Foreign journalists know of the risks: Sudrajat

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat expressed regret on Thursday over the death of a Dutch reporter in East Timor, but noted that foreign journalists were warned of potential hazards in the territory.

"From very early on I have warned them over and over again that there are still sentiments prevailing from certain sections of East Timorese society who don't like the sight of foreigners," Sudrajat told journalists here.

"Many journalists have gone to East Timor, and I've always asserted that it isn't closed to journalists. However, TNI cannot give any security guarantee to them."

Sander Thoenes, 30, was found dead with multiple wounds on Wednesday. He worked for London's Financial Times.

Sudrajat expressed annoyance at what he perceived as a complete neglect of the military's warnings.

"Many don't believe the reality that we try to convey to them. I believe this stems from a lack of trust foreigners have in TNI.

"We will try to protect them, but keep in mind that TNI can't assign a whole platoon or a company to guard each journalist."

Sudrajat staunchly denied TNI was involved in Thoenes' death.

"The TNI has repeatedly been the target of such tendentious allegations which are not only unethical but also baseless," he said.

"As professional soldiers TNI would not commit such heinous acts."

Condemn

In Darwin, Australian defense minister John Moore warned on Thursday that nonaccredited journalists should stay out of East Timor following the killing of Thoenes by suspected militiamen.

Moore told the Australian parliament that the situation remained highly dangerous even though parts of the territory were occupied by the International Force for East Timor (Interfet).

"Interfet cannot provide protection for all individuals who travel to East Timor. Its priority is the safety and security of the people of East Timor themselves."

Moore said the multinational forces could protect and support only the small number of accredited journalists chosen on a pool basis. Thoenes was reportedly not among journalists accredited to report from the province.

"Others travel strictly at their own risk," he said as quoted by Reuters. "I urge nonaccredited journalists, and especially their editors who should take responsibility for their safety, to stay out of East Timor."

Meanwhile in The Hague, the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) condemned the death of Thoenes.

"We demand that human rights and freedom of the press be accepted as universal law and civil standard all around the globe," the AEJ said in a statement on Thursday.

In New York, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday he hoped that those responsible for Thoenes' death and other acts of violence in East Timor would be held accountable.

A statement issued through a UN spokesman said Annan was "deeply shocked" to learn of the killing. He called Thoenes "an outstanding young journalist".