Subject: RT: EU calls on Indon to disarm E.Timor militia
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 1999 08:40:57 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>

Received from Joyo:

EU calls on Indonesia to disarm E.Timor militia

01:48 p.m Apr 12, 1999 Eastern

BRUSSELS, April 12 (Reuters) - The European Union condemned on Monday the increasing violence in the disputed territory of East Timor, calling on Indonesia to disarm militia groups accused of recent massacres.

``The EU deeply deplores the rise of violence in East Timor during recent months...and urges the Indonesian authorities to immediately intervene and stop such actions by militias by disarming them,'' said a statement from current EU president Germany.

Anti-independence militia are accused of hacking to death at least 25 unarmed villagers outside a church last week in Liquica, some 17 miles (27 km) west of Dili, the capital of the former Portuguese colony.

The EU said Indonesian regular forces appeared to have been present at the incident but had not intervened.

``The EU strongly urges the Indonesian authorities to hold accountable those who are responsible for such killings. It calls on all parties to show the utmost restraint in order to avoid further incidents.

``The EU further believes the occurrence of such incidents demonstrates the urgent need for a United Nations presence in the territory,'' it added.

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