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Statements by Australian Missionary Saved from Suai Killings

ROME, SEP 16 (ZENIT).- In spite of the imminent arrival of U.N. peacekeeping troops, the suffering of the martyred people of East Timor continues. An authentic Calvary struck when the results of the referendum on independence were published on August 30, although suffering had already been endured for many months.

Australian priest Peter Hosking, who a few days ago was in Dili rescuing refugees, told Vatican Radio that "the incidents of violence had already intensified at the end of June and beginning of July, when the first members of the U.N. Mission (UNAMET) arrived. Then they were interrupted. People began singing 'UNAMET is here, it is no longer necessary to be afraid.' The people of Timor were absolutely convinced the international community would protect them. Then the result of the referendum was announced, and the acts of violence began again in a systematic manner."

"I think the feelings of the missionaries are of anger and shame," he said, "because these people who have suffered so much during 24 years, now have to live the events of 1975 all over again, but this time, before the very eyes of the United Nations, the media and the international community that, once again, delay in intervening to stop the massacres. There is much to reconstruct in East Timor, and I think Indonesia has no choice: it will have to accept the referendum's result, in spite of the fact it has turned the country into a desert, emptied it, depriving it of its resources and its inhabitants."

Fr. Hosking left East Timor before the massacre in the Suai parish. There were some 2,000 refugees in that Church. "Fr. Hilario was with them, one of the most courageous persons I have known in my life. I met him five years ago, when I arrived in Timor. Now he asked me to leave the place, because it was very dangerous. He also asked me to appeal to the international community to have a peace force sent before August 30, the date of the referendum, to stop the militias and the Indonesian Army from carrying out the massacre. The Church was attacked, and some persons were killed. The Indonesian Army says the refugees left, but it would have been impossible for them to do this in such a short time. I know that three priests were killed: a newly ordained Indonesian priest, Fr. Hilario himself, and young Fr. Francisco."

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