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DATE=7/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251433
TITLE=INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR UPDATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: THE HEAD OF INDONESIA'S ARMED FORCES HAS RENEWED A PLEDGE 
THAT THE MILITARY WILL REMAIN NEUTRAL IN THE DISPUTED TERRITORY 
OF EAST TIMOR.  AS PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS FROM JAKARTA, THE 
PROMISE COMES AS THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY TO EAST TIMOR 
SAID RECENT ATTACKS ON U-N WORKERS IN  EAST TIMOR COULD FORCE A 
SECOND DELAY IN A PLANNED AUGUST AUTONOMY  REFERENDUM ON THE 
TERRITORY'S POLITICAL FUTURE.
TEXT:   INDONESIAN MILITARY CHIEF, GENERAL WIRANTO, MADE HIS  
PROMISE MONDAY IN A MEETING WITH EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE 
LEADERS JOSE RAMOS  HORTA AND XANANA GUSMAO IN JAKARTA.  HE SAYS 
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SECURITY  SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR LIES
IN THE HANDS OF THE ARMY AND POLICE.
FEARS ARE RISING THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF  
OPERATING IN A NEUTRAL MANNER IN EAST TIMOR AFTER SUNDAY'S ATTACK
ON A  HUMANITARIAN CONVOY.  AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURED 
WHEN A  PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA GROUP USED HOME-MADE GUNS AND 
MACHETES TO ATTACK THE CONVOY NEAR THE TOWN OF LIQUISA --  40 
KILOMETERS WEST OF THE CAPITAL  DILI.  THE MILITIA GROUP ALSO 
ATTACKED U-N POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR HELICOPTER  WHEN THEY 
ARRIVED TO EVACUATE THE WOUNDED. 
U-N  OFFICIALS HAVE STRONGLY CRITICIZED LOCAL POLICE FOR FAILING 
TO PROTECT  U-N PERSONNEL IN A SERIES OF ATTACKS OVER THE LAST 
WEEK -- CALLING THE LACK OF SECURITY INEXCUSEABLE.  IN THE PAST, 
THE UNITED NATIONS HAS ALSO ACCUSED THE MILITARY OF  PROVIDING 
SUPPORT FOR THE PRO-INDONESIA MILITIAS -- OPPOSED TO 
INDEPENDENCE.  
EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE LEADER JOSE RAMOS HORTA SAYS THE 
CREDIBILITY  OF THE INDONESIAN ARMY OR T-N-I IS AT STAKE IF ITS 
LEADERS CANNOT CONTROL THE MILITIAS IN EAST TIMOR.
          //HORTA ACT//
 WE OF COURSE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OF THE WHOLE CREDIBILITY OF 
T-N-I,  THAT IT IS AT STAKE BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE 
MILITIAS. THE MILITIAS'  ACTIONS IN EAST TIMOR ARE IN CONTRAST TO
THE POSITION OF THE MINISTER OF  DEFENSE, SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY UP TO
THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE, T-N-I, TO MAKE  SURE THAT ACTION OF THE 
MILITIAS END SO THAT THE WORD OF A MILITARY  PERSON, A MILITARY 
LEADER CAN BE TRUSTED.
           //END ACT//
SECURITY PROBLEMS IN EAST TIMOR HAVE ALREADY FORCED THE UNITED 
NATIONS TO DELAY THE AUTONOMY REFERENDUM BY AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. 
U-N SPECIAL ENVOY JAMSHEED MARKER SAID MONDAY THAT THE SITUATION 
MAY STILL BE TOO DANGEROUS TO CARRY  OUT VOTER REGISTRATION, AND 
THE REFERENDUM MAY HAVE TO BE DELAYED AGAIN.  
INDONESIA AGREED TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE AUTONOMY REFERENDUM 
IN AN AGREEMENT LAST  MAY WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND EAST 
TIMOR'S  FORMER COLONIAL RULER, PORTUGAL. THE REFERENDUM IS 
INTENDED TO BRING AN  END TO 24 YEARS OF FIGHTING IN EAST TIMOR 
BETWEEN RIVAL PRO-INDONESIA AND PRO-INDEPENDENCE 
FACTIONS.(SIGNED)
NEB/PN/GC/JO/PLM
05-Jul-99 6:48 AM EDT (1048 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.