ABRI wants asylum seekers from Austrian embassy
ABRI wants asylum seekers from Austrian embassy
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Armed Forces asked the Austrian
embassy here Saturday to hand over an East Timorese couple who
jumped into the mission compound last month, saying they were
terrorists wanted for committing crimes.
East Timor Military Commander Col. Salamat Sidabutar said the
two asylum seekers had masterminded the production of home-made
bombs to be used for acts of terrorism against people in East
Timor and other provinces.
"The central government has told the Austrian embassy that
both of them have committed terrorism," Antara quoted Sidabutar
as saying in Dili.
Austrian Ambassador Victor Segalla said last month that a
family of two adults and two children entered the embassy on
Sept. 19. They were later followed by two more East Timorese
adults.
At least 100 youths have entered foreign embassies in Jakarta
in the last few years seeking asylum and claiming persecution.
The government has almost never objected to allow asylum seekers
to resettle in Portugal.
East Timor was integrated into Indonesia as its 27th province
in 1976. The United Nations, however, still regards Portugal as
the administrative power there.
Sidabutar also disclosed that an unidentified man from
Australia arrived in Demak, Central Java, in March and trained
the Timorese youths to make bombs there.
The man left for Portugal in April and met with East Timorese
self-exiled leaders including Maria Al Katiri, Manuel Tilman and
1996 Nobel Prize co-winner Ramos Horta.
Sidabutar also announced on Saturday that police had arrested
two East Timorese youths on their arrival in Dili on Sept. 15.
They were identified as Constantio Costa dos Santos and Paulo
George Tereira.
"They were caught red-handed bringing 20 home-made bombs," the
colonel said.
They also seized 44 rounds of ammunition for M-16 rifles and
24 bullets for Colt 31 and FN 45 pistols.
Forum Keadilan bi-weekly reported the two men also planned to
bomb the venue where governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares was sworn
in for his second term by Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie
S.M. on Sept. 17.
A home-made bomb exploded accidentally on the night of Sept.
13 in a house at Batursari, Demak, Central Java. The house,
rented by three East Timorese youths, was heavily damaged.
Police discovered chemical materials, raw materials for bombs,
in the house. The three men, identified only as Joao, Da Costa
and Nunu, are still at large.
International Committee of the Red Cross officials in Jakarta
refused to comment saying they have not been contacted officially
by the Austrian embassy.
"We can arrange travel documents for them only when the
embassy has formally approached us," said an official.
The province of East Timor is still often marred by bloody
incidents. The latest incident occurred last week when two men
were killed as violence erupted prior to a religious service on
top of Mt. Ramelau in the Ainaro regency, 120 kilometers south of
Dili.
Two school teachers were also killed early last week by two
separatist guerrillas in Baucau.
Last month, guerrillas killed five soldiers and six civilians
in Manatuto, 80 kilometers east of Dili.
"It will not be easy to convince the Austrian embassy (that
the two are guilty of terrorist activities), unless they are
given concrete evidence," Sidabutar said.
Austria will host the All Inclusive Intra East Timorese
Dialogs from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23 in Vienna.
In a related development, Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes
Belo has called on all participants to the All Inclusive East
Timorese Dialogs to carry out their duties well.
"The participants have received formal invitations from the
United Nations, and the body has placed its trust on them, so
they have to carry out their task well for the welfare of the
East Timorese," Belo was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.
He said the participants should be there as East Timorese who
really wish to look into the future and play their role in
finding a just solution to the East Timor question. (33/prb/swe)