Ramos Horta is losing is propaganda war: Alatas<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Exiled Fretilin separatist leader Jose Ramos
\nHorta is fast losing his platform for criticizing Indonesia's
\nintegration of East Timor as more Timorese abroad are beginning
\nto challenge his allegations, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
\nAlatas claimed yesterday.<\/p>\n
Alatas said that although Ramos Horta, \"with the help of
\ncertain NGOs\", is still active in various places, there were now
\nan increasing number of voices opposing him.<\/p>\n
Alatas was referring to a recent discussion on East Timor in
\nLondon where some Timorese disagreed with Horta's charges and
\ntold an often-forgotten story of Portuguese and Fretilin
\nbrutality and oppression in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The former Portuguese colony was integrated in July 1976,
\nbecoming Indonesia's 27th province.<\/p>\n
\"I think what happened in London shows that Ramos Horta is no
\nlonger free to just blab and spread his version of what happened
\nin East Timor,\" Alatas said after a meeting with the executive
\nmembers of the Portugal Indonesia Friendship Association (PIFA).<\/p>\n
Headed by Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, daughter of President
\nSoeharto, the PIFA board was briefed by Alatas on the progress of
\ntalks between Jakarta and Lisbon along with other developments
\nregarding East Timor.<\/p>\n
Last year, PIFA sponsored a trip by Portuguese of Timorese
\ndescent to Indonesia which was followed by a similar visit to
\nLisbon several months later by Timorese Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Hardiyanti said that during the meeting with Alatas political
\nissues were not discussed because PIFA is a non-political
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Alatas is scheduled to leave today for a week-long trip to
\nRumania and the Czech Republic in what is being described by the
\nforeign ministry as a \"goodwill visit.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Australian film director Frank Palmos has reportedly
\nacquired a number of valuable interviews with leading experts and
\nhistorical witnesses for his upcoming documentary film on East
\nTimor, which is due to be finished next month.<\/p>\n
The film has been commissioned by the Indonesian government
\nfor Rp 511,597,000 (US$230,969).<\/p>\n
Footage for the film was taken in Geneva during the United
\nNations-sponsored talks between Indonesia and Portugal last month
\nas well as in other locations, such as Lisbon and London.<\/p>\n
In Lisbon the film crew interviewed Reis Thomaz, a past
\nresident of East Timor and nephew of a former Portuguese
\npresident, on the early history of the colony.<\/p>\n
In a copy of a transcribed dialog obtained by The Jakarta
\nPost, Reis said that the Timorese who individually declared
\nindependence in 1975 were \"people promised power by Lisbon.\"<\/p>\n
\"They were by no means elected or had a mandate from the
\npeople. Nor did any of the parties for that matter.\"<\/p>\n
In an apparent attempt to show a pattern of neglect by
\nPortugal towards its former colonies, the film features an
\ninterview with Goan historian Tetonio de Dousa dealing with
\nPortugal's policies in its former Indian possession.(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ramos-horta-is-losing-is-propaganda-war-alatas-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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