Scoop Today - East Timor Special

Monday, 6 September 1999, 6:31 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Events in East Timor dominate the news in New Zealand today as the wind-up to APEC begins in earnest. Scoop has comprehensive coverage of both.

SCOOP EAST TIMOR SPECIAL

Over three hundred people have been reported dead after mob rule takes over in East Timor following the historic vote for independence. Thousands of citizens are fleeing the rampaging pro-Jakarta milita who are torching buildings and killing and mutilating the bodies of East Timorese people. They are trying to hide in churches and medical clinics. On the road out of the capital, Dili, 100 human heads have been impaled on sticks at the side of the road and the church of the Dili Bishop Belo, where citizens were sheltering, has been torched and raided and his secretary killed. Two thousand staff and civilians have been marched from Dili's Red Cross Compound at gunpoint and walked to the beach. There is no word on their fate. The United Nations have agreed to withdraw half of their staff and Australia has ordered five hercules aircraft to remove hundreds of nationals from the area. Roads to the airport are blocked by the militia and an Australian clinic in Dili run by nuns has been surrounded and is being attacked. Four people inside have been killed and 20 injured, with one man "hacked to pieces". All inside fear they will be killed. Meanwhile the UN has agreed to send a delegation to Jakarta to pressure the Indonesian government to keep some kind of order. New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon said the move is overdue and the credibility of the UN is now on the line. The death toll is expected to rise as militia shoot people randomly and on sight.

APEC Implications - New Zealand In Box Seat To Facilitate Serious Dialogue

- New Zealand is in a perfect position to ensure the crisis in East Timor is fully discussed at next weeks APEC forum. As the host of the forum the New Zealand government can place whatever they like on the agenda. However this is not looking likely as current indications suggest the New Zealand government will have the issue discussed on the side of the forum. They will not summon the Indonesian ambassador to parliament to voice their concern and Defence Minister Max Bradford said New Zealand will not pull out of, or even suspend, military links and exercises with Indonesia.

The Aftermath - Evacuation And Massacre - Security Council Meeting

- An Australian airlift operation has begun to evacuate Australian nationals and "non-essential" UN personnel from the Indonesian territory of East Timor. In Dili hundreds are feared dead as rampaging militias have been active all night. At 9am NZT The UN Security Council began a behind closed doors meeting to discuss the rapidly worsening situation in East Timor.

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

Church Attacked – No Sanctuary Left In East Timor

- Caritas New Zealand spokesperson, Louise May, says that her organisation is extremely disturbed to hear the Bishop Carlos Belo's residence, which has been harbouring about 1000 terrified East Timorese, has come under attack from the rampaging militia and military. See… Church Attacked: No Sanctuary Left In East Timor [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00031.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

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] - LABOUR: Helen Clark again stressed today the need for Timor talks at APEC. See… Clark: APEC meeting must discuss East Timor [2] . - 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 [3] . - Indonesia should be warned that its international financial aid could be withdrawn if UN staff sheltering in compounds in East Timor are harmed by militia there, Alliance leader Jim Anderton said today. See… Financial aid for Indonesia linked to safety of UN [4] - 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 [5] . - 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 [6] . - ACT: ACT Deputy Leader Ken Shirley is urging Government to reconsider its intention to deploy 15 more civilian police in East Timor at the end of this month. See… Unarmed Police Should Not Be Risked In Timor Chaos [7] . - NZ CATHOLIC CHURCH: The Catholic Church in New Zealand is calling for the international community to intervene in the current situation in East Timor, which is fast deteriorating into genocide. See… Timor: Catholic Church Pleads For Intervention [8] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00094.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9909/S00033.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00096.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00115.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00104.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00108.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00116.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00030.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. BACKGROUND: - Joint International Observer Missions - Release [2] - Horta: Triumphant day etched in history [3] - UN Daily Briefing - Comments On East Timor [4] - UN appeals to Indonesia to control militia rampage [5] - UNAMET Release On Ballot Irregularities [6] - UNAMET Briefing Summary for Friday, 3 September [7] . All in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00021.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00023.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00024.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00021.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00020.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00019.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9909/S00018.htm

TODAY'S OTHER SCOOPS

Thirteen Years Jail For Edwards Killer

- The woman identified as the ringleader in the manslaughter of 25 year old Angelina Edwards has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. Edwards, who was mentally ill, was systematically assaulted and abused by an entire family over a period of months before she died in what the judge described as the worst case of manslaughter in New Zealand's history. Four others convicted of the manslaughter were sentenced from four - 10 years.

