Malaysia goes ahead with East Timor seminar

Malaysia goes ahead with East Timor seminar

JAKARTA (JP): A seminar on East Timor organized by Malaysian
non-governmental organizations went ahead on Friday in Kuala
Lumpur, amidst warnings from Indonesia that it could deteriorate
bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

The one-day forum was organized by the Malaysian Action Front,
a private umbrella association for around 30 local non-
governmental organizations.

In Jakarta, Saturday, the Armed Forces (ABRI) sent signals
that such a meeting could harm bilateral relations and accused
the Malaysian organizers of trying to discredit the Indonesian
government and military by holding the forum.

ABRI chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Syarwan Hamid said he
understood that the forum was planning to screen a video tape of
the Nov. 12, 1991 incident in Dili, the capital of East Timor,
and feared that the footage would be manipulated to serve their
needs and objectives.

"We fear the forum could upset the solidarity and the good
relationship between the two neighboring countries," he said,
adding that the forum runs counter to the ASEAN solidarity.

ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which
groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore
and Thailand.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted
yesterday as saying that his government was not aware of plans to
hold an international forum on East Timor in Kuala Lumpur, the
national Bernama news agency reported.

Abdullah said the government had no knowledge of any plan by
the Malaysian Action Front to hold such a forum in Kuala Lumpur,
nor had the plan been given the government's approval.

Malaysia's policy of non-interference in the East Timor issue
was clear and known to Jakarta, he said.

The Kuala Lumpur meeting came closely on the heels of an
international conference on East Timor in Manila. This conference
turned into a major controversy as Indonesia launched an official
protest against the Philippine government, which in turn tried to
stop the meeting with little success.

Syarwan recalled that Malaysia had spoken out against the
conference in Manila and urged Kuala Lumpur to take a similar
stand on the one being held on its home soil.

Indonesia's official reaction to the forum in Kuala Lumpur
this time was more limited. (rms)