RegEasttimor News Summaries

These summaries are compiled by ETISC, the East Timor
International Support Center, Darwin, http://www.easttimor.com


THE WEEK THAT WAS

After a short delay, the campaign for independence or autonomy
has begun. According to the latest International Federation for
East Timor Observer Project press release, an atmosphere of
intimidation and fear still exists.

"In many parts of East Timor, pro-independence forces do not feel
sufficiently secure to campaign publicly." Violence continues,
as do the Indonesian pledges of concern about the violence. As
usual, these ring hollow, even more so with regard to Bishop Belo's
recent assertion that Indonesia continues to arm militias, including in
areas previously devoid of militia violence.

Indonesia has replaced its armed forces commander in East Timor,
Colonel Tono Suratman, with a former Kopassus member, Colonel
Muhamad Nuer Muis. Some observers say this is a sign of a more
moderate approach. But this overlooks the point that Suratman has
been promoted to deputy head of the Special Forces, Kopassus. It
also ignores the fact that the most senior Indonesian military figure in
East Timor remains a brigadier in charge of the Kopassus intelligence unit
(SGI) responsible for orchestrating much of the violence against
independence supporters.

The confusion surrounding the introduction of US troops into East
Timor continues.

Alexander Downer looks to have made a few errors during public
appearances, while the US government asserts that it would only
send troops under UN auspices!!

Official denial is the classic way for governments to go when they
are not prepared to show their cards. In reality, serious
conversations have taken place between the US and Australian
military establishments over what to do when East Timor goes
haywire.

The Carter Centre continues to monitor the polling process and have expressed concern about continued intimidation by militia groups and their links with the Indonesian armed forces.


UNITED NATIONS

1. UN announces delay in East Timor vote campaign start
2. UNAMET chief heads for Jakarta for pre-campaign talks
3. Report of UNSG to Security Council
4. UN says no to call for local vote tally

EAST TIMOR

5. Belo fears army may ignore new code of conduct
6. East Timor rights watchdog alleges campaign to scuttle polls
7. Two East Timor students reported dead, two abducted
8. Plebiscite Results to be Announced One Week After Vote
9. Jailed E.Timorese rebel leader can campaign through media
10. MILITIA ATTACK: Police 'take time' as students die
11. Special Timor council to be set up after vote
12. Timorese bishop says Indonesian military arming more militias
13. Campaigning kicks off for crucial vote in E.Timor
14. Pro-Indonesia campaigner warns of war
15. Political factions start East Timor vote campaign with peace
pledge

INDONESIA

16. Jakarta considering request for meeting between Xanana and
commanders
17. Jakarta sends covert troops to Timor
18. Indonesia agrees on need to beef up UN forces in post-ballot
East Timor
19. Timor brass shuffle tipped as peace hope
20. Jakarta pledges action over military aid to Timor militias
21. Suharto back in hospital

AUSTRALIA

22. UN backs Australian plan for bigger East Timor force
23. Downer under fire over Timor peacekeeping
24. Downer admits receiving cable on US plans for Timor
25. Why Australia kept Timor secrets from the US

UNITED STATES

26. U.S. Denies E.Timor Troops Report
27. No U.S. Troops to Timor - State Dept.
28. 100 Members Call On President To Use All Channels To Press
Indonesia On East Timor

UNITED NATIONS

1. UN announces delay in East Timor vote campaign start
August 9, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

The head of the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), Ian Martin,
on Monday announced a slight delay in the start of the political
campaign ahead of a landmark poll on self determination in
the territory.

"The campaign will start on Saturday, August 14, instead of the
initially planned August 11," Martin said here.

He did not elaborate on the reason for the delay.

2. UNAMET chief heads for Jakarta for pre-campaign talks
August 10, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

The head of the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) Ian Martin
headed for Jakarta on Tuesday for talks with top United Nations,
Indonesian and Portuguese officials, a UNAMET spokesman said.

Also attending the meetings in the Indonesian capital will be UN
special envoys on East Timor, Jamsheed Marker and Francesc
Vendrell, and an officer from the UN's peacekeeping division,
UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst said.

Wimhurst dismissed speculation that the presence of the
peacekeeping officer in Jakarta meant the UN Security Council had
decided to replace the unarmed police in East Timor with armed
peacekeepers.

But he said the meetings would discuss a possible increase in the
number of civilian police in East Timor after the ballot which is due to
be held on August 30.

The campaign period is due to start on Saturday and will last until
August 27. UNAMET's mandate has been extended by one month
to September 30.

