DATE=5/28/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249911
TITLE=INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR / L ONLY
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDONESIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS THE SECURITY SITUATION
IN EAST TIMOR WILL BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, SO THERE WILL BE NO
NEED TO DELAY THE AUTONOMY VOTE THERE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH VOA,
HE ALSO DENIED ALLEGATIONS THAT THE INDONESIAN ARMY IS ARMING AND
TRAINING PARAMILITARY GROUPS, THAT SUPPORT INTEGRATION WITH
INDONESIA. VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS IN JAKARTA HAS THIS
REPORT.
TEXT: INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS SAY HE DOES NOT
BELIEVE SECURITY CONDITIONS WILL FORCE A DELAY IN THE AUGUST VOTE
IN EAST TIMOR. U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS DUE TO MAKE
AN EVALUATION BY JUNE 13TH ON THE CONDITIONS FOR THE BALLOT, AND
MR. ALATAS SAYS HE EXPECTS MR. ANNAN TO GIVE THE GO-AHEAD
// ALATAS ACT //
I'M HOPEFUL THAT BEFORE THE 13TH OF JUNE, WHICH IS THE
DATE AGREED BEFORE WHICH THE SECRETARY GENERAL WILL HAVE
TO MAKE HIS ASSESSMENT, I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL HAVE A
SITUATION THAT WILL NOT CAUSE ANY FURTHER QUALMS OR
CONCERN.
// END ACT //
THE EAST TIMORESE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT OR REJECT AN
OFFER OF AUTONOMY. INDONESIA SAYS IT WILL RELINQUISH EAST TIMOR
-- WHICH IT ANNEXED IN 1976 -- IF AUTONOMY IS REJECTED. THE
PENDING VOTE HAS SPARKED BITTER VIOLENCE, MUCH OF IT REPORTEDLY
INSTIGATED BY PRO-JAKARTA MILITIAS.
WESTERN JOURNALISTS AND DIPLOMATS HAVE REPORTED THOSE MILITIAS
ARE BEING ARMED AND TRAINED BY THE INDONESIAN ARMY, WHICH IS
BELIEVED TO BE OPPOSED TO GIVING UP EAST TIMOR. MR. ALATAS SCOFFS
AT THE ALLEGATION, SAYING THAT THE MILITARY HAS BEEN TRAINING THE
SAME KIND OF LOCAL AUXILIARIES IN EAST TIMOR AS IT HAS ALL OVER
INDONESIA.
// ALATAS ACT //
YOU SEE, IT IS RIDICULOUS, YEAH, TO MAKE SUCH A BIG
ISSUE OUT OF PEOPLE SEEING ARMED FORCES MEMBERS TRAINING
-- SO-CALLED MILITIA. IF THIS IS BEING DONE, I CAN
ASSURE YOU, NO ONE WOULD GET NEAR, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN DONE SECRETLY. BUT IT'S SO OPEN. IT'S IN AN OPEN
HALL, EVERYBODY COULD SEE IT, THEY COULD MAKE A FILM.
AND THEN THEY MAKE SOMETHING VERY SINISTER ABOUT IT.
// END ACT ///
MR. ALATAS WAS ALSO ASKED ABOUT REPORTS THAT PRO-JAKARTA MILITIAS
HAVE BEEN DRIVING SUPPORTERS OF EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE FROM
THEIR HOMES, WITH MANY FORCED INTO CAMPS. MR. ALATAS REPLIED
THAT THERE ARE WHAT HE REFERRED TO AS HOMELESS PEOPLE DISPLACED
BY THE FIGHTING.
// ALATAS ACT //
I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. I KNOW THEY ARE
IN LOCATIONS, CERTAIN LOCATIONS. BUT THESE ARE NOT
CAMPS IN THAT SENSE. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ARE
INDEED HOMELESS IN THE SENSE THAT THEY HAVE TO RETURN
BACK TO THE PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO.
// END ACT //
MR. ALATAS CONFESSED TO WHAT HE CALLED CONCERN AND IRRITATION
OVER FOREIGN MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE EAST TIMOR ISSUE. HE SAID
INDONESIA HAS BEEN ONLY BLAMED AND HAS NOT RECEIVED CREDIT FOR
TRYING TO RESOLVE THE EAST TIMOR MATTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC
28-May-99 4:54 AM EDT (0854 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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