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International Federation For East Timor (IFET) Observer Project
19 August 1999 by the IFET Observer Project in Dili, East Timor.

Gunshots in Manatuto

A report from the IFET-OP* observer team in Manatuto.

At 8 a.m. this morning, gunshots rang through the town of Manatuto, about=20
one and a half hours drive east of Dili. According to local sources a group,=20
around 10 militia members and at least one soldier of the Kopassus=92,=20
Indonesia=92s special forces, fired shots, in the center of the town, 150=20
meters away from the IFET (International Federation for East Timor)=20
observers house.=20

The armed group then proceeded to the CNRT office (National Council for=20
Timorese Resistance). IFET observers went to the office and found that the=20
windows had been smashed and the walls were damaged by bullets.

Militia members continued to roam the city, shouting to intimidate the=20
population. They stopped again in front of the IFET house. Fearing more=20
violence, 50 local people fled into the IFET observers=92 compound.

At the time of the attack, members of the CNRT were leaving from the office=20
for a meeting in the forest nearby with the pro-independence armed=20
resistance group, Falentil. Manatuto had been described as a calm in the=20
past. At 9 a.m. this morning, gunshots could still be heard. IFET observers=20
describe the situation as volatile.

IFET members are interviewing the witnesses and have names of four of the=20
militia and one Kopassus soldier.

On August 30, a UN-sponsored vote will decide if East Timor will  be a part=20
of Indonesia or if it will be an independent state. Indonesia invaded East=20
Timor, a former Portuguese colony, in 1975, a move not recognized by the UN.

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Didistribusikan tgl. 20 Aug 1999 jam 21:27:48 GMT+1
oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://www.Indo-News.com/
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