The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, said yesterday the population and UN staff in East Timor were being terrorised and called for the Security Council to consider sending peacekeeping troops to protect them.
Mrs Robinson, in a statement, said Indonesian forces were unable to control the spiralling violence by rampaging pro-Jakarta militia groups.
She said the results of Monday's independence referendum in East Timor, expected on Saturday, must be respected.
"The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the spiralling violence in East Timor and says there is an urgent need for international action . . . to protect the fundamental human rights of a terrorised population," the statement said.
Mrs Robinson said a substantial UN peacekeeping force might be needed to protect Timorese civilians and UN staff, given the inability of Indonesian security forces to control the situation.
"If the Indonesian authorities are unable to fulfil their responsibility to ensure the security of the Timorese people, then there must be urgent consideration in the Security Council of the deployment of international or regional forces to protect the population."
She said the reaction of Indonesian security forces to violations that included including killings, displacement of populations, destruction of property, illegal detentions and intimidation, was wholly inadequate.
At least four UN workers have been killed in East Timor this week and six are missing.
Mrs Robinson said she was encouraged that the Indonesian government had indicated it might consider accepting an international security presence in East Timor.
She said the violence threatened to derail the UN-organised consultation process and seemed aimed at denying the East Timorese their right to determine their future.
"It is essential that the progress achieved until now in East Timor not be reversed.
"Whatever the outcome of the vote turns out to be, it will represent the will of the people of East Timor and must be respected," Mrs Robinson said.
Meanwhile aid agencies said yesterday they were preparing for an emergency situation and estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 people might flee East Timor. The UNHCR estimates that between 50,000 and 55,000 people have already been displaced in the territory in the past few months, including 30,000 who have fled to the capital Dili.