(PINA/IFEX) – On 3 September 1999 (local date), Australian newspapers reported that news organisations were joining the evacuation from East Timor as journalists continued to be the targets of pro-Indonesian militia groups. “The Australian” newspaper reported that on 2 September: “About midday, members of the Dili-based Aitarak militia, armed with pistols, stormed into one of […]
(PINA/IFEX) – On 3 September 1999 (local date), Australian newspapers
reported that news organisations were joining the evacuation from East Timor
as journalists continued to be the targets of pro-Indonesian militia groups.
“The Australian” newspaper reported that on 2 September: “About midday,
members of the Dili-based Aitarak militia, armed with pistols, stormed into
one of Dili’s main hotels vowing they would return to kill Western
journalists … developments came a day after militia rampaged through the
streets near the UN compound, burning houses and firing automatic weapons.
They chased and attacked foreign journalists.” The “Sydney Morning Herald”
reported that the Indonesian government was arranging evacuation flights for
Indonesian journalists. Indonesian military planes and ships were on
stand-by to evacuate tens of thousands of other people as violence
escalated, the newspaper said. International groups with workers in East
Timor, including major news organisations, were also arranging private
evacuation flights, it said.
Many Indonesian and foreign media crews have already left the East Timor
capital, Dili, and others have booked on special evacuation charter flights,
the “Sydney Morning Herald” said. The daily United Nations news briefing on
2 September was attended by about 150 reporters, TV crew and photographers –
about half the previous day’s number, it said. It quoted one senior UN
official as telling a departing journalist: “Please tell the world what is
going on here.” Both Indonesian and foreign journalists have been targets of
the pro-Indonesian militias as violence grows (see IFEX alerts).
The “Sydney Morning Herald” said the militia continued attacks and take
overs of areas as counting of votes continued in a referendum on possible
independence for the Indonesian-ruled former Portuguese territory. The
International Federation for East Timor Observer Project said the militia
were operating “apparently with the acquiescence of significant elements of
the Indonesian authorities.” In Jakarta, it was acknowledged for the first
time that the early deployment of an expanded international peacekeeping
force may be necessary, the “Sydney Morning Herald” reported. The “Sydney
Morning Herald” also reported that Indonesia’s Defence Minister and armed
forces chief, General Wiranto, claimed that some foreign media had blown the
violence “out of proportion.” The head of the UN mission in East Timor, Ian
Martin, meanwhile criticised the failure of Indonesian authorities to rein
in the militia, which appear to have begun a fresh campaign of terror that
has forced thousands of East Timorese to flee to the mountains.
Background Information
East Timorese voted in a referendum on possible independence from Indonesian
rule for the former Portuguese colony of 800,000 people. Six international
media workers were killed when Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975.
Organisations such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and
Australian colleagues have called for investigations into continuing
allegations they were deliberately killed by Indonesian forces or forces
under Indonesian control (see IFEX alerts).
On 25 May 1999, Indonesian and Australian journalists’ organisations
announced they were opening a media safety office in Dili. This followed
increasing attacks on journalists and threats by pro-Indonesian militia
trying to stop journalists covering violence and intimidation before and
during the referendum.
