Briefing Summary for Wednesday, 7 July 1999
The Acting Spokesman Hiro Ueki reminded correspondents that the Special Representative was
in Jakarta today and would be meeting with Defence Minister General Wiranto and with
Foreign Minister Mr. Ali Alatas.
Mr. Ueki informed correspondents that the Security Council President made a press
statement in New York the day before on East Timor and that copies were available.
This morning, 49 civilian police officers arrived in Dili. Their breakdown is as follows:
7 - Thailand; 5 - Mozambique; 7 - Ireland; 8 - Sweden; 5 - Republic of Korea; 17 - USA.
This brings the total of CivPol in East Timor to 153.
Mr. Ueki made a correction to yesterday's briefing pointing out that two of the Military
Liaison Officers said to be from Australia who arrived yesterday were in fact from
Austria. Furthermore, Brigadier General Haider did not arrive in Dili yesterday, as
mentioned, but will be arriving in a few days. The General had a change to his schedule
and travelled directly to Jakarta.
The Acting Spokesman then read a prepared statement on the Liquica incident. The statement
reads as follows:
"There are allegations that, at the time of the militia attack on the humanitarian
convoy in Liquicia, shots were fired from the UNAMET vehicle; that there were Falintil
people in the car, that a gun was pointing outside from the car, and that a police search
found a gun inside a UNAMET car. After an exhaustive investigation UNAMET categorically
denies these allegations. No shots were fired from this vehicle. There were no Falintil
inside the car. Nobody pointed a gun from inside the car. This car was full of local
humanitarian workers, who had fled from the initial attack. The car was then attacked
repeatedly with sticks, machetes and rocks. The rear and two side windows were totally
smashed. The militia then attacked those inside."
"Within minutes of arrival at the Liquica police station the UNAMET officer who was
driving the car handed to the police a home-made pistol which had been dropped into the
car by one of the attackers who was on the outside of the car attacking those inside
whilst it was driving away. This was explained to the police as the gun was handed to
them."
"The handing of the pistol to the police was not as a result of any questioning by
the police. The gun was not found during a search of the vehicle by police officers. It
was handed to the police by the UNAMET officer voluntarily."
A correspondent asked if UNAMET was provided with a name of the Falintil member alleged to
have been in the attacked convoy in Liquica. Mr. Ueki said UNAMET was not aware of any
presence of Falintil members in the convoy and therefore had no information.
Mr. Ueki was asked why General Haider was in Jakarta. He said this was a last minute
change to his schedule and would have to find out and get back to them with an answer.
A correspondent asked whether UNAMET's security assessment report on Liquica was
completed. Mr. Ueki said, UNAMET was currently in the final stage of completing the
report.
The Acting Spokesman was asked if the attack in Liquica had resulted in any problems in
the relationship between UNAMET and the Indonesian police. Mr. Ueki said, "UNAMET has
been insisting all along that the police perform their duties as assigned by the 5 May
Agreement. We sent a security team to Liquica in the last few days and they are discussing
various security measures with the local police".
A correspondent asked whether Mr. Martin would be bringing to General Wiranto's attention
the press statement released by his military headquarters in Jakarta claiming that three
armed Falintil members were in the convoy. Mr. Ueki repeated that UNAMET was not aware of
any presence of Falintil as per witnessed accounts they received.
Will UNAMET be making any more aid convoys to help these refugees, or has the incident in
Liquica hampered that aid, a correspondent asked. The Acting Spokesman reminded them that
the convoy in Liquica was organized by NGOs, not UNAMET, and it was up to them if they
wanted to organized additional convoys.
A correspondent asked when UNAMET Spokesman David Wimhurst would be returning. Mr. Ueki
said Mr. Wimhurst was still in Darwin engaged in additional public information related
work there and would be back in Dili soon. Following up, the correspondent asked whether
the delay of his return had anything to do with death threats he received. Mr. Ueki said
he couldn't comment on these security-related matters. Mr. Ueki was asked what
preparations UNAMET had made for after the popular consultation. He said, "under the
5 May Agreement UNAMET is expected to continue to stay in East Timor. If the autonomy
proposal is rejected there will be a transition period leading to independence...If the
autonomy proposal is accepted then UNAMET will stay here to verify that the Indonesian
authorities implement the Agreement faithfully to make East Timor a province of Indonesia.
Either way UNAMET will stay in East Timor."
Following up on this matter the correspondent asked what plans the UN had for security in
terms of a police and/or military presence. The Acting Spokesman said UNAMET's current
mandate was only for a period up to 31 August and any UN presence in East Timor after that
date would have to be defined and sanctioned by the Security Council. He added that the
Security Council would make that decision before the current mandate expired.
A correspondent asked when the DEOs would be returning to Liquica. The Acting Spokesman
said that would happen once UNAMET's security team indicated that the security conditions
existed for them to return.
Mr. Ueki was asked to elaborate on Mr. Alvaro de Soto's statement in which he said the
vote would be delayed if violence persists. He replied that the Special Representative
would present his assessment to the Secretary-General later this week. He continued,
"if serious security conditions exist that would cast doubt as to whether UNAMET can
start registration of voters as scheduled. But, the final judgement will be made by the UN
Secretary-General who will then present his recommendation to the Security Council before
the start of registration".
