EAST TIMOR: UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION WRAP

Описание: (26 Sep 1999) English/Nat

U-N forces are tightening their grip on Dili as they venture into East Timor's interior.

The peacekeeping force hopes to secure routes for the desperately needed aid.

Buildings continued to be razed to the ground throughout Dili on Sunday as Indonesian troops made their way out of the territory.

And for the first time since the start of the violence almost a month ago, the overwhelmingly Catholic refugees are finally returning to the capital Dili for Sunday mass.

Banks burned and the streets were filled with smoke as peacekeeping troops patrolled through the smokey capital which remains an unpredictable and dangerous place.

Most of the destruction is blamed on pro-Indonesian militias taking revenge on East Timorese who voted for Independence at the ballot on August 30.

United Nations troops made their presence felt on the smokey streets of Dili by stepping up patrols.

Despite the difficulties life is slowly returning to normal in Dili.

For the first time since violence erupted in the tiny territory, there was a number of church services.

But fear still kept many parishioners away.

Most of the services conducted in the East Timorese capital of Dili were makeshift affairs.

At one refugee camp they used the local stadium for Sunday mass.

Most of East Timor's 800-thousand people are Roman Catholic.

For almost a month the half-island territory has been terrorised by militia gangs backed by elements of Indonesia's military.

The militia have long accused church officials of siding with the pro-independence movement.

During the recent violence, priests and nuns provided sanctuary to people fleeing from the militiamen.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They have a conscience, a good conscience but the conscience has been destroyed by the Government by the TNI by the militia. and we want to take back our conscience our moralism our goodness. "
SUPERCAPTION: Father Mouzinho Lopes, East Timorese priest

When the U-N announced East Timor had voted in favour of independence from Indonesia, the militias went on a rampage.

After the East Timorese overwhelmingly votes for independence from Indonesia in the August 30 referendum, militiamen went on a rampage, killing hundreds and burning and looting towns.

When the fighting began may priests joined the refugees and fled to the hills.

Most have still not returned.

Australian troops, who form the backbone of the U-N mission, were on hand to ensure there was no threat of violence against the East Timorese by militiamen.

Dressed in their Sunday best, many members of the congregation were praying for an end to the fighting which has left hundreds dead and Dili almost razed to the ground.

U-N Commanders say they are almost ready to enter the second phase of the operation expanding its safety cordon from Dili and starting to secure road routes to the interior.

But, the United Nations says the humanitarian crisis is worse than expected.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...