No. 057/HMS/IX/00

Press Release

The President of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid expressed his deep regrets over the death of three UNHCR personnel in Atambua, West Timor yesterday. We regret what have happened and I would like to express condolence to the family of the deceased.

The President said, in a press conference today, that he had ordered his military commander to send two battalions of troops from the Reserve Strategic Unit (KOSTRAD) and the Police Mobile Brigade Unit (BRIMOB) to be sent to Atambua .  He also instructed that the case be investigated immediately.  There is already an action taken to find the culprit, he said.

The President further added, that an action plan to resolve the problem has been discussed with the UNTAET. We are now already taking action plan with (Sergio) De Melo to work together to overcome the problem.  He said: One of the plan is to evacuate these problems-creating people to other places in Indonesia.

The President stressed that he never supports any use of violence for any purposes. We never endorse and always condemn any act of violence from happening anywhere in the world, let alone in Indonesia he said.

This mishap was triggered by the uncontrollable emotional distress of the people over the death of a pro-integration Olivia Mendoza Moruk (45) who was brutally murdered two days ago. Estimated around 3,000 people brought his corps to the office of UNHCR followed by the attack, which caused the death of three UNHCR personnel. 

 New York, 6 September 2000