It will be calling for East Timor and Human Rights to be formally put onto the offical APEC agenda for the leaders' meeting. A focus will be on things people can do as members of the public to send these messages and make these calls. Both organised by Caritas. Church sources now report that East Timor is descending into anarchy. Militias now control the harbour, airport and streets of Dili, are stealing vehicles, and stopping people at random.
Roadblocks leave towns under siege and people are again fleeing to the mountains and bush.
International observers and journalists have fled to two heavily guarded hotels. Catholic parishes are overflowing with Timorese seeking shelter and the Church fears that the Catholic radio station, one of few sources of impartial information may be burned. There are 165 Timorese currently sheltering in the station building. We ask that this matter be treated with the utmost urgency by the New Zealand Government. The courage and determination of the East Timorese people to express their right to self-determination, as evidenced by the extraordinary turnout for both registration and voting during the consultation has been Timor s brightest moment for the past 24 years.