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Six Timorese break into Jakarta's Austrian embassy

Source
Reuters - September 19, 1997

Jakarta – Six East Timorese, including a couple with two children, broke into the Austrian embassy in Jakarta on Friday and demanded political asylum, police sources said.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the six entered the embassy at about 10 a.m. (0300 GMT) and were still inside. Embassy officials were not immediately available for comment.

More than 100 East Timorese have sought asylum after breaking into foreign missions in Jakarta over the past three years. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it a year later in an act unrecognised by the United Nations.

Many people in the territory resist Indonesian rule and Portugal, the former colonial ruler of East Timor, has been quick to grant a home to those requesting political asylum.

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