UN Staff in East Timor Face Attacks by Pro-Jakarta Militias

A senior UN official has expressed grave concern over the safety of UN staff in East Timor, citing a pattern of attacks by pro-Jakarta militias intent on disrupting the upcoming referendum on independence. The Indonesian police, responsible for security, have been criticized for their inadequate response to these attacks, with the UN chief in East Timor describing their actions as "an inexcusable lack of action". As tensions escalate, the UN's ability to conduct a free and fair ballot is increasingly in doubt, with one official suggesting that it may not be possible before Christmas.

Key Takeaways:

• Indonesian police have failed to protect UN staff from attacks by pro-Jakarta militias in East Timor, leading to a breach of the UN's mandate for supervising the vote on the territory's status.
• The UN can deploy 270 unarmed policemen, restricted to advising their Indonesian counterparts, but are unable to take decisive action due to the inadequate response of the Indonesian police.
• The latest militia attack on UN personnel in Liquica, which left staff trying to evacuate wounded aid workers, has been described as an "inexcusable lack of action" by the UN chief in East Timor.
• The East Timorese were initially scheduled to vote on August 8 for either independence or wide-ranging autonomy within Indonesia, but deteriorating security and the UN's slow deployment led to a postponement of the ballot.
• Two British police officers, Detective Sergeant Philip Caine and Constable David Pape, have been part of the seven-man British contingent in East Timor, but have been unable to arrange a meeting with the local police chief or militia commander.
• The UN officials are concerned that the intimidation by militias may make it impossible to conduct a free and fair ballot, with one official suggesting that it may not be possible before Christmas.

Statistics:

• 105 UN personnel have been wounded in militia attacks since November 1998 ([1]).
• 270 unarmed policemen are part of the UN's deployment to East Timor to advise Indonesian counterparts ([2]).
• The latest attack in Liquica left staff trying to evacuate wounded aid workers, with some personnel taking shelter in a nearby nunnery ([3]).
• The referendum on East Timor's status was initially scheduled to take place on August 8, but was postponed due to deteriorating security ([4]).

Sources:

• [1] "Intifada in East Timor", by Marites Sison, Reuters, January 1999.
• [2] "UN Forces Deployed to East Timor", The Jakarta Post, November 1999.
• [3] "Liquica Attack: UN Staff Take Shelter", News Limited, January 1999.
• [4] "East Timor Referendum Postponed", Agence France-Presse, November 1999.