Government criticized for failing to quash Fretilin
Government criticized for failing to quash Fretilin
DILI, East Timor (JP): The provincial legislative council has
criticized Jakarta for failing to end the 20-year-old small-scale
separatist rebellion in the territory.
In a meeting with visiting members of the House of
Representatives from Jakarta on Tuesday, councilors questioned
the government's seriousness in dealing with separatist rebels.
Council speaker Antonio Freitas Parada said East Timorese who
support integration want to see the central government take
serious action to "finish off" remnants of Fretilin rebels.
"What seems illogical," Parada said, "is that the authorities
keep saying that there are only 200 Fretilin rebels left but they
have failed to stop them even after 21 years of integration."
East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976 following the
abrupt withdrawal of the former Portuguese colonial
administrators, which sparked a bloody civil war.
Achmad Rustandi of the Armed Forces faction in the House of
Representatives who led the visiting delegation promised the
councilors to ask the central government to deal with the
problem.
Parada, with deputies Sunartono and Samuel Alex Petrus, said
the remaining Fretilin rebels continue to undermine stability in
the territory.
The rebels have hampered government activities and disrupted
development in the youngest province, he said.
"We urge the central government to quash jungle based
rebellion before the problem gets worse," he said.
The rebels continued presence allowed authorities in East
Timor to impose rules in the name of security, that kept citizens
from exercising their basic rights, said Parada.
Security risks
Security risks associated with the presence of the separatist
rebels deters potential investors from other provinces from doing
business in East Timor, said councilors.
"Why would wealthy Jakartans go to East Timor to invest if
political stability is not guaranteed?" he asked. "Please tell
the President we want the Fretilin rebellion ended."
The councilors told their Jakarta guests the province needs
business investment to help solve their serious unemployment
problem. An estimated 18,600 East Timorese are currently jobless.
The visiting delegation was also briefed on corruption issues
in the province.
The councilors' criticism demonstrates the depth of concern
they have for what they believe to be the fundamental problem in
their area, said Parada.
As for the councilors' call for the extermination of remaining
Fretilin rebels, Rustandi said that it would be difficult to wipe
out the rebellion.
"Those disrupting security are nonetheless our brothers who
are not yet aware of the need to become part of Indonesia.
Basically they are not our enemy," he said. (03/pan)