Do not use NTT for base to resist Interfet: Wiranto

Do not use NTT for base to resist Interfet: Wiranto

JAKARTA (JP): Wiranto asserted on Monday that Indonesia would
not allow the western half of Timor Island to become a base of
resistance against forces wishing to oppose the International
Force for East Timor (Interfet).

He asserted that the Indonesian Military would have a zero
tolerance toward such activities and would reject any suggestion
that it is facilitating opposition out of the East Nusa Tenggara
province which surrounds tiny East Timor.

"We don't want East Nusa Tenggara to become a base for
resistance," Gen. Wiranto said on Monday during a hearing with
House of Representatives Commission I for security and defense.

"Therefore, we won't let there be any accusations like that if
a conflict develops between the multinational force and certain
groups in East Timor," he added.

Over 190,000 East Timor refugees are currently sheltered in
the western half of Timor Island, which falls under the
Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara.

They fled following wide-scale violence after the announcement
of the Aug. 30 ballot.

Despite repeated denials, the Indonesian Military is perceived
to be backing the militias which have run amok in East Timor.

Wiranto said that Indonesia would be perceived in the most
negative light by the international community should it allow its
provinces to be used as a base to attack the multinational force.

"That's why we won't allow it and we won't tolerate it,"
Wiranto asserted.

While pledging his continued commitment to protect all
Indonesians, including East Timorese who choose to side with
proautonomy, Wiranto said protecting them did not mean having to
"physically protect them with guns".

"Armed resistance will resolve the issue. The military will
take elegant measures to ensure the safety of the people," he
claimed.

Ally

Wiranto acknowledged that Indonesian soldiers encountered a
heavy psychological block in dealing with the situation in East
Timor as they often faced fellow Indonesians who took up arms
because they wanted to remain Indonesian.

He said that the situation remained tense in East Timor
because the military could not take strict action against "our
brothers who were very much disappointed with their defeat in the
recent ballot".

When asked about the state of military emergency imposed on
East Timor, Wiranto said that "viewed from a security perspective
we could probably cancel the state of military emergency".

"However, we'll wait for a couple of days till we get a full
report on the state of the local administration there," he said.

Wiranto also noted that the military was looking at how to
approach the question of 3,000 military personnel, including
1,300 integration fighters, buried in cemeteries across East
Timor.

"There are three alternatives for handling their remains:
moving them back and laying them near their respective homes,
building a special cemetery in East Nusa Tenggara or maintaining
them in their current place.

"These three alternatives would be negotiated with the
authorities here after conditions ease for us to do so," he said.

While noting Indonesia's acceptance of the UN-sanctioned force
in East Timor, Wiranto could not resist taking a stab at
Australia which is contributing the most forces.

He remarked that the issue of the multinational force should
be separated with Indonesia's row with Australia.

Wiranto claimed that "Indonesian society dislikes Australia
because of its exaggerated reaction over recent incidents in East
Timor". (rms)