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Militias pack Dili as independence chosen

Source
Agence France Presse - September 4, 1999

Dili – Hundreds of pro-Indonesian militiamen roamed through the East Timorese capital Dili early Saturday as fear gripped the territory with the United Nations announcing an overwhelming vote in favour of independence.

There were no visible celebrations, despite 78.5 percent of East Timorese rejecting autonomy. Whole areas of Dili were deserted as fearful residents had fled to the the hills around the city for safety ahead of the ballot announcement by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Annan told the UN Security Council in New York that 78.5 percent of eligible East Timorese, or 344,580 people, had turned down Indonesia's offer of autonomy.

Just 94,388, or 21 percent, wanted to stay a part of Indonesia, which invaded the former Portuguese territory in 1975.

In Jakarta, jailed East Timorese separatist leader Xanana Gusmao urged the UN Security Council to urgently send an international peacekeeping force to prevent a "genocide" following the result.

"I appeal to [the] secretary general of the UN to convene en emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to decide on the sending of multinational forces to save the Maubere (East Timorese) people from a new genocide," Gusmao said in a statement issued from his house jail.

In Dili, a heavily armed brigade of police guarded the entrance to the Mahkota Hotel where UN Mission in East Timor chief Ian Martin announced the result simultaneously with Annan.

Truckloads of Besi Merah Putih (Red and White) militiamen were seen entering Dili to join the predominant Aitarak militia, which has waged a campaign of terror over past months.

Sporadic shooting was heard in the city through Friday night, and motorists said there was no fuel available. Anxiety was high over the likely reaction to the ballot result by the militias, whom many observers charge are backed by the Indonesian military.

It was also unclear whether other pro-Indonesians would accept the result. Basilio Araujo on Friday said his umbrella United Front for East Timor Autonomy had suspended recognition of the vote because of alleged irregularites.

Jakarta on Friday night sent in 1,400 crack troops, apparently to help secure the capital, as international calls grew for a neutral peacekeeping force for East Timor.

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