(29 Jun 1999) Indonesian/Nat
VOICED BY: Philippa Meagher
United Nations officials in East Timor were attacked by militiamen on Tuesday, injuring several members.
The attack came as East Timor's rival factions reached an agreement on the thorny issue of giving up their weapons ahead of a planned independence referendum scheduled for August.
The U-N Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) were based in Maliana when the attack occurred, near the border with West Timor about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of the territorial capital, Dili.
VOICE-OVER:
00:02
United Nations workers are still numb.
Their office was attacked in East Timor on Tuesday - the first act of violence against officials overseeing an upcoming referendum on the territory's future.
At least 12 U-N officials were hurt - some with head injuries - after demonstrators smashed their office windows, and ransacked the building.
The U-N blames the violence on militiamen, who support Indonesian rule.
00:27
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Maliana town was attacked at approximately ten o'clock this morning by a group of about a hundred militia who were among a larger crowd who gathered outside our offices there. "
SUPER CAPTION: David Wimhurst, spokesperson for UNAMET
00:39
At a separate incident east of Dili, a coffee farmer was attacked in his own home.
His son also blames militia members, who are against East Timor's independence.
00:48
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"The militia were drinking and looking for me and my father. They wanted to kill us. I ran away but they found my father and beat him."
SUPER CAPTION: Abilio Osorio Soares, wounded man's son
00:57
The U-N office is one of eight set up to oversee East Timor's independence vote.
The referendum is set for August 8, but it has already been delayed once because of security concerns.
01:10
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