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)