Lockwood Can’t See Forests For Trees

- With the official APEC meetings starting tomorrow, and today's release of an industry report assessing the New Zealand Forest Industry's performance after 15 years of economic reform and deregulation, GATT Watchdog has slammed the Government support for a controversial global trade agreement on forest products, which critics dub “the global free logging agreement”. See… Lockwood & Co Can't See Forests For The Trees [1] in the Politics wire. Scoop will bring you details of the report as they come to hand.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9909/S00036.htm

Aucklanders Told To Prepare For Extended APEC Delays

- The organisers of next week's APEC Leaders' Meeting have warned Aucklanders to prepare for a longer than expected impact on city traffic. The APEC Task Force says many of the visiting leaders have indicated they will now leave Auckland on Tuesday 14. See… Impact Of APEC On Auckland Extended [1] in the Auckland wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9909/S00013.htm

APEC VIPs To Get GE-Free Food – Why Can’t We? – Greens

- Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today welcomed the claim that formal APEC banquets were genetic engineering-free, but asked why only APEC was accorded such ‘GE-free’ status. See… Greens welcome APEC's claimed GE-free status [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00120.htm

Watson Trial Ends This Week

- The prosecution summary of their case against murder-accused Scott Watson will continue in the Wellington High Court tomorrow. They say the issue is all about identity and that Scott Watson left the water taxi with Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. They allege he had the opportunity and the time to kill the couple and in doing so he satisified a long-held desire to kill a woman. The defence is set down to present their summary tomorrow and Justice Heron will sum up on Wednesday, after which the jury will retire.

Labour’s Hidden Industrial Relations Agenda - Bradford

- Spotting Labour's hidden agenda will be the biggest challenge during Labour's industrial relations policy launch tomorrow, Enterprise and Commerce Minister Max Bradford says. See… Labour's Hidden IR Agenda [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00122.htm

Managing Environmental Risk – A View From The Other End Of The World

– In Washington DC Simon Upton delivered the inaugural Robert C. Barnard Environmental Lecture late last week. Warning, this speech is a monster. See… Upton Speech - Managing Environmental Risks [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00121.htm

Failure To Name Election Date ‘Petty’ – Anderton

- The Government's failure to name an election date is petty politics at its worst, Alliance leader Jim Anderton says. Failure to name election date 'petty' [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00117.htm

Worries For ACT and Alliance in Latest Poll

- Today's Herald DigiPoll shows Labour surging further ahead to 43.8 per cent, up seven points from National on 35.7 per cent and the Alliance dropping right back to five per cent at the expense of a rise from New Zealand First. See… Labour Surge, Alliance Slump in Latest Poll [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00032.htm

Kids Shouldn’t Be Placed With Gang Members – ACT

- The care and protection of children should no longer be put in the hands of gang members, according to ACT Social Welfare Spokesman Muriel Newman. See… CYPFA Must Not Put Kids With Gangs [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00114.htm

Deutsche Bank’s Latest Research - Economic Note (NZ)

- Average ordinary time hourly earnings in the private sector (the Reserve Bank's wage forecast variable) increased by 0.7% during the June quarter, following a 0.3% increase in the March quarter. The annual rate of private sector wage inflation was 2.3% in June, down from the increase of 2.7% in the March 1999 year. This was the lowest annual increase since the June quarter 1995. See… Deutsche Bank Latest Research - Economic Note (NZ) [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9909/S00038.htm

Big New Cable Welcomed in New Zealand

- Telecom New Zealand Chief Executive Roderick Deane hailed the Southern Cross Cable landing in Takapuna today, as a significant milestone in the $2 billion investment project designed to greatly enhance New Zealand's communications. See… Telecom Heralds Southern Cross Landing In NZ [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9909/S00037.htm

HARD NEWS Who Needs Lotto When You're Michael Fay?

