Aliran is greatly distressed that anarchy and mayhem have descended in East Timor following an overwhelming verdict by the brave East Timor to free themselves from the shackles of Indonesia.

The pro-Jakarta militias are on the rampage in an orgy of slaughter clearly sanctioned and encouraged by the Indonesian armed forces under General Wiranto.

It is a terrible tragedy that violent elements aligned to Jakarta are extracting a heavy price from helpless innocent East Timorese for daring to choose freedom in an UN-run referendum that was conducted democratically.

The Indonesian government must be roundly condemned for failing to curb this carnage and arresting this barbaric behaviour.

The civilized world will find it difficult to accept the feigned helplessness of the Indonesian army or its apparent inability to curb the havoc that is running riot in East Timor.

President B. J. Habibie must be personally held responsible for this horrendous tragedy that has engulfed East Timor and shocked the civilized community. The decent thing that he could do at this late hour is to invite the UN peace-keeping forces to establish law and order and prevent further needless loss of innocent lives.