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Antara, June 21, 1999

Police Refute News About Blockade on UNAMET, ICRC

Dili, E Timor, June 21 (ANTARA) - Police have dismissed as
Untrue reports saying that the pro-integration group, Red and
White Iron, had blocked streets where representatives of the UN
Assessment Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) were to pass to help
free hostages.

"After verifying the information from witnesses, we have found
out that Red and White Iron did not intercept the UNAMET and the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)," provincial
police spokesman, Capt Widodo DS, told newsmen here Monday.

Widodo stressed the need to straighten out the news which was
released by UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst, as this could
jeopardize the implementation of the direct ballot to be held by
the UN in East Timor in August.

Wimhurst last Friday said the Red and White Iron blocked roads
and damaged properties in Leotala village, Liquica district as
the UNAMET and ICRC were on their way to secure the release of
four people abducted by the pro-independence group, Falintil.

One of the hostages was a Red and White Iron member, two were
Liquica residents and the other was a police officer, kidnapped
by the Falintil in Asmanu village, also in Liquica, on June 11.

Wimhurst said that according to the local people, the groups's
members were armed with arrows, spears, matchetes and lances and
that they had injured some people and damaged properties.

Widodo said that on Tuesday (June 15), UNAMET members, led by
Steve Polden and Collin Stewart, and ICRC representatives went
to Leotala to help release the hostages.

Soon after their arrival at Leotala, they met with military
troops patrolling the area and Red and White Iron members who
were on a "civil patrol".

Widodo said UNAMET chief Ian Martin, chief of the East Timor
military commander Col Tono Suratman, and Brig Gen Gleny
Kairupan had also met with members of the Red and White Iron who
were training for civil patrol.

Ian Martin even had a chance to talk to them during that
meeting, he said.

"There was thus no interception during the UNAMET's or Ian
Martin's visit to Liquica," he added.

(U.DLI-01/nn04/13:43/int-cl/15:26/nn02/16:40/TB06)

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Didistribusikan tgl. 25 Jun 1999 jam 07:07:38 GMT+1
oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://www.Indo-News.com/
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