RI has adequate 'ammunition' to face UN on Timor<\/p>\n
ATAMBUA (JP): The Indonesian government is set to answer the
\ninternational community's doubts over the security situation here
\nthanks to the significant improvement in handling the problems of
\nEast Timor refugees and pro-integration militias, Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Alwi Shihab said here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
During a half-day visit along with Minister of Defense Mahfud
\nM.D. to a refugee camp here, Alwi told reporters that he has
\nadequate \"ammunition\" to convince the United Nations Security
\nCouncil at its meeting this week that Jakarta is capable of
\nhandling the situation in East Nusa Tenggara, particularly
\nAtambua, which is located very close to newly-independent East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
\"I've enough ammunition to convince the UN that what they have
\nbeen saying about Indonesia being unable to control the situation
\nis incorrect,\" Alwi said, referring to the substantial progress
\nmade by both local and central authorities in dealing with
\nsecurity, law enforcement, the refugees and former pro-Jakarta
\nmilitias.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, he explained, might invite a UN delegation to
\ndirectly observe the real condition of the East Timor refugees in
\nthe camps in Atambua on condition that the delegation would not
\ntry to interfere in the affairs of the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
\"The team that we would like to see come would not be just
\nfrom the UN but also from several donor countries to help enhance
\nthe resettlement and repatriation program for the refugees,\" Alwi
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Alwi also stated that Indonesia would deny any allegations
\nmade by the United Nations and other members of the international
\ncommunity about security conditions in the refugee camps and the
\npro-Jakarta militia by taking concrete measures.<\/p>\n
\"We want to deny all those (accusations) ... I'm here to see
\nwith my own eyes so if there is someone saying that people are
\nafraid to walk about in the refugee camps, I'll say that that's
\nincorrect,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been under close scrutiny by the international
\ncommunity following the attack on the UN High Commission for
\nRefugees office in Atambua on Sept. 6, which resulted in the
\ndeaths of three humanitarian workers.<\/p>\n
Alwi is expected to brief the Security Council during its two-
\nday meeting in New York starting Wednesday over the latest
\nsituation and the efforts already made by the Indonesian
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
At the meeting, Alwi said he would tell the Council about the
\ngroundless reports published by several foreign media over the
\nlatest situation here.<\/p>\n
Minister Mahfud echoed Alwi, saying that the Indonesian
\ngovernment has tried seriously to handle the refugees and the
\nmilitias, and, especially, to solve the Sept. 6 Attambua
\nincident.<\/p>\n
\"On Sunday, the police reenacted the Attambua killing. So, the
\ninternational community must see that we have been legally
\nprocessing the case and they have to be patient because the legal
\nprocess takes time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mahfud underlined that the resettlement program would be
\nstarted within a week and the registration program for the
\nremaining refugees would commence within days.<\/p>\n
Udayana Regional Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri said that
\nso far the security forces had managed to confiscate 73 standard
\nmilitary rifles, around 11,000 homemade rifles, 52 grenades, and
\nthousands of rounds of ammunition.<\/p>\n
During the visit of the two ministers, several leaders of the
\nEast Timor Warriors (UNTAS) delivered their demands through their
\nsecretary general Filemino Hornay.<\/p>\n
They, for instance, asked Jakarta to facilitate reconciliation
\nwith all factions in East Timor and demanded security for those
\nwho wanted to go back to East Timor.<\/p>\n
Filemino said UNTAS would guarantee that there would be no
\nmore riots along the border or in the refugee camps should the
\ncentral government guarantee their future and respect their past
\nefforts to defend Indonesia during the East Timor mayhem.<\/p>\n
In response, Mahfud promised that Indonesia would treat them
\nas humanely and would not forget their previous struggle.<\/p>\n
\"But if you really love Indonesia, you should follow the
\npolitical line of the government and once again defend your
\ncountry by improving its tarnished image in front of the
\ninternational community,\" Mahfud said. (dja)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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