UN Says 20 Killed in New Fighting in W.Timor
September 9, 2000 - 0:0
ATAMBUA, Indonesia The United Nations said 20 people were killed in fresh fighting in Indonesian West Timor on Friday, two days after the murder of three UN aid workers.
The report was denied by the Indonesian military.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) agency in the East Timor capital, Dili, said the latest clashes occurred at the refugee camp of Betun, which had been taken over by pro-Jakarta East Timorese militias the previous night.
"The 20 casualties reported have been killed...we have no information so far about the wounded. We don't know whether they are Indonesian citizens or East Timorese," UNHCR operations manager for East Timor Bernard Kerblat told reporters.
Betun is a stronghold for the militias which razed East Timor after it voted in August, 1999, to end Indonesia's military rule and who fear returning to their homeland, now under UN rule.
(Reuter)
The report was denied by the Indonesian military.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) agency in the East Timor capital, Dili, said the latest clashes occurred at the refugee camp of Betun, which had been taken over by pro-Jakarta East Timorese militias the previous night.
"The 20 casualties reported have been killed...we have no information so far about the wounded. We don't know whether they are Indonesian citizens or East Timorese," UNHCR operations manager for East Timor Bernard Kerblat told reporters.
Betun is a stronghold for the militias which razed East Timor after it voted in August, 1999, to end Indonesia's military rule and who fear returning to their homeland, now under UN rule.
(Reuter)