Violence threatens UN's Timor mission

East Timorese refugees depend on UN help

The United Nations is warning that continued violence against aid workers is jeopardising its operations in Indonesian West Timor.

A spokesman told the BBC that the UN operation to help more than 150,000 refugees who have fled violence in East Timor could not continue without adequate levels of security.

On Tuesday, two UN aid workers and their local driver were badly beaten by suspected pro-Jakarta militiamen at a refugee camp near the west Timorese town of Kefamenanu.

One staffer was beaten several times in the head ... it was totally without explanation

Adelno Risi, UNHCR

The UN says the incident is the most serious of an estimated 150 attacks on its staff since its mission began in October.

According to Adelno Ris of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the three men were attacked while distributing supplies to refugees at the camp.

Workers beaten

The men, who have not been named, were in the midst of a crowd of refugees when a machete wielding man rushed towards them hurling abuse.

The militia remain heavily armed

The mood turned ugly, and a group of men, who had reportedly been shaking hands with the aid workers moments earlier, then chased and beat them.

"It was totally without explanation," said Mr Risi.

"One staffer was beaten several times in the head, and the other had his hand beaten quite violently."

Mr Risi said that both men required hospital treatment following the attack, but had now been released.

According to some reports, their local driver was held captive in a nearby house by the suspected militia, and beaten for about 20 minutes before managing to escape with minor injuries.

Militia suspected

Their attackers are strongly believed to be East Timorese militia.

Many refugees live in fear of the militia

However, the UN says problems in identifying suspected militia members is further hindering attempts to improve security.

Since attacks began, only a handful of suspected militiamen have been arrested.

A BBC correspondent says the attacks are part of a wider campaign of intimidation by the militia, who want to stop refugees returning to East Timor.

The pro-Indonesia militia, who formerly dominated the east, reacted to East Timor's vote for independence with violence and moved west when the main UN peacekeeping force arrived last October.

Indonesia recently announced it intends to close the West Timor refugee camps, in the wake of criticism that it has not done all it could to stop militia infiltration.

The militia remains heavily armed, and has set up roadblocks on routes between East and West Timor to stop refugees returning.