3. Report of UNSG to Security Council
August 9, 1999
Source: United Nations

The Security Council, by its resolution 1246 (1999) of 11 June
1999, established the United Nations Mission in East Timor
(UNAMET) to organize and conduct a popular consultation. In
accordance with that resolution, the United Nations is authorized to
operate in East Timor throughout the consultation process, which ends by
the announcement of its results. However, in accordance with the Agreement
between the Republic of Indonesia and the Portuguese Republic on the
question of East Timor signed on 5 May 1999 (hereinafter referred to as
"the 5 May Agreement") (A/53/951-S/1999/513, annex I), the United Nations
will be required to play a substantive role in East Timor in the
post-ballot period.

4. UN says no to call for local vote tally
August 12, 1999
Source: Sydney Morning Herald

The United Nations has rejected a demand by Indonesia that the
UN provide a breakdown of how various districts voted after the
referendum on August 30.

Some political analysts believe a district-by-district breakdown
could serve demands by hardline militia groups for a pro-Indonesia
breakaway region within East Timor if the vote is won by the
independence side.

The UN mission in East Timor, UNAMET, will announce the
referendum result in the capital, Dili, and it will not include a
breakdown of votes by district, its spokesman, Mr David Wimhurst,
said.

"There has been no change. Our intention is to issue a single and
final count for all of East Timor," Mr Wimhurst said. The UN would
not even compile a confidential report detailing district level voting
patterns.

"Our concern has always been that threats made against people
concerning the way they vote could, if we publish voting patterns at a
district, sub-district or even village level, be used to provoke
violence," he said.

EAST TIMOR

5. Belo fears army may ignore new code of conduct
August 10, 1999
Source: The Age

East Timor's rival political factions took a small step towards
reconciliation today by signing a UN-brokered code of conduct
committing them to a non-violent campaign for the 30 August
referendum on self-determination.

The head of the Catholic Church in the territory, the Nobel laureate
Bishop Carlos Belo, said he hoped the Indonesian army would
cooperate with the code and ``not play around behind our backs''.

Bishop Belo said he welcomed the agreement but was troubled by
continuing reports of violence and intimidation. Elements of the
military have been regularly cited in UN, human rights and church
reports as supporting pro-Indonesian militia violence.

``I hear about people being threatened. I hear about people being
shot. I hear about refugees being attacked on their way home. This
is a matter of high concern,'' Bishop Belo said.

6. East Timor rights watchdog alleges campaign to scuttle polls
August 10, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

East Timor's leading rights watchdog Tuesday alleged Indonesia
had systematically campaigned to scuttle a UN-held referendum on
the future of the former Portugese colony.

The Committee for a Free and Fair Ballot of the Foundation for
Human Rights and Justice (YHAK) in its report on the 22-day
registration period that ended on August 8, listed extensive
violations, mostly by members of the pro-Indonesia militias.

"The violations showed that there was a systematic attempt to
prevent a free and fair consutlation," the committee said in the
report.

"The cases we dealt with indicated the involvement of Indonesian
government officials, TNI (the Indonesian armed forces) and the
national police as well as the pro-integration militias," it said.

7. Two East Timor students reported dead, two abducted in militia
attack
August 11, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

Pro-Indonesian militia twice attacked a student poll information
center in the East Timorese town of Viqueque, abducting two
students and shooting at least two others dead, fellow students
said Wednesday.

They also smashed and stole communications equipment before
driving the two away in trucks, accompanied by motorcycles,
opening fire on the students as they left, the director of the center,
Januario da Silva Belo said.

The militia then returned at noon on Wednesday, shooting at the
center for some two hours.

Two of the students, one named Mario, were killed before the rest
fled, according to the last brief telephone reports from Viqueque,
their colleagues here said.

8. Plebiscite Results to be Announced One Week After Vote
August 11, 1999
Source: LUSA

Results of East Timor's Aug. 30 self-determination plebiscite
should only be released one week after the vote and may be
simultaneously announced in Dili and New York, sources at the UN
Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) told Lusa Wednesday.

Votes in East Timor will be collectively counted in Dili, while
results from abroad will be counted by UN personnel in the 13
cities outside the territory where East Timorese are eligible to
vote in the UN-supervised ballot on autonomy or independence.

The UN will only announce one comprehensive result, covering
all voting districts.

9. Jailed E.Timorese rebel leader can campaign through media
August 12, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

Indonesia Thursday ruled out allowing jailed independence leader
Xanana Gusmao to return to East Timor to campaign for the self-
determination ballot, but said he could campaign through the
media from his jail house here.

