Скачать или смотреть JAPAN: MONEY PLEDGES TO REBUILD EAST TIMOR (2)

(17 Dec 1999) English/Nat

Representatives of nations gathering in Tokyo have pledged more than 520 (M) million U-S dollars to help rebuild devastated East Timor, far more than the 300 (M) million dollars the World Bank had sought to raise.

The goal of raising aid for East Timor was set after an international team of experts determined the needs for health care, education and roads in the territory.

The outcome of the meeting was welcomed East Timorese independence leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, who said his people deserved assistance given "with respect, consideration and love".

About 200 representatives from more than 50 nations and international groups, including the United States, the European Commission and Japan, met in Tokyo.

They talked about funding the reconstruction of the former Portuguese colony.

On August 30, the mostly Roman Catholic population of East Timor overwhelmingly voted for independence from predominantly Muslim Indonesia.

In the wake of the historic vote, much of the territory was destroyed by pro-Jakarta militiamen, backed by Indonesian troops, who went on a rampage, killing hundreds of people and burning homes.

The violence ended only after international peacekeepers arrived in September.

The World Bank had sought to raise 300 (M) million U-S dollars in aid for East Timor after an international team of experts determined the needs for health care, education and roads in the territory.

But that target was surpassed in Tokyo, when more than 520 (M) million was pledged.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The figure pledged today is, as you have heard of, 520 million dollars. Indeed, it exceeds our expectations. I think it is clearly a indicative of sense of sympathy and global solidarity that exists for East Timor. It is a boost to our determination and indeed also increases our sense of responsibility.
SUPER CAPTION: Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations

Parts of the pledge still need legislative approval in the delegates' home nations and 370 (m) million dollars of the money will go toward development efforts over the next three years.

The rest will go toward humanitarian relief efforts.

The Tokyo meeting was attended by Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao - widely expected to be East Timor's first president.

Addressing the delegates, Gusmao stressed any aid should go toward farming to reduce poverty and that the decision-making should be left to the East Timorese people.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Development programmes will have more chance of success in the long-term if this consultative approach is taken, right down to the grass roots level. Our people who have suffered so much deserve not only financial assistance. They deserve assistance which is given with respect, consideration and love."
SUPER CAPTION: Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, Independence Leader, East Timor

Gusmao also said that time was needed for East Timor to form political parties so that elections can be held.

In addition, he acknowledged that the path toward resolving the rift between those who supported and those who opposed independence would be a complex one.

The U-N is carrying out investigations into hundreds of killings, allegedly by the militia.

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