Subject: Army-backed militias now in W. Timor too:
Human Rights Watch
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 07:44:44 EDT
From: Joyo@aol.comArmy-backed militias now in West Timor too: Human Rights Watch
WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (AFP) - Refugees fleeing to West Timor are still at the mercy of
the army-backed militias which are wreaking havoc in East Timor, Human Rights Watch said
in a statement.
The group said the the same army-backed militias running amok in East Timor are now in
West Timor, patrolling refugee camps, bus terminals and the main airport.
In some instances, pro-independence refugees have been attacked, the human rights group
said.
Human Rights Watch called upon the Indonesian government to ensure the safety of
displaced people and international relief workers.
"Any camp under the control of the Indonesian armed forces cannot offer reliable
protection right now to people fleeing East Timor," said Sidney Jones, director of
the Asian division of Human Rights Watch, in the statement.
"It's clear that the same militias who are responsible for the devastation over
the last week in East Timor have pushed the crisis into West Timor," Jones continued.
"They appear to have forcibly expelled thousands of terrified people by truck or
boat, then handed them over to local security forces who control the camps," Jones
said.
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