Fed: Indon forces over react by firing over civilians: Cosgrove

AAP General News (Australia)
02-20-2000
Fed: Indon forces over react by firing over civilians: Cosgrove

Interfet head Major-General PETER COSGROVE says Indonesian forces over-reacted by firing
into the air to calm a dispute between civilians on the Timor border yesterday.

TNI soldiers let off 200 rounds of automatic fire into the air at the main border crossing
near the town of Batugade during a UN-sponsored event to reunite refugees in West Timor
with relatives in East Timor.

General COSGROVE has told the Nine Network the incident was serious because of the
size of the crowd -- about 15,000.

He says the number of shots fired by the TNI troops seemed an over-reaction and could
have caused a stampede.

Jakarta has given more than 100,000 refugees in West Timor until March 31 to decide
whether to remain in Indonesia or return to their devastated homeland, administered by
the UN.

AAP RTV fh/jmt

KEYWORD: TIMOR INDON COSGROVE (CANBERRA)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.