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