Home > News & Opinion > International News > RSS Feed
E-mail article |  | Graphic version |  | Most popular
UN warns of security threats in camps holding tens of thousands of East Timorese By Associated Press Saturday, June 3, 2006 - Updated: 12:49 PM EST DILI, East Timor - A U.N. official warned Saturday that violence could spill into squalid camps where tens of thousands of East Timorese have sought refuge from fighting between military factions and rival gangs.
Aid workers estimate 100,000 residents have fled to more than 30 camps in Dili, or have abandoned the city since violence erupted last month. They face new threats to their security amid reports of growing tension and fighting at the crowded shelters, said Gregory Garras, head of the U.N. refugee agency’s emergency team in East Timor.
“We see these camps as a major flashpoint,” Garras said, citing rumors that weapons were filtering into some camps. “People are living in a desperate situation, cheek to jowl. There’s no privacy, it’s hot, there’s insufficient water. The conditions are absolutely untenable.”
He said the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees would bring tents, plastic sheeting and other supplies to Dili early Sunday.
Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos Horta was sworn in as defense minister in a bid to end the unrest, which has killed at least 30 people. Horta, who is already the foreign minister won the Nobel prize in 1996 for bringing world attention to the plight of East Timorese under years of often brutal Indonesian rule.
The defense and interior ministers resigned Thursday, taking responsibility for failing to prevent the worst violence since East Timor’s break from Indonesia in 1999.
The mayhem erupted over Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri’s dismissal of 600 soldiers from the 1,400-member army in March. Before they were dismissed, the soldiers had gone on strike, claiming the government discriminated against them.
Sporadic clashes last month between the fired soldiers and government troops set off street warfare in Dili between gangs loosely allied with either side. The unrest escalated recently into riots and clashes with government forces.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the country needed an international police force under the auspices of the United Nations, which scaled back operations in East Timor after the nation declared independence in 2002.
More than 2,000 troops from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal are now in East Timor trying to restore order.
“We believe that the United Nations should have a bigger role in the immediate future here in East Timor, assisting with the process of reconciliation,” Downer said on a one-day visit to Dili. “I think the United Nations also should play a greater role in assisting the East Timorese in broadly defined areas of governance.”
Alkatiri said some recent violence was carried out by former members of pro-Indonesian militias that devastated East Timor in 1999 after the country voted to break away from Indonesia, which had occupied the former Portuguese colony for 24 years.
“I was told that some actions - the burning of houses and other violence, civil unrest - some ex-militias are involved, militias of 1999,” Alkatiri told The Associated Press in an interview.
He said a mob’s recent attack on the attorney-general’s office and theft of evidence on massacres and other crimes in the 1999 upheaval was not random.
“There’s no coincidence in this kind of thing,” Alkatiri said.
The missing files implicate Indonesian military and police commanders in the violence nearly seven years ago, according to East Timorese authorities.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said his country had not instigated the recent unrest, and was not involved in the theft of documents.
“That’s their business, we have nothing to do with it,” Wirajuda was quoted as saying by Indonesia’s national news agency, Antara.
Downer said there was no evidence that Indonesia was involved.
Alkatiri said he expected foreign forces who have arrived to restore order would stay for months.
He also defended the decision to fire the 600 soldiers - one-third of the army.
“In every country in the world, if soldiers abandon their barracks, they have to be sacked,” said the prime minister, who later met Downer to discuss the crisis.
President Xanana Gusmao had opposed the dismissals, and he has tried to break a political deadlock with Alkatiri, who has rejected calls to resign from many East Timorese.
---
Associated Press reporter Anthony Deutsch contributed to this report.
© Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
E-mail article |  | Graphic version |  | Most popular
Today's Top Articles Viewed Emailed Rated Updated 3:30 PM Boston Red Sox Youkilis blunders, then thunders to tame Tigers: First baseman’s 2-run jack in 9th rallies Sox Boston Red Sox Pauley wants seconds: Will face Yanks in NY Boston Celtics C’s take look at local free agent hopefuls Local / Regional News Chelsea teen fights deportation Boston Red Sox Schilling’s best in old ball game Boston Red Sox Hey fake fans: Make like Damon and leave Business News Levitra’s NFL sponsorship will lapse in month Music News & Reviews Cambridge indie foursome Channels ’60s pop in debut Local / Regional News Chelsea teen fights deportation Lifestyle Battle of the sexes shocker: Survey: Men and marriage are a match made in heaven Boston Red Sox Lowell celebrates rebirth with Sox Boston Celtics Boston’s Ainge sees reign in Spain teenager Opinion & Editorial Spelling relief from TV trash N.E. Patriots Izzo hopes Pats have it covered: Eyes special (teams) delivery Local Politics Delegate pushes Bush, Cheney impeachment View the Herald Top Ten
Search the site
Past 7 days Archives G o o g l e
Order home delivery
Save up to 60% ordering Boston Herald home delivery online. » click here |

[ contact us ] :: [ print advertising ] :: [ online advertising ] :: [ Herald History ] :: [ News Tips ] :: [ Electronic Edition ] :: [ Browser Upgrade ] Click here for home delivery or call 1.800.882.1211 for Back Issues call 617.619.6523
© Copyright by the Boston Herald and Herald Media. No portion of BostonHerald.com or its content may be reproduced without the owner's written permission. Privacy Commitment
| Enterprise-level broadband service provided by Expedient: America's Largest All-Ethernet Network |  | Wireless broadband service provided by Towerstream

bh.heraldinteractive.com: 0.051465:Sat, 03 Jun 2006 16:49:48 GMT