RI deplores GAM flag raising in E. Timor

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The military in West Timor strongly deplored the East Timor government's inaction over the recent raising of the Aceh Free Movement (GAM) flag in Dili, saying it could affect the two countries' bilateral ties.

The GAM flag was raised in Dili, the capital of East Timor, when the East Timorese people celebrated the small country's first anniversary on May 20.

West Timor military district chief Col. Moeswarno Moesanip said the East Timor authorities could have prevented the raising of the GAM flag if they had wanted to, to maintain friendly ties with Indonesia.

"According to intelligence reports, a group of GAM rebels are in East Timor to seek work. But, they are there to establish an underground movement to help fight for Aceh's independence," he said.

He said he would also bring the case to the two countries' joint border meeting here early this June. --JP