(19 Feb 2000) Voice and effects
VOICED BY: LOUISE BATES
A family reunion programme for refugees at the border of East and West Timor turned violent on Saturday when rocks were thrown and shots fired.
The families had come from both sides of the border to meet in the Neutral Zone.
Last September, tens of thousands fled to West Timor to escape the violence from Indonesian troops and their militia allies following an overwhelming vote in favour of the territory's independence.
Around 100-thousand people - including militia members - remain in West Timor.
VOICE-OVER:
0.03:
People coming together in the Neutral Zone along the border between East and West Timor.
0.09:
Those entering from the East Timorese side of the border had to undergo security checks.
0.14:
The gathering was one of the weekly family reunion programmes, agreed to by the United Nations and the Indonesian military.
0.22:
About 13-thousand people were present when trouble erupted and people sending people running back to West Timor.
0.29:
Violence appeared to break out after an alleged former militiaman, who had entered the zone from the West Timorese side, tried to strike an East Timorese man.
0.40:
A group of East Timorese retaliated by throwing rocks towards the West Timorese side of the border.
0.47:
UPSOUND: Firing
0.52:
People threw themselves into the ground as Indonesian troops fired warning shots into the air.
0.57:
Unsure where the shots were aimed at, East Timorese refugees ran back from where they'd come.
1.03:
And East Timorese continued to hurl rocks towards the West Timorese side of the border with Australian peacekeepers trying their best to regain order.
1.12:
There were no official reports of casualties.
1.15:
Last September, thousands fled to West Timor to escape the violence from Indonesian troops and their militia allies following an overwhelming vote in favour of the territory's independence.
1.27:
International agencies face a daily struggle against violence and intimidation to try to persuade more East Timorese refugees to return home.
Saturday's troubles will make their job all undoubtedly harder.
1.40:
VISION ENDS
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
