| Subject: ABC: Senior Indonesian ministers to visit E
Timor Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 16:53:46 -0400 From: "Sharon R.A. Scharfe" <pet@web.net> ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio News Thursday 8 July, 1999 Senior Indonesian ministers to visit E Timor Five of Indonesia's senior ministers, including Defence Minister General Wiranto, are to visit East Timor next week to look at mounting violence ahead of next month's referendum on independence. Indonesia has come under strong international pressure for failing to stop violence committed by pro-Jakarta militias, including attacks on United Nations personnel. General Wiranto together with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and the ministers for justice, political affairs and home affairs, will visit East Timor next Monday as concerns mount that next month's planned referendum could be postponed or cancelled because of ongoing violence. The United Nations which is responsible for the ballot will make a decision next Tuesday whether its safe enough to go ahead with the registration of voters. Pro-Jakarta militias with the backing of the Indonesian military have been waging a campaign of intimidation in the troubled territory since early this year when President BJ Habibie announced a referendum and his country's willingness to let go of East Timor if that is what the people of the territory decide. © 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Back to July Menu |