Fighters call for Great Timor State

Fighters call for Great Timor State

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Indonesian Military (TNI) on Thursday threatened harsh action against any group or individual who attempts to declare East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) an independent state.

"It would be treason and they will be crushed," warned Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. William T. da Costa who oversees security in NTT, West Nusa Tenggara and Bali.

He said separatist campaigners have no place in the province.

Da Costa was responding to reports that some activists have been building support for an independent Great Timor state, which would unite East Timor (already independent) with their cousins in the western half of the island which falls in NTT.

The idea has been brewing for centuries but came to a head in a meeting last year between Liurai or local Timorese kings, and included informal leaders of East Timorese descent.

William confirmed NTT's Wirasakti Military Chief Colonel Moeswarno Moesanip's statement that politicians and non- governmental organization activists from NTT and East Timor have been advocating an independent Great Timor state.

He said the military had the identities of some of the independence campaigners, adding that some of them are indigenous figures (non-Javanese). He declined to name them, however.--Antara