[Sinn Fein]

13th September 1999


Adams contacts Clinton and Blair over East Timor

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP this afternoon wrote to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and faxed messages to US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to seek their support for the immediate deployment of the UN Peace Keeping force which has been agreed for East Timor.

Mr. Adams said:

``In recent days we have been voicing our anger and frustration at the failure of the international community to honour its commitment to the people of East Timor regarding the referendum on independence. This failure to act has resulted in the deaths of thousands of East Timorese in a genocide which is still continuing today.

``It is imperative that the UN peace keeping force, which is to be sent, is deployed immediately to help the people of East Timor defend their independence and their lives. A delay, even of a few days, could have dire consequences.

``We are also now facing a huge humanitarian crisis with food shortages being experienced on a mass scale. There is an urgent need for supplies to be airlifted into the country as speedily as possible. If the people of East Timor are to be saved the time for action is now.''


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