DATE=4/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248505
TITLE=AUSTRALIA / EAST TIMOR UPDATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AUSTRALIAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE WARNED GOVERNMENT LEADERS
IN MARCH THAT INDONESIAN SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY LINKED TO
VIOLENCE IN THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY OF EAST TIMOR. VOA
CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU
IN BANGKOK, THE ACCUSATION IS CONTAINED IN A DOCUMENT LEAKED
FRIDAY.
TEXT: A SECRET DOCUMENT PREPARED BY AUSTRALIA'S DEFENSE
INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION ACCUSES INDONESIAN MILITARY ELEMENTS OF
AT LEAST CONDONING VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR. THE DOCUMENT, DATED
MARCH FOURTH, SAYS ABRI -- THE ACRONYM FOR INDONESIA'S MILITARY
-- COULD APPREHEND OR EASILY CONTROL PRO-JAKARTA MILITANTS, BUT
HAS CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO.
IN A CHILLINGLY PROPHETIC ASSESSMENT, THE REPORT PREDICTS THAT
FURTHER VIOLENCE IS CERTAIN AND THAT THE CAPITAL OF DILI WILL BE
A FOCUS. IT SAYS THAT UNLESS JAKARTA TAKES FIRM ACTION, ABRI
ELEMENTS WILL, AS THE DOCUMENT PHRASES IT, "CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE, OR AT LEAST WON'T PREVENT IT."
LAST WEEK, MILITIAMEN WENT ON A RAMPAGE IN DILI, AND UP TO 30
PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED.
THE INTELLIGENCE REPORT, ENTITLED "INDONESIA-EAST TIMOR: ABRI
BACKING VIOLENCE" WAS FIRST LEAKED IN AUSTRALIA FRIDAY, AND VOA
SUBSEQUENTLY OBTAINED A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT.
THE REPORT GIVES CREDENCE TO ASSERTIONS BY TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE
ACTIVISTS THAT INDONESIA'S ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN ARMING AND
TRAINING THE PRO-JAKARTA MILITIAS. THE ACTIVISTS CLAIM THE
MILITARY IS TRYING TO DERAIL GOVERNMENT PLANS TO GRANT EAST TIMOR
AUTONOMY OR INDEPENDENCE.
THE DOCUMENT SAYS, HOWEVER, THAT AUSTRALIAN INTELLIGENCE DOES NOT
KNOW IF BACKING THE MILITIAS IS THE RESULT OF LOCAL INITIATIVE OR
IS BEING SUPPORTED FROM JAKARTA. IT ALSO SAYS IT DOES NOT KNOW
OF ARMED FORCES CHIEF GENERAL WIRANTO'S VIEW ON THE COLLUSION
BETWEEN THE ARMY AND THE MILITANTS. BUT IT ADDS THAT THE LACK OF
VIGOROUS ACTION BY THE ARMY TO REIN IN ITS OWN MEN IMPLIES THAT
HE IS, AS THE REPORT PUTS IT, AT LEAST TURNING A BLIND EYE.
THE LEAKING OF THE DOCUMENT SET OFF A POLITICAL FIRESTORM IN
AUSTRALIA, ONLY DAYS BEFORE A SCHEDULED MEETING BETWEEN PRIME
MINISTER JOHN HOWARD AND INDONESIAN PRESIDENT B-J HABIBIE ON THE
INDONESIAN ISLAND, BALI. MR. HOWARD HAS PREVIOUSLY BLAMED ONLY
WHAT HE TERMED "ROGUE ELEMENTS" IN THE INDONESIAN MILITARY FOR
THE EAST TIMOR VIOLENCE.
IN A STATEMENT, OPPOSITION FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN LAURIE
BRERETON ACCUSED THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT OF DERELICTION, IN NOT
SPEAKING UP AND CONFRONTING JAKARTA. HE SAID THAT MORE TIMORESE
WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY IF THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT HAD SPOKEN CLEARLY
AND UNAMBIGUOUSLY TO INDONESIAN OFFICIALS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING
ON.
ASKED TO COMMENT, FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER, WHO IS ON A
VISIT TO TOKYO, SAID THE DOCUMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE
HOWARD GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SAYING. HE ANGRILY DISMISSED THE
OPPOSITION CHARGE THAT CANBERRA'S ALLEGED SILENCE IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE DEATHS, CALLING IT "UTTERLY ABOMINABLE" AND THE MOST
DISGUSTING THING HE HAS EVER HEARD IN POLITICS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC/KL
23-Apr-99 6:59 AM EDT (1059 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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