Briefing Summary for Wednesday, 28 July 1999

UNAMET Deputy Spokesman Hiro Ueki reminded correspondents that the Special Representative was in Jakarta today and was scheduled to meet with Xanana Gusmao in the morning and will attend a working lunch with Anna Gomes, the head of the Portuguese delegation in Indonesia. In the afternoon he will be meeting with seven editors from Jakarta-based publications and will be interviewed by two local television stations – TVRI and SCTV. The purpose of Mr. Martin’s visit to Jakarta is to make himself available to the press there, Mr. Ueki added. Last night Mr. Martin met with representatives of diplomatic missions in Jakarta. He also met with the Australian Ambassador to discuss the upcoming visit by the Australian Foreign Minister to Indonesia and East Timor.

Yesterday, there was a meeting with the Indonesian Task Force in Dili attended by several UNAMET representatives, as well as representatives from UNHCR, UNICEF and ICRC. Representatives of TNI, POLRI and DEPLU also attended. The topic of the meeting was internally displaced people (IDPs). They discussed three items. First was the planned return of over one thousand IDPs this weekend to Bobonaro (being planned with support from UNHCR). Next was the situation in Liquica, particularly in Faularan where there are approximately 3,500 IDPs (approximately 2,200 are 17 years old and above, and have not yet registered to vote). Mr. Ueki added that the situation in Faularan is very serious with people very sick and weak. The IDPs told a visiting UNAMET team that around 100 people have died since January when they started moving into that settlement. The third topic was the IDPs in Atambua. Both UNAMET and Indonesian authorities are looking into arrangements to have these IDPs registered as soon as possible.

A correspondent asked if the conditions under which the IDPs in Faularan died was known. Mr. Ueki said they died through sickness and malnutrition. He added that many of the IDPs are currently suffering with malaria, tuberculosis, stomach ailments and malnutrition and that the last time aid was delivered - two truckloads of humanitarian supplies - was at the beginning of July.

A correspondent asked if there was an estimate for the total number of IDPs. The Deputy Spokesman said UNAMET estimated there was approximately 50,000 to 60,000 IDPs. He added that even though some IDPs have registered to vote many more need to be registered. Given the time left for registration, UNAMET is looking to a number of areas in order to take urgent measures to facilitate their access by IDPs to the nearest registration centres, he said.

A correspondent asked why the IDPs were not able to go to where they could get medical attention. Mr. Ueki said in the case of Faulara there was a militia checkpoint on the road to Faulara town. He added, in addition to checkpoints many of the IDPs are sick and have long distances to travel.

A correspondent then asked how many IDPs there were in Atambua and if they had recently arrived there. The Deputy Spokesman said there approximately 3,600, many of whom have been refugees for several years.

A correspondent asked if UNAMET was planning on leaving right after the ballot. Mr. Ueki said, “ we are here to carry out the popular consultation. The pace of registration is showing that a lot of people are determined to participate in this process. We are very much encouraged by the figure that was released in the Secretary-General’s letter to the Security Council on Monday. We hope we will be able to manage this process to the end.”

* *** *