Subject: Urgent report from IFET-OP
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 12:14:08 -0500
From: maggie@web.net (Maggie Helwig)A report from the IFET-OP
This report has been compiled under extremely difficult circumstances as the situation
in Dili deteriorates by the hour.
Last night (Saturday) there was shooting throughout the night in the Dili suburb of
Becora which continued till sun rise. Also early this morning hand grenades were heard to
be exploding. Becora is now blockaded – nobody can get in or out. There is
unconfirmed reports of many killings of men, women and children. An unconfirmed number of
77 bodies are reported to be scatted throughout houses, lane and water ways. Bodies of
young children are reported to be among the dead including one with a twisted neck. There
are also reports of children bodies being thrown on fires. The Red Cross and UNAMET have
been denied access and are under strict orders not to leave their compounds. Nobody is
able to investigate these reports.There has been one witness that has come into the IFET
office to report on the Becora killings but people are too fearful to move out of the
area. Approximately 1,000 people are seeking refuge in a local church.
Another report estimates that 200 refugees are at the Protestant Hosana Church. At 2pm
today there was shooting coming from the downtown area of Dili where the church is
situated. At this time there is
At 4pm the police moved into the Mahkota hotel and escorted the journalists to the
airport with their consent and in order to protect them from the militias. The building
next to the hotel is on fire.
In the suburb of Balide at 5pm it was reported that buildings were on fire and 300
refugees were held up in a church school with Silesian Sisters. The Timor Aid office in
this area was looted.
There has been a warning that the Motael Clinic will be attacked tonight and the
building destroyed. There are 3 doctors and 2 nurses, some of them Australian. At present
there are 25 patients and their family members. A total of 57 people people.
The situation has now become crucial. IFET – OP believes that unless there is an
immediate intervention by a peace- keeping force within days, the consequences will be
catastrophe.
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