Scoop Today Special - Anarchy In East Timor

Monday, 6 September 1999, 10:01 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

Another Kosovo on our doorstep? Over the weekend the referendum result in East Timor was announced and the security situation has deteriorated severely. Scoop is covering the crisis closely.

SCOOP SPECIAL- EAST TIMOR ERUPTS IN VIOLENCE

The Aftermath - Evacuation And Massacre - Security Council Meeting

- An Australian airlift operation has begun to evacuate Australian nationals from the Indonesian territory of East Timor. In Dili hundreds are feared dead as rampaging militias have been active all night. The UN Security Council is due to meet to discuss the rapidly worsening situation in East Timor starting at 9am NZT.

The Result

- The East Timor Independence referendum result has been announced in New York by Secretary General Kofi Annan. 78% voted against the proposal for special autonomy and, as expected, overwhelming result in favour of independence. Kofi Annan - 78% In Favour Of Timor Independence [1] in the Headlines wire. See also East Timor: Kofi Annan Statement To UN [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00022.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00023.htm

Fear And Apprehension From East Timorese

- Statement by: Mr. Joao Carrascalao Head of CNRT in Australia (National Council for Timorese Resistance) President, UDT (Timorese Democratic Union). See... CNRT: Indonesia planned post-ballot slaughter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00022.htm

Analysis - The UN's Darkest Hour?

- Events over the past week have now brought the true situation in East Timor into the open, and in the process the innocence and naivete of the wider international community has been harshly exposed. Scoop's Alastair Thompson analyses the latest developments. See... UN Provides Bait For East Timor Disaster [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00020.htm

Secret Meetings Arrange Bloodbath

- On Saturday Night the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Kerry O'Brien talked with an East Timorese activist who says he has details of secret meetings between the Indonesian military and pro-Jakarta militia to plan a new wave of violence. See a transcript of the interview… ... ABC:Secret Kopassus-militia meetings plan violence [1] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00025.htm

Political Reaction:

- GOVERNMENT: Don McKinnon - "The people of East Timor have made a clear statement about their future". See... McKinnon - East Timor Ballot result loud and clear [1].
- ALLIANCE: Jim Anderton - "Mrs Shipley's government must now guarantee the people of East Timor that as APEC host, she will use the advantage that role gives her to put pressure on Indonesia for a peaceful transition to independence." See... East Timor's triumph is APEC's challenge [2] .
- LABOUR – ALLIANCE: The Labour and Alliance representatives on the East Timor Parliamentary delegation, Phil Goff and Matt Robson, will urge Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon in talks this evening to put intense pressure on Indonesia to protect the East Timorese people. See… Joint Labour-Alliance plea to McKinnon on Timor [3] .
- GREENS: Six Indonesian soldiers training in New Zealand should be sent home and Indonesian participation planned for three Armed Forces courses in coming months cancelled, the Green Party says. See... Indonesian Soldiers Should Be Sent Home [4] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00094.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00096.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00104.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00108.htm

Earlier: On The Eve Chaos Threatens

- The UN operation in East Timor has entered siege mode as militia violence escalates and the announcement of the independence referendum result approaches. See... Maliana In Flames As Chaos Envelopes East Timor [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00021.htm

BACKGROUND:

- Joint International Observer Missions - Release [1]
- Horta: Triumphant day etched in history [2]
- UN Daily Briefing - Comments On East Timor [3]
- UN appeals to Indonesia to control militia rampage [4]
- UNAMET Release On Ballot Irregularities [5]
- UNAMET Briefing Summary for Friday, 3 September [6] . All in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00023.htm
[2] - http:///stories/GE9909/S00024.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00021.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00020.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00019.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00018.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz