GLOBAL STAFF HORRIFIED BY VIOLENCE IN WEST TIMOR

Press Release
ORG/1315

GLOBAL STAFF HORRIFIED BY VIOLENCE IN WEST TIMOR

The global Staff Unions and Associations of the United Nations reacted with horror and dismay to the report that the early warning signals conveyed by the deceased Carlos Caseres (United States) prior to being savagely killed in Atambua (West Timor), were not heeded. The following is Mr. Caseres' message before the rampage at West Timor. It was read to the Security Council by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata:

From: Carlos Caseres Date: 6 September 2000, 6:05 a.m. Subject: Are you still there? - Reply

"My next post needs to be in a tropical island without jungle fever and mad warriors. At this very moment, we are barricaded in the office. A militia leader was murdered last night he was decapitated and had his heart and penis cut out. Segments of Timorese society must be some of the most violent and gory people anywhere on earth: Atambua suddenly shut down when news spread that trucks and buses full of militias were coming from Betun (my former home) to Atambua. The town suddenly deserted and all the shops were boarded up in a matter of minutes. Traffic disappeared and the streets are strangely and ominously quiet. I'm glad that a couple of weeks ago we bought rolls and rolls of barbed wire.

"I was in the office when the news came out that a wave of violence would soon pound Atambua. We sent most of the staff home, rushing to safety. I just heard someone on the radio saying that they are praying for us in the office. The militias are on the way, and I am sure they will do their best to demolish this office. The man killed was the head of one of the most notorious and criminal militia groups of East Timor. These guys act without thinking and can kill a human as easily (and painlessly) as I kill mosquitoes in my room.

You should see this office. Plywood on the windows, staff peering out through openings in the curtains hastily installed a few minutes ago. We are waiting for this enemy, we sit here like bait, unarmed, waiting for the wave to hit. I am glad to be leaving this island for three weeks. I just hope I will be able to leave tomorrow.

"As I wait for the militias to do their business, I will draft the agenda for tomorrow's meeting on Kupang. The purpose of the meeting: to discuss how we are to proceed with this operation.

"Carlos"

* *** *