HL Deb 27 November 1979 vol 403 c388WA
Lord CHITNIS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will state:

  1. (a) the number of East Timorese killed in the fighting since the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975 and from where such an estimate is derived;
  2. (b) the number of East Timorese who have died from starvation or malnutrition-related diseases since the Indonesian invasion and from where such an estimate is derived; and
  3. (c) the cost to the public funds of the current visit of President Suharto of Indonesia to this country.

Lord CARRINGTON

The Indonesian Foreign Minister said in London recently that 60,000 East Timorese had died as the result of civil war or starvation since 1975. We cannot independently confirm, let alone split up, this figure. The cost to the Government Hospitality Fund of the State Visit was about £20,000. Further costs were met from votes of other departments.