Military ready for 'civil war' in East Timor
Military ready for 'civil war' in East Timor
By Ridwan Max Sijabat
DILI, East Timor (JP): Responding to concerns over a possible
bloodbath following the Aug. 30 self-determination vote, the
Indonesian Military says it has prepared two strategic scenarios
to cope with the worst.
Col. Noer Muis, newly appointed commander of the East Timor
Military District, supported earlier gloomy predictions that a
new civil war would likely erupt regardless of the outcome of the
vote -- autonomy under Indonesian rule or independence.
"The post ballot period will be a very critical stage since
neither of the two conflicting factions seems able to accept the
possibility of defeat. And this has been reflected by the
numerous clashes among their supporters during the campaigning,"
he said in a recent interview with The Jakarta Post here.
The key question for the Military and the National Police --
in charge of security in the tiny province -- was what would
happen if the proindependence side won, Muis said.
"The security authorities would face a big problem if
proindependence forces won...as it would certainly incite harsh
reactions from their opponents and eventually lead to negative
consequences for many parties," he said.
Some 20,000 security personnel, including police, are to be
assigned to strategic areas across the country to avoid open
conflict between the two camps, he said, adding the deployment is
being organized in cooperation with the United Nations Mission in
East Timor (UNAMET).
Security personnel will also cooperate with local officials to
help calm residents, both local and migrant, he said.
"We will work hard to maintain security and public order and
to provide a feeling of safety among people," he promised.
Muis, who was sworn in a couple of weeks ago to replace Col.
Tono Suratman, said he has met with local officials from various
sectors, including banks, to assure them of security arrangements
in case of violence after the ballot.
"The state oil company Pertamina, state banks, state-owned PT
Telkom, food suppliers and transportation firms must continue to
operate under even a possible worst condition after the ballot,"
he said.
He said the government and the military have made preparations
to evacuate people by air, sea and land.
The Navy will prepare its warships, the Air Force will provide
its cargo aircraft and land transportation will stand by to
evacuate those seeking to get out of the territory, he said,
adding that all vital facilities would remain under tight
security to prevent any sabotage attempts.
He said Atambua in West Timor would be the main safe gate out
of the territory by land while Alor Island in Southern Maluku
will be prepared as a transit point for evacuees from East
Timor's eastern part, including Baucau, Manatuto, Lospalos and
Viqueque.
"Above all, security personnel will be the last to leave the
territory," he said.
He added the military's presence in East Timor will end
permanently if the East Timorese people decide to separate from
Indonesia.
Muis reminded, however, Indonesia will not immediately leave
East Timor if the proindependence side wins the ballot. The
government will impose a period of transition before it transfers
the East Timor administration to the UN.
"Indonesia will leave the territory peacefully and hand over
the administration, including all vital facilities, to the UN in
a civilized manner," he said.
Different
Muis, who was born in 1953 in Kuala Simpang, East Aceh, and
graduated from the Army Academy in 1976, said the situation will
certainly be different if the majority of East Timorese accept
the autonomy proposal.
"The possibility of war and violence will be very small if the
prointegration faction wins the ballot because it will be a
permanent solution to East Timor issue and the government will go
ahead with its autonomy package in the province," he said.
The government and the military would encourage the
prointegration faction to share power with the opposing side in
order to create peace in the territory, he said.
Meanwhile, the East Timor Military District would be
reorganized and developed into a military command which will be
led by a one-star general.
Despite the special status, East Timor in certain sectors will
be directly handled by the government, he said.
"Despite a greater autonomy, East Timor's security, court,
monetary and foreign affairs will still be handled by the central
government," he said.
Asked about a possible deployment by the UN of a peacekeeping
force to the territory in case of mounting tension after the
ballot, Muis insisted that Indonesia, Portugal and the UN should
stick to the May 5 tripartite agreement stipulating that the
Indonesian police were responsible for security in the territory.
"We realize that the proindependence faction wants a presence
of a UN peacekeeping force in East Timor but it is against the
tripartite agreement.
"Most important is that the two conflicting factions must be
ready to accept defeat and must disseminate the ballot results to
their supporters to avoid possible violence after the ballot," he
said.