| Subject: UN
apologizes for not preventing E.Timor violence
UN apologizes for not preventing E.Timor
violence
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The
top U.N. official in East Timor apologised on Thursday for the United
Nations' failure to prevent the violence that engulfed the territory after
an Aug. 30 independence vote, a U.N. spokesman said.
Sergio Vieira de Mello, head of the U.N.
Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), offered the apology
during a visit to the coffee-growing district of Ermera, southwest of the
capital Dili, accompanied by independence leader Xanana Gusmao.
Pro-Jakarta militias went on a rampage of
killing and destruction after it was announced that nearly 80 percent of
voters favoured independence from Indonesia, which invaded the the former
Portuguese colony in 1975 and later annexed it.
Referring to the failure of the world
body to predict and prevent the violence, Vieira de Mello told a crowd of
about 5,000: ``For that I ask forgiveness from the people of East Timor.
``I am not ashamed to ask you to forgive
us. I would be ashamed not to acknowledge what happened,'' he added,
according to the U.N. spokesman.
``To deserve the generosity and
hospitality of the Timorese people, we have to acknowledge our mistakes
and shortcomings,'' Vieira de Mello said. ``We are going to make East
Timor an example of democracy, tolerance and justice.''
UNTAET is helping lead the territory to
independence in an operation expected to take two to three years.
An Australian-led international force
sent to East Timor as an interim measure in September to quell the
violence is due to be replaced by U.N. peacekeepers in February.
The United Nations announced on Wednesday
that its force would be commanded by Maj.-Gen. Jaime de los Santos of the
Philippines. He is to be promoted to lieutenant-general for the
assignment. Maj.-Gen. Michael Geoffrey Smith of Australia will be the
deputy force commander.
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