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DATE=9/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA-SECURITY (L)
NUMBER=2-266720
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen has 
delivered a sharp warning to Indonesia about the 
militias terrorizing refugees and aid workers in West 
Timor.  The caution came as security deteriorates 
across the Indonesian archipelago, with unrest 
reaching Jakarta itself.  On Monday, President 
Abdurrahman Wahid fired the country's national police 
chief after a series of terrorist bombings. VOA 
Southeast Asia Correspondent Gary Thomas reports.
TEXT:  Defense Secretary Cohen told Indonesian 
officials the country risks losing international 
financial support if stern action to curb the militias 
of West Timor is not taken.
In a bitter retort, Mr. Cohen's counterpart, Defense 
Minister Mahfud M-D, said the United States is partly 
to blame for the violence in Timor because it failed 
to provide Indonesia's military with needed equipment.
The United States cut off military assistance to 
Indonesia last year after the militias, backed by 
elements of the Indonesian army, went on a rampage in 
East Timor when it voted for independence. Since then, 
the militias have operated with impunity in West 
Timor, which Indonesia still controls, while East 
Timor is under a United Nations administration.  The 
militias have terrorized refugees and aid workers, 
killing three international aid workers two weeks ago.
Mr. Cohen said military relations can be reestablished 
only when the United States sees a firm commitment to 
curb the militia's activities.  The U-S Congress has 
ordered that such ties be frozen until the Indonesian 
government brings the armed forces under control and 
facilitates the return of refugees from West Timor 
back to East Timor.
But despite governmental promises to do so, the 
military has prove itself either unable or unwilling 
to disarm the militias.  Many analysts have suggested 
that the civilian government does not have firm 
control of the military. 
Indonesia's security system has become dangerously 
frayed, as ethnic unrest, separatist violence, and 
terrorist attacks continue to pop up across the 
country.
On Monday, President Wahid fired the national police 
chief after a series of bomb attacks, the most recent 
of which killed 15 people at the Jakarta Stock 
Exchange last week.
Some Indonesians have blamed the bombings on the 
military, others on people loyal to ex-President 
Suharto, who is on trial for corruption. Until last 
year, the national police force was part of the 
military.
On Friday, Mr. Wahid ordered police to arrest Mr. 
Suharto's youngest son Tommy for the Stock Exchange 
bombing.  But police officials said they had no 
evidence on which to hold the younger Suharto. 
Mr. Wahid would not say if the police chief's refusal 
to arrest Tommy Suharto was a direct cause of the 
firing.  (signed)
NEB/HK/GPT/JO
18-Sep-2000 06:11 AM LOC (18-Sep-2000 1011 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.