MESSAGE BOARD: Indonesia and East Timor

June 29, 1999
Web posted at: 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT)

In this story: Peace talks continue RELATED STORIES, SITES

DILI, Indonesia -- A U.N. spokesman said a mob attack on a United Nations office in East Timor on Tuesday was carried out by militiamen opposed to independence for that territory, but Indonesia said it was a clash between supporters on both sides of the issue.

It was the first violence against officials supervising a planned referendum on the territory's future.

Indonesia, responsible for security in East Timor, denied it was a direct attack against the United Nations, calling it a confrontation between pro- and anti-independence rivals.

David Wimhurst, spokesman for the U.N. Assistance Mission in East Timor, said an unknown number of U.N. personnel were injured in Maliana, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of the territorial capital, Dili.

Indonesian officials, responsible for security in East Timor, called it a confrontation between pro-independence and pro-Indonesia factions that got out of hand.

Wimhurst disputed the claim, saying there was no fighting before the pro-Indonesian mob began throwing stones at the office. He said there was a group of people outside the office, but they were there partly because Tuesday was the first working day for the U.N. mission in Maliana.

"Militiamen whipped up the crowd into a frenzy and they attacked the office," Wimhurst said. "Hundreds of people descended upon the office."

Unconfirmed reports said about a dozen U.N. workers were injured, including a South African woman who suffered a minor leg wound, and several Timorese U.N. workers with head injuries and other injuries. Police gave a lower number, saying at least four had been hurt.

Most of the U.N. office's 30 workers, who are from Germany, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Poland, Sri Lanka and Australia, were evacuated to Dili on three helicopters.

Militia groups who want East Timor to remain part of Indonesia have made repeated threats against U.N. personnel, including Wimhurst, who now has bodyguards.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sulaiman Abdulmanan warned Wimhurst not to make premature judgments.

"He did not see the incident himself. To be neutral, he should first coordinate with Indonesian officials there to find out the real truth about the incident," Abdulmanan said.

Indonesian police, contacted by telephone in Maliana, which is regarded as a pro-Indonesia stronghold, said the office was attacked after about 300 supporters of the rival groups pelted one another other with rocks.

The U.N. office in Maliana is one of eight set up across East Timor in the past two weeks in preparation for a ballot to determine whether East Timor, a former Portuguese colony invaded by Indonesia in 1975, will become independent or gain autonomy within Indonesia.

The U.N.-supervised vote, originally scheduled for August 8, has been delayed at least two weeks for security and logistical reasons.

Dozens of people have been killed in politically motivated violence the past two months. Thousands have fled their homes for the jungle.

Tuesday's attack came as the leaders of East Timor's rival groups were holding peace talks in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.

Pro-independence delegates there condemned the violence and blamed their rivals.

"It happened while we were talking about reconciliation and peace here. I think their leaders have to be held responsible," said Manuel Viegas Carrascalao, a pro- independence figure.

Pro-Indonesia officials would not comment, saying they wanted more details first.

A senior official with the Roman Catholic Church, which is sponsoring the talks, expressed hope they would not be derailed.

"We do not see negative signs regarding the dialogue," Rev. Domingos Sequeira told reporters.

However, Sequeira said leaders of pro-Indonesia militias present at the talks had not expressed any regrets about the attack.

U.N. officials plan to start voter registration next month but say the territory must get its shaky security situation under control and rein in pro-Indonesia militias active in the half-island province's interior.

The United Nations wants both sides to disarm.

As many as 600 U.N. officials are to supervise the ballot, along with almost 300 international police advisers who are to help Indonesian police maintain security.

Jakarta Bureau Chief Maria Ressa, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.