First troops to leave Timor early next week
First troops to leave Timor early next week
JAKARTA (JP): One thousand troops are to begin leaving East
Timor next week in what is expected to be the start of a gradual
reduction of forces in the province.
Armed Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif confirmed
yesterday that the first batch of Indonesian troops, amounting to
approximately one battalion, would embark from Dili seaport
Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists at the Armed Forces' Merdeka Barat
headquarters in Central Jakarta, Syamsul said the withdrawal was
part of a gradual reduction of soldiers deployed in East Timor.
He did not say how many troops would eventually be withdrawn
or over what period of time, but stressed that more would follow.
When pressed, Syamsul refused to say whether the 1,000 troops
would eventually be replaced.
President B.J. Habibie told visiting Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe
Ximenes Belo last month that the military presence would steadily
be scaled down in the tiny province of 800,000 people.
Indonesia officially claims the garrison in East Timor is
5,000, roughly five battalions. But independent military analysts
say the actual number could be up to twice as many if armed local
militias, special forces on rotation, riot police and other
partial units are counted.
The government maintains the military presence is required
given the continued security disturbances in the province.
The former Portuguese colony was integrated into Indonesia in
1976. However the United Nations still recognizes Lisbon as the
administrating authority.
A small but active rebel separatist group continues to roam
the hills fighting a guerrilla war.
Soon after taking power in May, Habibie proposed a special
status for East Timor as part of a framework for finding a
permanent solution to the territory's status.
UN special envoy Jamsheed Marker said during a visit to
Indonesia earlier this week said that a reduction of troops in
the territory was an important step toward creating a more
conducive climate to reaching a permanent solution.
Tuesday's withdrawal comes ahead of a planned meeting between
the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers in New York
slated for the first week of August. (imn)