Special Update, Thursday, 9th September, 1999
ABMS (Australian Baptist Missionary Society)

As is being reported on media throughout Australia, the crisis in East Timor continues to deteriorate.

As a result, tension in West Timor has escalated to the extent that some Western expatriates have been threatened in the streets. It appears that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming days.

As a consequence, Don and Di Van Cooten, in Kupang, West Timor, have decided to evacuate from Kupang at the earliest opportunity.

Urgent prayer is requested that the evacuation arrangements will go smoothly. The Van Cootens are not in any immediate danger, and evacuation is being taken as a precautionary step.