FED: Downer raises security concerns with Alatas

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-1999
FED: Downer raises security concerns with Alatas

Continued violence in the lead-up to the East Timor independence ballot has prompted
Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER to raise concerns with Indonesian counterparts.

Mr DOWNER says he's told Indonesian Foreign Minister ALI ALATAS of Australia's concerns
that the vote and the immediate aftermath may be marred by violence in the troubled territory.

He told the ABC's 7.30 Report last night that Mr ALATAS said Indonesia is doing all it can
to send messages to East Timor to make sure there's no repetition of recent violent incidents.

But Mr DOWNER says the Indonesian military and police could have done a lot better.

UN officers in East Timor have come under a series of attacks in the past week as
pro-Indonesian militias step up violence in a bid to disrupt next week's historic ballot.

AAP RTV daw/sc/rat/wz/am

KEYWORD: TIMOR DOWNER (CANBERRA)

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