Timor refugee operations halted

East Timorese refugees depend on UN help

The United Nations refugee agency has suspended its operations in Indonesian West Timor because of increasing violence blamed on pro-Jakarta militiamen.

The announcement comes a day after three UN officials were brutally attacked during a visit to a camp for East Timorese refugees in the territory.

Thousands of East Timorese are living in camps in the West

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said the militia gangs had also set up roadblocks to prevent refugees from East Timor returning home.

More than 150,000 people fled East Timor after the territory erupted in violence following last year's vote for independence for Jakarta.

But the UNHCR said on Wednesday it was halting all assistance to the refugees until a senior official had arrived and made a full assessment of the security situation.

Machetes

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

Adelno Risi, UNHCR

The UNHCR said the latest incidents were the worst of an estimated 150 attacks on staff since its mission began in October.

Staff accused the Indonesian security forces of doing nothing to stop the violence.

In Tuesday's attack, three UN workers were set on while distributing supplies at a refugee camp about 100km (60 miles) west of the border.

The militia remain heavily armed

UNHCR spokesman Jake Morland said gang members attacked the men with machetes and sticks.

Two escaped after being beaten and were taken to hospital.

A third was captured and taken to a nearby rice field, where the gang held his head under water. All three had suffered suspected fractures, he said.

Mr Morland said there was no doubt that pro-Jakarta militiamen were responsible for the attack.

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.

Indonesia recently announced plans to close the West Timor refugee camps.