RI has adequate 'ammunition' to face UN on Timor

RI has adequate 'ammunition' to face UN on Timor

ATAMBUA (JP): The Indonesian government is set to answer the
international community's doubts over the security situation here
thanks to the significant improvement in handling the problems of
East Timor refugees and pro-integration militias, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said here on Sunday.

During a half-day visit along with Minister of Defense Mahfud
M.D. to a refugee camp here, Alwi told reporters that he has
adequate "ammunition" to convince the United Nations Security
Council at its meeting this week that Jakarta is capable of
handling the situation in East Nusa Tenggara, particularly
Atambua, which is located very close to newly-independent East
Timor.

"I've enough ammunition to convince the UN that what they have
been saying about Indonesia being unable to control the situation
is incorrect," Alwi said, referring to the substantial progress
made by both local and central authorities in dealing with
security, law enforcement, the refugees and former pro-Jakarta
militias.

Indonesia, he explained, might invite a UN delegation to
directly observe the real condition of the East Timor refugees in
the camps in Atambua on condition that the delegation would not
try to interfere in the affairs of the Indonesian government.

"The team that we would like to see come would not be just
from the UN but also from several donor countries to help enhance
the resettlement and repatriation program for the refugees," Alwi
added.

Alwi also stated that Indonesia would deny any allegations
made by the United Nations and other members of the international
community about security conditions in the refugee camps and the
pro-Jakarta militia by taking concrete measures.

"We want to deny all those (accusations) ... I'm here to see
with my own eyes so if there is someone saying that people are
afraid to walk about in the refugee camps, I'll say that that's
incorrect," the minister said.

Indonesia has been under close scrutiny by the international
community following the attack on the UN High Commission for
Refugees office in Atambua on Sept. 6, which resulted in the
deaths of three humanitarian workers.

Alwi is expected to brief the Security Council during its two-
day meeting in New York starting Wednesday over the latest
situation and the efforts already made by the Indonesian
authorities.

At the meeting, Alwi said he would tell the Council about the
groundless reports published by several foreign media over the
latest situation here.

Minister Mahfud echoed Alwi, saying that the Indonesian
government has tried seriously to handle the refugees and the
militias, and, especially, to solve the Sept. 6 Attambua
incident.

"On Sunday, the police reenacted the Attambua killing. So, the
international community must see that we have been legally
processing the case and they have to be patient because the legal
process takes time," he said.

Mahfud underlined that the resettlement program would be
started within a week and the registration program for the
remaining refugees would commence within days.

Udayana Regional Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri said that
so far the security forces had managed to confiscate 73 standard
military rifles, around 11,000 homemade rifles, 52 grenades, and
thousands of rounds of ammunition.

During the visit of the two ministers, several leaders of the
East Timor Warriors (UNTAS) delivered their demands through their
secretary general Filemino Hornay.

They, for instance, asked Jakarta to facilitate reconciliation
with all factions in East Timor and demanded security for those
who wanted to go back to East Timor.

Filemino said UNTAS would guarantee that there would be no
more riots along the border or in the refugee camps should the
central government guarantee their future and respect their past
efforts to defend Indonesia during the East Timor mayhem.

In response, Mahfud promised that Indonesia would treat them
as humanely and would not forget their previous struggle.

"But if you really love Indonesia, you should follow the
political line of the government and once again defend your
country by improving its tarnished image in front of the
international community," Mahfud said. (dja)