Indonesian Military rejects reports on militia infiltration<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara<\/p>\n
A senior Indonesian Military (TNI) commander in Kupang denied on
\nThursday recent reports in several local media that 78 armed pro-
\nIndonesia militiamen have infiltrated Timor Leste (formerly East
\nTimor) and were ready to stir up chaos there after UN troops have
\npulled out of the neighboring country in May.<\/p>\n
\"The reports are baseless, as no militiamen have infiltrated
\nTimor Leste. The militia organization does not even exist.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, the militia were indeed organized by the
\nProintegration Forces (PPI), but the militia organization has
\nalready been disbanded,\" said Col. Moeswarno Moesanip, chief of
\nWirasakti Military Command, which oversees East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
A similar comment was also expressed by Florencio Mario Viera,
\na prointegration figure.<\/p>\n
He alleged that the reports were merely part of a media
\ncampaign aimed at extending the presence of the UN Peace Keeping
\nForce (UNPKF) in Timor Leste.<\/p>\n
\"It is a cheap attempt to misinform the world that the
\nsituation in Timor Leste is not secure yet, so that the presence
\nof UNPKF troops has to be extended,\" said Florencio, a former
\nspokesman of Uni Timor Aswain, the now-defunct prointegration
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Quoting information from intelligence sources, he said that
\ntwo big camps were now battling for power. The first was headed
\nby Marie Alkatiri, the prime minister of Timor Leste, who
\nsupported the presence of UNPKF. The second was an opposition
\ncamp, led by leaders of Timor Leste freedom fighters, who failed
\nto secure positions in the Timor Leste government after Timor
\nLeste separated from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Apparently, both sides will try to make us a scapegoat if
\nchaos does occur in Timor Leste,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, deputy Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Peter
\nRowe and senior Australian military officer Col. Ian Ernington
\nvisited on Wednesday several refugee camps in Atambua, which
\nborders Timor Leste.<\/p>\n
Chief of Belu police precinct Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Nugroho said
\nthat, during the visit, they sought information on the activities
\nof former militiamen in the refugee camps.<\/p>\n
It raised suspicions that the Australian government might
\ndoubt the security situation in Timor Leste after UN troops were
\npulled out of the country, he said.<\/p>\n
\"I have told them that the militia did not exist anymore,\"
\nsaid Agus.<\/p>\n
The TNI helped establish the militias before Timor Leste
\nseparated from Indonesia in 1999; they were aimed at helping the
\nTNI to curb armed resistance in East Timor, led by Xanana Gusmao.<\/p>\n
After the independence of Timor Leste in 1999 pro-Indonesia
\nmilitia and other Timor Leste refugees fled to East Nusa Tenggara
\nprovince, Indonesia, which borders the neighboring country.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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