Precedence: bulk JAKARTA REJECTS UN ACCUSATIONS ABOUT VIOLENCE UNITED NATIONS, June 1 (AFP) - The Indonesian government on Tuesday rejected as "misleading" and "imbalanced" a UN report that accused pro-Jakarta militia of intimidation and violence in East Timor. Indonesia's UN Ambassador Makarim Wibisono said in a letter that the report "depicts an imbalanced picture of the prevailing realities" on the ground in the territory. Violence between pro- and anti-Indonesia groups has escalated since Jakarta's announcement in January that it would agree to independence the former Portuguese colony, if the people there reject its offer of autonomy. Some 400,000 East Timorese will vote August 8 either for independence or autonomy under Indonesia, which invaded the territory in 1975. The Indonesian ambassador also said the report was "misleading" to accuse only anti-independence groups of violence. In the report, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the pro-Indonesian militia continue "political violence, including intimidation and killings" before the vote on the former Portuguese colony's autonomy. Annan added that "thus far at least" Indonesian police have done nothing to stop the violence. "Indonesia rejects unsubstantiated allegations" that the army is allowing violence, the ambassador said. Wibisono added that "Indonesia considers theses charges to be highly serious," saying "they should not be made lightly" since the government has already promised to ensure the vote's security. Ian Martin from Britain, who is heading up a 600-member UN mission in East Timor, arrived in Dili Tuesday and urged an end to the violence. Under the UN-sponsored May 5 accord, the Indonesian military and police will be responsible for security in the run-up to and during the ballot, with the assistance of some 300 unarmed UN civilian police. ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
