Air Force shifts policy on Interfet's plane restriction

JAKARTA (JP): The Air Force operational commander for Eastern Indonesia Rear Marshall Ian Santoso overturned his earlier statement on Thursday, and suggested that International Force for East Timor (Interfet) air force pilots submit their flight schedule before they fly over the skies of the troubled territory, Antara reported from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Thursday.

"If the Interfet pilots fail to submit their flight schedule, they will not be granted any flying permits," Ian told the media, after installing a new chief of Banjarmasin air force base.

Ian said the issuance of flying authorization for Interfet pilots was based on a consideration that the Indonesian Air Force was ready to face any possible threats or conflicts.

"Interfet's Air Force Commander (chief Commodore McLennan) said he had agreed to give their flying schedule," Ian said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Indonesian rear marshal had a brief meeting with McLennan, in which he rejected a request from Interfet to let its pilots fly over East Timor, following the fatal shooting of an Indonesian police officer on Sunday in the East Timorese border town of Montael in East Nusa Tenggara.

Ian also warned Interfet pilots not to persist in making attempts to fly over the disputed territory.

The news agency also reported on Thursday that East Timorese independence leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao will return home next week for the first time in seven years.

Xanana, who has not set foot in East Timor since his arrest by the Indonesian government in November, 1992, will return with the task of rebuilding the shattered territory.

"I am planning to go (to East Timor) next week," he told reporters on Thursday, after meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard. But he did not announce an actual date.

Xanana is expected to become the first leader of an independent East Timor. He has spent nearly six and a half years in a Jakarta jail after leading a guerrilla war against Indonesian rule.

He was granted house arrest in February this year and was finally granted freedom on Sept. 7, just over a week after East Timor voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with Indonesia.

Xanana also said on Thursday he was about to discuss plans for the UN administration of East Timor with UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) chief Ian Martin. The talks are expected to start in the northern Australian city of Darwin on Friday.

In a related development, more than 200,000 East Timorese refugees sheltering in camps in West Timor are now in a critical condition and need greater and faster support from the government and from non-governmental institutions.

"Many refugees, especially those living in small camps far away from district capitals, have received no assistance at all and are now in a critical condition. They seriously need external support," James L. Tumbuan, director of humanitarian aid agency World Vision Indonesia, said in a statement, of which copies were made available to the press.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has established a tracing office in Dili. It aims to provide telecommunication channels for hundreds of separated East Timorese family members desperate to reestablish contact with their loved ones, an ICRC statement said on Thursday. (edt/imn)