Pro-RI leader slams Lisbon TV station
Pro-RI leader slams Lisbon TV station
JAKARTA (JP): A pro-Indonesian Portuguese leader in Lisbon has
criticized the TVI Portuguese television station for condoning an
attempted entry into Indonesia by one of its journalist through
fraudulent means.
The head of the Lisbon chapter of the Portugal-Indonesia
Friendship Association (PIFA), Manuel Macedo, in a statement to
TVI said that he deeply regretted the actions taken and deplores
the position of TVI's information director, Jose Ribeiro Castro,
in making false accusations concerning the journalist's expulsion
from Indonesia.
"Such shameful and dishonest conduct by a member of the media
is unacceptable, especially by one that declares itself to be
rooted in the Christian inspiration," Macedo said in the
statement obtained by The Jakarta Post yesterday.
A TVI reporter, Joao Gabriel, upon arriving in Jakarta from
Madrid on March 12 was expelled for illegally entering the
country by using a false Spanish passport under the name of
Henrique Calvino Tavares.
Immigration officials found that the photo in the passport was
different to that of the holder.
After undergoing questioning by immigration officials, Gabriel
admitted that he entered under false pretenses and was secretly
trying to get to East Timor.
Lisbon and Jakarta broke off diplomatic relations as a result
of the integration of the former Portuguese colony of East Timor
into Indonesia in 1976.
In his statement Macedo said that PIFA cannot accept the
actions of TVI executives in allowing the use of means beyond the
accepted norm to realize certain aims filled with "intrigue,
deception and lies."
The statement further likens Gabriel's attempt to a criminal
act and condones Jakarta's move to immediately deport him to
Singapore.
PIFA is a non-governmental organization which was formed last
year as a means of facilitating contact between Indonesian and
Portuguese people of Timorese descent.
The Indonesian branch of PIFA is headed by businesswomen Siti
Hardiyanti Rukmana, the daughter of President Soeharto.
Last year the Jakarta chapter of PIFA successfully sponsored a
homecoming trip by Portuguese Timorese to East Timor which was
soon reciprocated with a visit by Indonesian Timorese to a
religious shrine in Portugal. (mds)