Australia might be behind Atambua: Mahfud<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said here on
\nSaturday that he agreed with the deputy chairman of Commission I
\nof the House of Representatives that Australia might be behind
\nthe mayhem in Atambua last week.<\/p>\n
Mahfud said that evidence collected by his office indicates
\nAustralia's possible involvement in the attack which resulted in
\nthe death of three UN humanitarian workers. He refused to reveal
\nthe evidence his office had lest the investigation is
\njeopardized.<\/p>\n
He was referring to Maj. Gen. Ferry Tinggogoy's statement on
\nAustralia's alleged involvement. Tinggogoy, a retired Army
\ngeneral, is a member of the military\/police faction of the House.<\/p>\n
He said he would meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense William
\nCohen to discuss many things, including the Atambua killing. \"We
\njust want the world to see Indonesia in a fair way, especially
\nwith regards to the Atambua case.\"<\/p>\n
According to Mahfud, the world had failed in helping East
\nTimor form a transitional government. \"They (UNTAET) have been
\nthere for almost one year, yet they have not succeeded, claiming
\nthat there are indications that many proindependence supporters
\nhave changed their mind and want to be part of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"It appears there are certain countries that keep their hands
\noff but conduct intelligence operations to create the impression
\nthat Indonesia has failed to deal with the East Timorese refugees
\nand militia.\"<\/p>\n
Mahfud also said that UNTAET's failure to form a transitional
\ngovernment in East Timor was due to the fact that the East
\nTimorese are not ready to govern themselves yet. \"They are not
\nready for independence.\"<\/p>\n
\"We were forced to hold the voting, but we were then blamed
\nfor it. The world has treated us in an unfair manner. We followed
\nwhat the world wanted but we are now blamed for that too.\"<\/p>\n
Mahfud said all the points requested by the UN Security
\nCouncil resolution had been fulfilled by the Indonesian
\ngovernment, despite the fact that the resolution had a legal
\ndefect. \"It states that the Atambua attack took place on Sept. 7
\nwhen it should have been Sept. 6.\"<\/p>\n
\"Nothing happened in Atambua on Sept. 7. The UN only used the
\nLondon-based BBC Radio reports as a basis to draft the
\nresolution, without cross checking. That's funny, incorrect and
\nunprofessional,\" he added. (swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australia-might-be-behind-atambua-mahfud-1447893297",
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