- Title: TIMOR/INDONESIA: PRO-INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTERS KILLED IN CLASHES BURIED IN DILI.
- Date: 27th August 1999
- Summary: DILI, EAST TIMOR (AUGUST 27, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV: POLICE AND PRO-INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTERS ON STREETS (5 SHOTS) 0.25 2. GV/PAN: WIDE OF FUNERAL VENUE 0.33 3. GV/MV/CU: VARIOUS OF FUNERALS AND MOURNERS/ WOMEN CRYING (13 SHOTS) 2.00 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LEANDRO ISAAC, CNRT LEADER : "We aren't so surprised at what h
- Embargoed: 11th September 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DILI, EAST TIMOR/ JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVA83QHA7QTXW5SYGU9FNG6Y20YI
- Story Text: Funerals have been held for some of those killed
during Thursday's clashes between pro-Jakarta and
pro-independence supporters.
The situation in East Timor remains tense as the final
campaign day for the historic August 30 referendum gets
underway but the Indonesian government maintains there will be
no delay in polling, nor any need for an armed international
peace-keeping force.
Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of
pro-independence supporters on Friday (August 27).
The victims were killed on Thursday (August 26) during
clashes between pro-independence and pro-autonomy supporters.
Both sides have accused each other of starting the
violence.
The United Nations says at least 5 people were killed in
the violence and at least 10 injured.A key leader of the
pro-independence CNRT said violence had occurred because
police had allowed militias to carry weapons.
"We aren't so surprised at what happened yesterday we
new before that the police had allowed pro autonomy campaign
to bring arms with them, to intimidate an kill our people,"
CNRT leader Leandro Isaac said.
But at a news conference ogranised by the Indonesian
security forces, Indonesia's ambassador to East Timor Lopes De
Cruz insisted the pro-independence groups opened fire first.
"Many weapons are being kept by the pro-autonomy and
pro-independence groups they kept the weapons so that they can
shoot each other, but I am certain that yesterday the first
shots were fired by pro-independence groups" de Cruz said.
Hundreds have been killed in the violence leading up to
the independence referendum scheduled for next Monday (August
30).
Stores around Dili remained closed on Friday after the
violence, and many residents stayed off the streets fearing
reprisals from both sides.
The United Nations has insisted it will go ahead with
the ballot, despite security concerns.
Speaking for the Indonesian government on Friday
(August 27), foreign minister Ali Alatas said the government
will do its best to contain the situation in the troubled East
Timor.
Alatas said Indonesia, which is responsible for security
in the run-up to Monday's vote on independence, had agreed to
allow foreign U.N.police advisers to give some help and that
their number could be increased after the ballot.
"But they will continue to be there with the same
capacities and the same mandate.So there will not be
peacekeeping forces," said Alatas.
Alatas also said that jailed resistance leader Xanana
Gusmao's planned release on September 15 was dependent on the
result of Monday's ballot.
The ballot's result is due on September 7.
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