Government criticized for failing to quash Fretilin<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The provincial legislative council has
\ncriticized Jakarta for failing to end the 20-year-old small-scale
\nseparatist rebellion in the territory.<\/p>\n
In a meeting with visiting members of the House of
\nRepresentatives from Jakarta on Tuesday, councilors questioned
\nthe government's seriousness in dealing with separatist rebels.<\/p>\n
Council speaker Antonio Freitas Parada said East Timorese who
\nsupport integration want to see the central government take
\nserious action to "finish off" remnants of Fretilin rebels.<\/p>\n
"What seems illogical," Parada said, "is that the authorities
\nkeep saying that there are only 200 Fretilin rebels left but they
\nhave failed to stop them even after 21 years of integration."<\/p>\n
East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976 following the
\nabrupt withdrawal of the former Portuguese colonial
\nadministrators, which sparked a bloody civil war.<\/p>\n
Achmad Rustandi of the Armed Forces faction in the House of
\nRepresentatives who led the visiting delegation promised the
\ncouncilors to ask the central government to deal with the
\nproblem.<\/p>\n
Parada, with deputies Sunartono and Samuel Alex Petrus, said
\nthe remaining Fretilin rebels continue to undermine stability in
\nthe territory.<\/p>\n
The rebels have hampered government activities and disrupted
\ndevelopment in the youngest province, he said.<\/p>\n
"We urge the central government to quash jungle based
\nrebellion before the problem gets worse," he said.<\/p>\n
The rebels continued presence allowed authorities in East
\nTimor to impose rules in the name of security, that kept citizens
\nfrom exercising their basic rights, said Parada.<\/p>\n
Security risks<\/p>\n
Security risks associated with the presence of the separatist
\nrebels deters potential investors from other provinces from doing
\nbusiness in East Timor, said councilors.<\/p>\n
"Why would wealthy Jakartans go to East Timor to invest if
\npolitical stability is not guaranteed?" he asked. "Please tell
\nthe President we want the Fretilin rebellion ended."<\/p>\n
The councilors told their Jakarta guests the province needs
\nbusiness investment to help solve their serious unemployment
\nproblem. An estimated 18,600 East Timorese are currently jobless.<\/p>\n
The visiting delegation was also briefed on corruption issues
\nin the province.<\/p>\n
The councilors' criticism demonstrates the depth of concern
\nthey have for what they believe to be the fundamental problem in
\ntheir area, said Parada.<\/p>\n
As for the councilors' call for the extermination of remaining
\nFretilin rebels, Rustandi said that it would be difficult to wipe
\nout the rebellion.<\/p>\n
"Those disrupting security are nonetheless our brothers who
\nare not yet aware of the need to become part of Indonesia.
\nBasically they are not our enemy," he said. (03\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-criticized-for-failing-to-quash-fretilin-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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