" <pet@web.net>ABC (Australian Broadcasting
Corporation) Radio News
Thursday 8 July, 1999
Senior Indonesian ministers to visit E Timor
Five of Indonesia's senior ministers, including Defence Minister General Wiranto, are
to visit East Timor next week to look at mounting violence ahead of next month's
referendum on independence.
Indonesia has come under strong international pressure for failing to stop violence
committed by pro-Jakarta militias, including attacks on United Nations personnel.
General Wiranto together with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and the ministers
for justice, political affairs and home affairs, will visit East Timor next Monday as
concerns mount that next month's planned referendum could be postponed or cancelled
because of ongoing violence.
The United Nations which is responsible for the ballot will make a decision next
Tuesday whether its safe enough to go ahead with the registration of voters.
Pro-Jakarta militias with the backing of the Indonesian military have been waging a
campaign of intimidation in the troubled territory since early this year when President BJ
Habibie announced a referendum and his country's willingness to let go of East Timor if
that is what the people of the territory decide.
© 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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