E. Timor braces for foreign journalists

JAKARTA (JP): The authorities in East Timor are bracing themselves for the arrival of hordes of foreign journalists -- one estimate puts it at as many as 1,000 -- to the territory next month.

The authorities in East Timor have been informed that many of the 2,500 foreign journalists, who are covering the series of meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Jakarta and Bogor, are planning a side trip to their area, whose sovereignty remained in contention in international eyes.

Many journalists, especially those coming from the United States, have expressed interest in visiting East Timor.

Americans will make up the majority of the hordes of reporters coming for the APEC conference. About 200 reporters will accompany President Bill Clinton, who will stay on after the APEC meeting on Nov. 15 for a few more days, for a state visit.

A number of foreign consultants hired by the Indonesian government in connection with the APEC gathering recently visited East Timor to sound out warnings about the critical attitude of these journalists.

The local military command said East Timor is open to foreign journalists, but they have to inform the authorities in Jakarta of their intention before hand.

Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna, the chief of the Udayana Military Command which oversees Bali, Nusa Tenggara and East Timor provinces, confirmed that there is no ban against foreign journalists visiting East Timor, the Antara news agency reported.

Ruchiatna stressed that these journalists must comply with local regulations.

"Minister of Information Harmoko has already stated that there is no ban against foreign journalists going to East Timor as long as they abide by the rules of the game, such as being in possession of the proper permit.

"This is an independent and sovereign state. We have rules here and if foreign journalists agree to abide by them, then we welcome them," he said.

The issue of East Timor has repeatedly surfaced in U.S. congress in the last two years. The Congress succeeded in forcing Washington to end military training aid programs for Indonesia in protest at the way Jakarta is handling the East Timor issue. (emb/yac)