PORTUGAL: THOUSANDS OF PORTUGUESE TAKE TO STREETS OF LISBON IN PROTEST AT SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR

Record ID: 374113

  • Title: PORTUGAL: THOUSANDS OF PORTUGUESE TAKE TO STREETS OF LISBON IN PROTEST AT SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR
  • Date: 8th September 1999
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 8, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS CARS STOPPED IN STREETS; DRIVERS STANDING NEXT TO CARS/ PROTESTORS LINKING HANDS (6 SHOTS) 0.27 2. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY CARRYING PLACARDS WITH SLOGANS IN SUPPORT OF PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR/ MAN WITH EAST TIMOR FLAG/ BANNER ON BUILDING SAYING "SAVE TIMOR" (8 SHOTS) 1.06 3. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LINKING HANDS TO FORM HUMAN CHAIN (7 SHOTS) 1.56 4. VARIOUS OF PROTESTORS CLAPPING (6 SHOTS) 2.27 5. MV/CU PROTESTERS LIGHTING CANDLES IN STREET (2 SHOTS) 2.35 6. SV PROTESTORS CHANTING 2.39 7. SV/CU A WOMAN, AN EAST TIMORESE EXILE CRYING (2 SHOTS) 2.49 8. SCU WOMAN WITH FLOWERS 2.54 9. MV/SLV PEOPLE BY ROADSIDE CARRYING BANNERS (2 SHOTS) 3.02 10. PULL OUT CARS STOPPED IN STREET 3.14 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • Country: Portugal
  • Reuters ID: LVA9KR8GLV0ZZA1IW9YQTZET1U0I
  • Story Text: Thousands of Portuguese have taken to the streets
    Lisbon in protest at the situation in East Timor.The
    organisers of the protest said they wanted to express
    solidarity with the people of East Timor.

    Tens of thousands of Portuguese people joined hands in
    Lisbon on Wednesday to express solidarity with the East
    Timorese in a protest at the carnage in the former Pacific
    colony.

    Chanting "Timor, independence", up to 40,000 people held
    hands in a 10-km (six-mile) human chain linking the embassies
    of the five permanent members of the U.N., France, China,
    Britain, the United States and Russia, police and witnesses
    said.

    Participants included Prime Minister Antonio Guterres and
    other leading politicians from across the political spectrum.

    The demonstration was expected to last for 10 minutes from
    1700 GMT, but continued for at least an hour.

    Earlier, Portugal came to a halt for three minutes as
    people around the country observed a silent protest at the
    violence in East Timor where pro-Jakarta militiamen killed
    hundreds in the past week.

    At 1400 GMT, office workers lined the streets, drivers
    stopped their cars and got out and public transport stopped,
    even on the April 25 bridge across the River Tagus.Radio
    stations played traditional Timorese music or fell silent.

    The demonstration was backed by all political parties and
    union groups.

    Portugal negotiated with Indonesia the holding of last
    week's United Nations-organised referendum in East Timor in
    which the overwhelming majority opted for independence after
    23 years of rule from Jakarta.

    The country has been profoundly shocked by the scenes of
    violence and mayhem unleashed by pro-Indonesia militias
    seemingly intent on blocking the territory's move towards
    statehood.

    Portugal requested a formal meeting of the Security
    Council on Wednesday on the deteriorating situation in East
    Timor, its U.N.envoy Antonio Monteiro said.

    He said he wanted the council to dispatch a peacekeeping
    force to East Timor, whether or not Indonesia agreed.


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