The Catholic humanitarian group Caritas said most of its 40 local employees have been killed. The father of independence leader Xanana Gusmao was killed and his mother is missing. And uncounted ordinary people throughout the territory are feared dead. The Indonesian military says only 55 were killed in the week after the referendum's results were announced on Sept. 4. Independence advocates say 10,000 or more may have died.
Satellite photos show spots of flames all across East Timor.
At this point, the violence may be dying down with little left to plunder or burn, and U.N. staff still in Dili say militiamen seem to be headed for West Timor with their loot. Where they will go from there is a big question. Many refugees in West Timor are actually families of militiamen, and they may head back to East Timor. Militia leaders talk of carving out a pro-Indonesia enclave in East Timor. As for other refugees, independence advocates fear that the military and militia deliberately set out to clear East Timor of most of its pro-independence population, and will not allow them back.