"I will talk through television and radio," Gusmao told journalists
after a visit by UN special envoy Jamsheed Marker to his detention
house, behind the walls of Jakarta's Salemba prison.

"I want to be able to talk with the people," Gusmao said, deploring
the limited reach of the largely Indonesian-government media in
East Timor.

10. MILITIA ATTACK: Police 'take time' as students die
August 13, 1999
Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Local human rights officials told the Herald that this week's violence
began on Tuesday evening when militia members attacked a student office,
located 300 metres from a police station. It was set up to conduct
pro-independence campaigning.

They said local police did not intervene in the violence that night
which led to the abduction of two students and furniture and
equipment being smashed. Furthur violence erupted on
Wednesday between students and militia in which two students
were killed and one injured.

Mr Wimhurst acknowledged that Indonesian police, responsible for
maintaining security in East Timor during the balloting period, were late
in arriving to restore law and order.

11. Special Timor council to be set up after vote
August 13, 1999
Source: Reuters

The United Nations has endorsed the setting up of a special
council to oversee the disputed region of East Timor after it
holds an August 30 ballot on independence, a top U.N. official said
on Friday.

The council is expected to come into effect the day after the ballot.

The plan had been agreed by pro-Jakarta and pro-independence
leaders who met earlier this week under a U.N.-organised talks in
Jakarta, Jamsheed Marker told a news conference.

Details remain unclear but Portugal's special envoy to Indonesia
told reporters that the committee would consist of 10 officials each from
pro-Jakarta and pro-independence groups.

``Another five come from a neutral body, such as the church,'' Ana
Gomes said, adding that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan would
endorse the officials' appointments. She said the committee would
come into effect on August 31, a day after the ballot.

12. Timorese bishop says Indonesian military arming more militias
August 11, 1999
Source: Catholic News Service

Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo of Dili, East Timor,
accused the Indonesian military of arming new militia groups,
stepping up a campaign of terror designed to disrupt the U.N.-
sponsored autonomy ballot Aug. 30.

The bishop said the Indonesian military fears it will lose
control of East Timor after the vote over autonomy under continued
Indonesian rule or independence. He said Indonesia is trying to
ensure that a free and fair election does not occur.

"I have bad news. They are openly and clearly distributing guns in
Baukau and Laga and other places. They are turning Timorese
against Timorese. It is like hell," he said.

The Indonesian military has been providing weapons to militia
groups for several months. The bishop said the significance of its
latest action is that it is occurring in a region that had been largely
free of militia activity.

13. Campaigning kicks off for crucial vote in E.Timor
August 14, 1999
Source: South China Morning Post

Campaigning will begin today in the UN-supervised ballot to decide
East Timor's political future, after talks held in Jakarta made
progress on guaranteeing peace in the territory regardless of the
outcome of the vote.

United Nations special envoy Jamsheed Marker said he received
new assurances that Jakarta had ordered its militia supporters to
stop their violence in the territory.

Indonesian officials again declared their commitment to a peaceful
vote.

"I am satisfied measures are being taken to correct the situation,"
Mr Marker said.

14. Pro-Indonesia campaigner warns of war as E Timor vote
campaign opens
August 14, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

A two-week campaign for a UN-organized vote on East Timor's
future opened here Saturday, with pro-Indonesia campaigners
warning of likely war if the territory became free, while the
pro-independence movement showed little early activities.

About 1,000 people mobilized by pro-Indonesia campaigners
gathered at a dusty sports field near the East Timor capital of Dili's
Comoro airport to attend the first campaign rally to promote broad
autonomy under Indonesia.

"In 1975, there was a group which wanted to bring down the
Portuguese flag and what happened was an all-out war. Now the
same group wants to bring down the flag that is currently flying,"
pro-Indonesia campaigner, Basilio Araujo told the crowd.

"There is a possibility that we will experience again what happened
in 1975," added Araujo, spokesman for the Jakarta-backed pro-
integration Forum for Unity, Democracy and Justice (FPDK.)

15. Political factions start East Timor vote campaign with peace
pledge
August 14, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

The first day of campaigning for a landmark vote on East Timor's
future closed here Saturday with activists on both sides vowing to
work for a peaceful campaign.

Representatives of the pro-independence and pro-autonomy factions
attended a ceremony at the headquarters of the poll organizers, the
UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), late on Saturday to launch
the campaign officially.

The ceremony was also attended by UN special envoy Jamsheed
Marker and diplomats from Indonesia and Portugal.

