We are particularly concerned about reports of continued killings of civilians, including children and women, by anti-independence militia groups who have seized control of refugee camps along the border between East and West Timor. The militias are reported to be seeking out those who supported East Timor's recent vote for independence.
Camps are overcrowded and poor sanitation is a serious problem.
Outbreaks of malaria, diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections are feared. We call on the government of Indonesia, as a matter of extreme urgency, to take immediate steps to disarm all militia groups and any others who intend harm to people in the camps of West Timor. The United Nations humanitarian organisations must be provided unhindered access for their staff and safe conditions to do so. The paramount goal in both West and East Timor is the restoration of a climate of personal security so that all displaced people can make free choices regarding their future and effectively exercise these choices. All rights reserved.