Portugal's TV plan in E. Timor to be checked

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said yesterday that the government will look into press reports that Portugal will broadcast television programs into East Timor.

Alatas said the broadcast plan is part of Lisbon's psychological war to disseminate false information to the people it colonized for about 450 years.

East Timor integrated with Indonesia in 1976 following the abrupt withdrawal of the Portuguese colonial administrators, which sparked a bloody civil war in the territory.

"I'm checking on the reports. It's unimportant whether the news is true or not. What do they (Portugal) think they can do to change the East Timorese people's minds?" he told journalists.

Portugal's plan to broadcast programming into East Timor by satellite as of next month was picked up by the Expresso newspaper of Portugal and quoted by Indonesian newspapers this week. It is unclear whether Portugal means to aim the broadcast specifically to East Timor or to other parts of the world as well.

On Tuesday, Minister of Information Harmoko said he would check if the broadcast is only a "spillover" from regional satellite programming or specially designed for East Timor.

Harmoko, who is also chairman of the ruling Golkar party, said that because Indonesia has an open-sky policy, it is impossible to avoid or deep out television broadcasts from other parts of the world.

Alatas is also of the opinion that there is not much Indonesia can do to prevent Portugal from broadcasting its television programs to East Timor.

"Even now, if you have a satellite dish you can watch their programs. So there is nothing new really," he said. "And the issue is too trivial to be considered a threat."

Alatas also announced yesterday he would lead a ministerial delegation to Manila to attend the first Indonesia-Philippine joint commission founded in 1993 following President Fidel Ramos' visit to Indonesia.

The Indonesian and Philippine officials are scheduled to discuss issues ranging from trade and economics to matters concerning Indonesians residing in southern Philippines.

Alatas said it is possible that the growing conflict in the South China Sea and the Moro issues will also be discussed at the ministerial meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Indonesia plays a mediatory role in the conflict between the Philippine government and the Moro Moslems waging an armed rebellion to establish an independent state.

Alatas met President Soeharto yesterday to discuss Malaysia's invitation to the foreign minister and defense minister to attend an Organization of Islamic Countries meeting, which is to include countries with troops in Bosnia Herzegovina.

President Soeharto confirmed that Indonesia would attend the meeting, scheduled to take place from 14 to 15 in Kuala Lumpur, which is being held to coordinate a plan for action in the former Yugoslavia, Alatas said. (pan)