COUNCIL CONDEMNS "OUTRAGEOUS AND CONTEMPTIBLE" KILLING OF THREE UN STAFF IN WEST TIMOR; INSISTS INDONESIA DISARM, DISBAND MILITIA

Press Release
SC/6920

COUNCIL CONDEMNS ‘OUTRAGEOUS AND CONTEMPTIBLE’ KILLING OF THREE UN STAFF IN WEST TIMOR; INSISTS INDONESIA DISARM, DISBAND MILITIA

Decides to Dispatch Mission To Discuss Implementation of Resolution

Appalled by “the brutal murder” of three United Nations personnel on 6 September by a militia-led mob, the Security Council this evening insisted that Indonesia “take immediate additional steps to disarm and disband the militia immediately, restore law and order in the affected areas in West Timor, ensure safety and security in the refugee camps and for humanitarian workers, and prevent cross-border incursions into East Timor”.

Following the adoption of the resolution, [1319 (2000)], adopted unanimously, the President of the Council, Moctar Ouane (Mali), announced that the Council had decided to dispatch a mission to Indonesia and East Timor to discuss the implementation of the resolution.

Under other provisions of the text, the Council condemned “this outrageous and contemptible act against unarmed international staff who were in West Timor to help the refugees”, and stressed that those responsible for the attacks on international personnel in West and East Timor must be brought to justice.

The Council called on the Indonesian authorities “to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safe return of refugees who chose to return to East Timor and stressed the need for parallel programmes to resettle individuals who chose not to return.

Further, the Council reiterated its belief that the United Nations has a role to play in the process in order to safeguard the rights of the people of East Timor, and underlined that the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) should respond robustly to the militia threat in East Timor, consistent with its resolution 1272 (1999) of 22 October 1999.

In addition, the Council stressed that United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) workers cannot return to West Timor until there is a credible security guarantee, including real progress towards disarming and disbanding the militias.

Also, the Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council within a week on the situation on the ground.

Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6920 4195th Meeting (Night) 8 September 2000

Also, the Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council within a week on the situation on the ground.

The meeting, which began at 9:22 p.m., adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

The text of the resolution reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President on the situation in East Timor, in particular the statement of its President of 3 August 2000 (S/PRST/2000/26) in which it expressed profound concern at the continuing presence of large numbers of refugees from East Timor in camps in West Timor, at the continuing presence of militia in the camps and at their intimidation of refugees and staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),

“Appalled by the brutal murder of three United Nations personnel killed on 6 September 2000 by a militia-led mob, and supporting the statement on this subject made by the Secretary-General at the outset of the Millennium Summit and the expressions of concern by several Heads of State and Government during the Summit proceedings (A/PV.55/6),

“Condemning this outrageous and contemptible act against unarmed international staff who were in West Timor to help the refugees and reiterating its condemnation of the murder of two United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) peacekeepers and attacks on the United Nations presence in East Timor,

“Recalling that the declaration of the Security Council Summit, at the level of Heads of State and Government (S/RES/1318 (2000)), included specific reference to the need for effective measures for the safety and security of United Nations personnel,

“Expressing its outrage at the reported attacks in Betun, West Timor on 7 September 2000, in which a number of refugees reportedly have been killed;

“Welcoming the letter of the President of Indonesia to the Secretary-General on 7 September 2000 in which he expressed outrage at the killing of the UNHCR staff and stated his intention to conduct a full-scale investigation and to take firm measures against those found guilty,

“1. Insists that the Government of Indonesia take immediate additional steps, in fulfilment of its responsibilities, to disarm and disband the militia immediately, restore law and order in the affected areas in West Timor, ensure safety and security in the refugee camps and for humanitarian workers, and prevent cross-border incursions into East Timor;

“2. Stresses that those responsible for the attacks on international personnel in West and East Timor must be brought to justice;

Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6920 4195th Meeting (Night) 8 September 2000

“3. Recalls in this regard, its letter of 18 February from the President of the Security Council to the Secretary-General (S/2000/137) in which it noted that grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law have been committed and that those responsible for these violations should be brought to justice, and reiterates its belief that the United Nations has a role to play in the process in order to safeguard the rights of the people of East Timor;

“4. Calls on the Indonesian authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safe return of refugees who choose to go back to East Timor, and stresses the need for parallel programmes to resettle individuals who choose not to return;

“5. Notes that the Government of Indonesia has decided to deploy additional troops to West Timor to improve the serious security situation, but stresses that UNHCR workers cannot return to West Timor until there is a credible security guarantee, including real progress towards disarming and disbanding the militias;

“6. Underlines that UNTAET should respond robustly to the militia threat in East Timor, consistent with its resolution 1272 (1999) of 22 October 1999;

“7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council within a week of the adoption of this resolution on the situation on the ground;

“8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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