- (Scoop Advisory: Scoop is delighted today to welcome a new columnist to the site. Russell Brown, a freelance writer for IDG, The Listener and Unlimited Magazine should be well known to readers. His HARD NEWS column is broadcast on radio 95bFM in Auckland on Fridays and will from now be a regular feature of the Scoop Weekend. See… HARD NEWS Who Needs Lotto When You're Michael Fay? [1] in the Headlines wire. Labour Scuttle Hauraki Marine Bill – Nats Astounded - Conservation Minister Nick Smith is astonished at Labour's decision to pull their support on the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and has urged Labour to reconsider. See… Labour Pulling Plug On Hauraki Bill Unjustified [2] in the Parliament wire. The National Party Candidate for Auckland Central, Martin Poulsen, says the Labour Party has offered weak excuses for not supporting the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. See… Labour Politics 1st, Environment 2nd, Auckland 3rd [3] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00027.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00112.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9909/S00034.htm

Shipley Encourages APEC Protestors to Consider the Benefits

- Prime Minister Jenny Shipley encouraged anti-APEC protesters to consider the great benefits free trade offered those who were currently excluded from lucrative markets. See… PM Asks APEC Protesters To Consider Moral Argument [1] in the Parliament wire. The APEC Monitoring Group has responded to Jenny Shipley's claim that APEC has a moral dimension and that trade and investment liberalisation will benefit the poor of the region. See… Shipley dubbed "Miss-Leader of NZ Economy" at APEC [2] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00111.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9909/S00035.htm

The Forgotten Devastation Of Yugoslavia

- While the UN considers intervention in East Timor, Yugoslavia remains devastated following the now forgotten NATO bombing. The West should remember the 2000 year-old words of the Roman, Tacticus. He said, “They make a wilderness and call it peace”. John Howard reports. See… Yugoslavia - The New Iraq [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00030.htm

More Pressure Mounts On Labour Over Native Logging

- The Green Party has sent an open letter to Opposition leader Helen Clark urging the Labour party to make up its mind fast over whether it opposes the Timberlands beech scheme on the West Coast or not. See… Letter To Clark On West Coast Forests [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00109.htm

The Homosexual Adoption Debate

- Try to decide whether same-sex couples should be able to adopt children, and you soon get into a much deeper debate. Matthew Thomas reports. See… Soapbox 0050: Queering the pitch [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00029.htm

Daewoo Breached Licensing Regime

- In a decision released earlier this week, Justice Wild of the High Court in Wellington stated that Daewoo `fundamentally breached the licensing regime in the [Motor Vehicle Dealers] Act, and the detailed requirements applying to it.' See… High Court Tells Daewoo It Breached The Law [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9909/S00035.htm

Let The Bells Of Freedom Ring

- One hundred years ago, during its war on Spain the U.S. invaded the Philippines, sprayed bullets far and wide, and put the entire country under martial law. John Howard writes. See… Column: Let The Bells Of Freedom Ring [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9909/S00028.htm

The National Party List

- As the election nears National announces its party list [1] in the Parliament wire. There are a few surprises.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00099.htm

Holiday Not Conference

- Lotteries Commission chairman Geoff Thompson is reported to be holidaying, rather than facing the government over outgoing CEO David Bale's $400,000 salary. The conference the two men were attending in Oslo has finished, and the pair are now on holiday for the next week with their wives. The former National Party President is expected to lose his job over the row.

Dairy Bill Passes

- Parliament has finished the third and final reading of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Bill. The bill enables - if farmers choose to approve and the Commerce Commission agrees - for the creation of a new Dairy Megacooperative company. Significantly it also removes the board's present statutory export monopoly. Luxton Delighted - Food and Fibre Minister John Luxton said he was delighted that the Dairy Industry Restructuring Bill as agreed between the dairy industry and the Government had been passed, despite opposition from the Labour Party, New Zealand First and the Alliance. See... Luxton Hails Bright Future For Dairy Industry [1] in the Parliament wire. Urgency - The House completed urgency yesterday. For coverage see the headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00095.htm

Top Scoops

- For last week's Top 20 see... Scoop Ratings - The Week's Top 20 [1] both in the News Monitor wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/NM9909/S00024.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