Secretary-General receives emotional welcome in East Timor
17 February 2000 -- On his first visit to East Timor after it was
racked by post-referendum violence, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today told the people of the
troubled territory that the UN was working hard to rebuild their land and bring law and order to it.
"We are here as
your partners," Mr. Annan stressed in his remarks to a swelling crowd of
5,000 in Liquica, a town which has been called the "killing field" of
East Timor after a wave of murders, rape and destruction by the militia that
followed last year's vote for independence.
"Together we
can weather the current crisis and usher in a new era for East Timor - an era
in which East Timor takes its place in the family of nations, and in which its
men, women and children can live in dignity and peace."
Mr. Annan also told the residents of Liquica that UN police
and human rights teams were investigating last year's events, and that a
judicial system was beginning to take shape to ensure that justice would be
handed down in courtrooms, and "not in the streets."
He added that the international community had pledged $500
million towards reconstruction work to restore basic services and rebuild
infrastructure.
"That money is
now beginning to flow," he said, "meaning that reconstruction will
begin in earnest and jobs will be created."
Earlier, the
Secretary-General had laid a wreath in memory of those who had died during last
April's massacre at a village church.
The survivors standing nearby cried and one after another embraced the Secretary-General and his wife. Mr. Annan
told the villagers that he found it "particularly shocking" that a
house of worship would be desecrated.
Before flying by
helicopter to Liquica, Mr. Annan met in Dili with UN Transitional Administrator
Sergio Vieira de Mello, independence leader Xanana Gusmão, Nobel Peace Laureate
Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, and Bishop Basilio Nascimento.