"We have committed ourselves to respecting the political rights of
everybody and to respect the results of the consultation," said
Leandro Isaac, speaking for the pro-independence National Council
of Timorese Resistance (CNRT).

INDONESIA

16. Jakarta considering request for meeting between Xanana and
commanders
August 9, 1999
Source: BBC World Broadcasts, originally appearing in Republika

According to the Minister for Defence and Security/Commander
Indonesian Military Forces (TNI), Gen Wiranto, the Indonesian
government has no objections to and would encourage holding a
meeting between Falintil Commander/President of
the National Council for East Timorese Resistance (CNRT), Xanana
Gusmao, and Falintil leaders on the ground. However he said, due
to Xanana's status as a prisoner, the technicalities of such a
meeting needed further discussion.

17. Jakarta sends covert troops to Timor
August 12, 1999
Source: The Australian

Fears over security in the territory after the referendum will be
intensified by reports that the Kopassus special forces have sent
plain-clothes troops to the territory.

The Indonesian military has been worried about its intelligence
operation in East Timor since police took over the primary role
there late last year. Observers say the Kopassus forces will be
used to augment intelligence-gathering - a role they previously
undertook in East Timor.

But The Australian understands some intelligence analysts fear the
Kopassus forces will also be used to support a pro-autonomy vote
in the ballot by supplying bribes or in other covert operations.

18. Indonesia agrees on need to beef up UN forces in post-ballot
East Timor
August 12, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

Indonesia has agreed to a plan to strengthen the UN presence in
East Timor to improve security after the August 30 vote there on
autonomy or independence, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said
Thursday.

"The principle has already been agreed by both sides," Alatas said
refering to Indonesia and Portugal.

"We all see the need for an addition, to anticipate the possibility of new
tension," Alatas said after accompanying UN special envoy Jamsheed Marker
in a meeting with President B.J. Habibie here.

But he said the mission of the reinforcements would remain the
same, and "they will not become (an armed) peacekeeping force."

"The priciple will remain the same. The one responsible for the
security in the second phase would be the (Indonesian) police and
the UN civilian police will remain as advisors," he said.

19. Timor brass shuffle tipped as peace hope
August 14, 1999
Source: The Australian

INDONESIA yesterday replaced East Timor's controversial armed
forces commander, Tono Suratman, sparking speculation Jakarta
may moderate its hardline support of the military in the troubled
province and confine its troops to barracks.

One day before the start of campaigning for the August 30 ballot,
Colonel Suratman has been promoted to brigadier, and leaves East
Timor for Jakarta to become deputy commander of the Kopassus
special forces.

His replacement, Muhamad Nuer Muis, is an infantry officer,
although he was also once in Kopassus.

20. Jakarta pledges action over military aid to Timor militias
August 13, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

The Indonesian government has pledged action over accusations
that the military was supporting militias blamed for recent
violence in East Timor, a UN envoy said Friday

21. Suharto back in hospital
August 14, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

Former Indonesian President Suharto on Saturday returned the
Pertamina hospital where he had been treated for a mild stroke
last month, a hospital spokeswoman said.

"He came in at 10:00 a.m. and that is about the only thing I can
say," spokeswoman Susilowati said.

AUSTRALIA

22. UN backs Australian plan for bigger East Timor force
August 9, 1999
Source: The Australian

The UN will press Indonesia to accept Australian proposals to
boost the international security force in East Timor after this
month's scheduled independence ballot, officials have said.

The proposals would mean doubling the existing UN police force
with an extra 200 to 300 officers and raising the military strength
from 50 advisers to between 250 and 350. Officials in Canberra
confirmed a report that Australia had won the backing of key UN
members, including the US, for its proposals after weeks of talks at UN
headquarters in New York.

Australia is expected to provide up to a third of the extra forces,
which would be in place by the ballot.

23. Downer under fire over Timor peacekeeping
August 10, 1999
Source: Agence France Presse

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was accused Tuesday
of deceit after being forced to admit he was wrong to deny that US
officials had suggested Australian participation in a peacekeeping
force for East Timor.

Downer's admission followed an opposition question in parliament
on Monday. He had replied he was unaware of any requests from
the United States for Australia to take part in peace enforcement in East
Timor.

Hours later he told parliament he had been informed by his
department that US military officials had asked "hypothetically"
about Australia's willingness to participate during a meeting of
officials in June.

