wfn.org | Protestant Leader in East Timor, Thought Dead, Reported Alive

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

20-October-1999 
99350 
 
    Protestant Leader in East Timor, 
    Thought Dead, Reported Alive 
 
    by Religion News Service 
 
WASHINGTON - A Protestant leader who was reported killed in recent violence 
in East Timor is still alive, according to a report from the World Council 
of Churches. 
 
    Joseph Pattiasina, general secretary of the Communion of Churches in 
Indonesia, said he spoke by telephone with the Rev. Francisco de 
Vasconcelos Ximenes on Oct. 8.  Ximenes hosted a delegation of election 
observers in late August that included Presbyterian News Service reporter 
John Filiatreau and two other PC(USA) representatives. 
 
    The council's international relations team said de Vasconcelos, general 
secretary of the Christian Church of East Timor, is still in a dangerous 
situation. 
 
    "Rev. de Vasconcelos and others who escaped killings continue, 
nonetheless, to work in the midst of a situation in parts of East Timor 
which continues to remain tense with fear and apprehension of possible 
outbreaks of violence," the team stated in an update on Indonesia.  "Their 
personal circumstances remain precarious." 
 
    Violence in the tiny territory of East Timor escalated following an 
Aug. 30 referendum for independence from Indonesia.   

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