Subject: SMH: Pacific diplomat named as first consul
in Dili
Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 17:45:50 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
Sydney Morning Herald 05/06/99
EAST TIMOR
Pacific diplomat named as first consul in Dili
By PETER COLE-ADAMS and MARK DODD
An experienced career diplomat, Mr James Batley, was named yesterday as Australia's
first consul in the East Timorese capital, Dili. He will take over the new post next week.
Mr Batley served in Vanuatu, Port Moresby and Jakarta before becoming High Commissioner
to the Solomon Islands, his most recent posting.
The Australian Federal Police said yesterday that the first 50 police officers selected
for the 280-strong United Nations police presence in East Timor had completed their
training and were ready to be deployed, possibly as early as next week.
In Dili, a senior human rights official said grave fears were held for 12 East Timorese
women detained on the orders of a local pro-autonomy militia group.
The Foundation for Legal and Human Rights (Yayasan-Hak) said it regarded as "very
accurate" information received by one woman who managed to escape from enforced
custody by the Besi Merah Putih (Red and White Iron) group based at Liquica, 30 kilometres
west of Dili.
The woman, whose name is being withheld by the human rights group, claimed the
remaining 12 hostages had been raped by militiamen.
Yayasan-Hak gave the Herald the names of the 12 women taken from their homes in Ulmera
village in Liquica district on May 17 after their husbands had fled to avoid forced
recruitment by the militia group.
"The husbands escaped to avoid forced enlistment. The women were taken hostage and
given over to four families in Maubara," the official said.
Meanwhile, there are encouraging signs that Indonesian police are taking a stronger
role in enforcing law and order in Dili.
On Thursday evening 70 police commandos patrolled central Dili and police established a
checkpoint on the main airport road frisking commuters to check for illegal weapons.
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