E. Timor Protesters Invade U.S. Embassy in Jakarta

Twenty-nine students scaled an eight-foot fence to invade the U.S. Embassy grounds Saturday in protest over Indonesian abuses in East Timor, while in Dili, the Timorese capital, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets today.

At the U.S. Embassy, the protesters sat cross-legged facing Indonesian riot police on the other side of the fence. The protesters refused to budge, despite a government promise that they would not be arrested if they left voluntarily.

The scene, marking the third anniversary of a massacre in East Timor by Indonesian soldiers, embarrassed President Suharto on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which starts Tuesday and will be attended by President Clinton and 16 other leaders.

Clinton, due to fly in late today, will be confronted by the spectacle of the students squatting in the embassy parking area.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher, in town for meetings before the summit, said the issue of East Timor would be raised during bilateral talks with Indonesia.

The protesters said they specifically sought the release of former guerrilla leader Jose (Xanana) Gusmao. He is serving a 20-year jail term for his role in heading an armed rebellion for East Timor’s independence.

Embassy spokeswoman Pamela Smith said the protesters would not be forced to leave.

The incident angered Indonesia’s government, which had hoped the economic forum would allow the country to shake off its poor human rights image. It is accused of abuse and brutality, especially concerning the 1976 annexation of East Timor, a former Portuguese colony.

The protest “was obviously designed to embarrass us,” said Foreign Minister Ali Abdullah Alatas.

It was three years ago Saturday that soldiers killed scores of unarmed civilians at Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili. A government inquiry said 50 people were killed, though independent sources put the figure at more than 200.

Residents in Dili, contacted by telephone from Jakarta, said hundreds of young people protesting rule from Jakarta marched in the central marketplace today and a second, bigger demonstration took place over the killing Saturday of a Timorese by an Indonesian trader.

One resident, who asked not to be identified, said: “Many roads in the city are blocked by people. There are thousands of demonstrators.”