(9 Sep 1999) English/Nat
Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao has pleaded with U-N Security Council representatives to intervene in East Timor.
He met the U-N team at the British embassy in Jakarta where he is sheltering because of security concerns.
Meanwhile the U-N is trying to convince the government to provide more security so they can stay in East Timor and even add more staff there.
Xanana Gusmao is the personification of the East Timorese independence movement.
His 24-year battle with Jakarta appeared to end in success when voters overwhelmingly chose to break from Indonesia.
But pro-Indonesia militia have since taken over the streets of East Timor's capital and widespread killing has been reported across the territory.
Gusmao is now hoping that a U-N security council delegation can pressure Jakarta to allow international intervention.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Of course his request is that the UN should help the people of East Timor to achieve their freedom and independence."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin Andjaba, Namibian Ambassador to the U-N
The U-N officials left from the British embassy and went straight to the presidential palace to meet B-J Habibie and his cabinet.
Before starting their latest round of talks, they expressed their hope that the U-N can remain in East Timor.
They even hope to send another team in to assess what kind of additional help the international community could provide.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We would like UNAMET to stay, the Secretary General would like UNAMET to stay. The Secretary General is sending a humanitarian mission to East Timor, even cooperation with the authorities of Indonesia, but to look urgently at the humanitarian situation. It would be a disaster for East Timor and for Indonesia if UNAMET was completely withdrawn from East Timor, as a symbol of the failure of the authorities to look after the security situation. So we must talk about that with President Habibie."
SUPER CAPTION: Sir Jeremy Greenstock, British Ambassador to the UN
The U-N team has already met with Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and expected president-to-be Megawati Sukarnoputri.
The U-N is planning to pull out the rest of its foreign staff on Friday.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The withdrawal would not be until tomorrow. I have no other comments to make."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin Andjaba, Namibian Ambassador to U-N
Despite several countries pledging peacekeepers, none are prepared to shoot their way in.
They want an invitation from the Indonesian government, which has steadily refused to offer one.
If Indonesia refuses international military help, and violence continues, the Security Council could authorise a peacekeeping mission without Indonesia's approval.
But that is unlikely because some council members, including China, Russia and Bahrain, oppose any intervention without Jakarta's permission.
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