The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
(New York, New York)
___________________________________________________________________________
______
For Immediate Release September 6,
2000
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I was deeply saddened to learn today of the death of three dedicated
international aid workers,
including an American citizen, Mr. Carlos Caseras. Mr. Caseras and his
colleagues were employees
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees working on an
international humanitarian
effort in West Timor. They were killed, and several of their co-workers
were injured, by local militias
who have been on a rampage of violence in West Timor. The United States
has repeatedly called
on the Indonesian government to take the necessary actions to disarm and
disband these militias.
Only such steps will create a security environment that enables provision
of humanitarian assistance,
resolution of the refugee problem, and a return to peace in Timor.
This tragedy gives added urgency to the Indonesian government's obligation
to turn words into
actions on Timor. The government of Indonesia must live up to its
commitments to restore order
and to ensure the safety and welfare of all refugees and foreign nationals.
I want to extend my personal condolences and that of all Americans to
Carlos Caseras's family
and to the families of the other victims.
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