Downer denied 10 days ago that a senior US official told Australian
foreign affairs department head Ashton Calvert he believed a full-
scale peacekeeping operation would be necessary in East Timor
and that Australia's attitude was "essentially defeatist".

But Downer was forced Monday to concede that US Assistant
Secretary of State for East Asia Stanley Roth had expressed "a
personal view" to Calvert that a full-scale peacekeeping operation
would be an unavoidable aspect of the transition to independence.

24. Downer admits receiving cable on US plans for Timor
August 10, 1999
Source: Australian Associated Press

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today admitted receiving a
diplomatic cable on US proposals for a peacekeeping force in East
Timor, but said he had not read it because his office received too
many cables.

"It won't come as any surprise that no minister could read 100,000
cables," he said.

Mr Downer's admission is the latest in a series of backdowns since
his blanket denial of reports the US had floated the idea of a
military force on East Timor with Australia.

Just yesterday he told parliament he was aware of all available
information on the issue and there had been no US request for
Australia to participate in a Timor military force.

However, late last night he told parliament he had just been
informed US military officials had asked Australian defence officers in
June whether Australia would contribute to any peacekeeping force on
Timor.

25. Why Australia kept Timor secrets from the US
August 13, 1999
Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Australia refused a direct request to hand over sensitive intelligence
material to the United States State Department detailing links between the
Indonesian armed forces and pro-Jakarta militias involved in violence and
intimidation in East Timor.

Australia's refusal to supply the information to Mr Roth, the Clinton
Administration's senior specialist on the region, appears highly unusual,
but one official explained the rebuff as a need to protect sensitive
Australian intelligence sources on the ground in Indonesia.

UNITED STATES

26. U.S. Denies E.Timor Troops Report
August 10, 1999
Source: Reuters

The United States denied a newspaper report Tuesday
that it told Australian defense strategists in June it would consider
deploying up to 15,000 troops to East Timor if bloodshed escalated there.

``Media reports that the United States has plans to send U.S.
troops to East Timor to maintain order in that territory are
incorrect,'' the United States Information Service said in a
statement released here.

``The United States has no plans to send U.S. forces to east Timor,
independently of the U.N., to act as peacekeepers or peace
enforcers.''

27. No U.S. Troops to Timor - State Dept.
August 10, 1999
Source: United States Department of State

[State Dept. spokesman James] Rubin denied press reports that
say 15,000 U.S. Marines will be sent to East Timor in Indonesia
following the referendum for independence set for August 30.

28. 100 Members Call On President To Use All Channels To Press
Indonesia On East Timor
August 11, 1999
Source: US House of Representatives

U.S. Rep. Tony Hall, D-Ohio, joined 99 other Members of
the U.S. House of Representatives in urging President Clinton to do
"everything in its power to convince Jakarta to call off the
paramilitaries" that are threatening to derail elections in East Timor.

The elections have been postponed twice because of violence , and
now are set for August 30. "This is a historic opportunity," the
Members wrote. "However, if Indonesian forces and those under
their effective control continue in their currentmanner, the process will
lead instead to an unfair election or no election at all - which could
lead in turn to yet another bloodbath in East Timor."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
east-timor is a list server echo of a conference (newsgroup) called
reg.easttimor which originates from the Association for Progressive
Communications (APC) member networks (PeaceNet, GreenNet,
etc.). east-timor contains postings from a wide range of sources,
NGO, mainstream media, the UN and various governments
Postings average 10-15 per day, although the frequency varies with
thepace of East Timor-related events. This conference is available
by email. To subscribe access to any Internet address; write
etan-outreach@igc.apc.org or altin@atlantic.net.

* * * * * * * * * *
Weekly summaries of reg.et are produced by the East Timor
International Support Center (ETISC) in Darwin, Australia and
posted on ETAN's gopher at
gopher://gopher.igc.apc.org:70/11/peace/timor.gopher/summaries
and on the web at http://www.easttimor.com/html/summaries.html.

To join the list via email simply by sending a BLANK
email to:
timsumm-subscribe@topica.com

Subscribers can unsubscribe from the list via email simply
by sending a BLANK email to:
timsumm-unsubscribe@topica.com

*****************************

An abridged, read-only version of reg.easttimor, with an average of
two daily postings, is on APC as the conference tapol.etimor. This
is also available as e-mail; send a note to maggie@web.net to
receive it.

A list of up-to-date web sites on East Timor can be found at
http://www.etan.org/resource/websites.htm

(These summaries are prepared by ETISC, the East Timor
International Support Centre: info@easttimor.com,
http://www.easttimor.com/)