Telkom to demand compensation

BANDUNG (JP): State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom will demand compensation for all telecommunications assets it has built in East Timor from the new administration of the riot-torn province.

Telkom's vice president for communications Dody Amarudien said if the compensation demand was rejected, the whole telecommunications facilities would be removed.

"Compensation is a must because most of the facilities and infrastructure was built with borrowed money, including loans from the World Bank, which we have to repay," he said.

He could not disclose the total investment Telkom has so far made in the province.

Dody said Telkom was making an inventory of all facilities and infrastructure before deciding the compensation fee to be paid by East Timor's future authority.

He said the telecommunications facilities which had been built in the area included the main earth station in East Timor's capital Dili, satellite-supporting Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) facilities at each of East Timor's 13 regencies, local and main exchange trunks, wireless telephone lines, repeater stations and operational vehicles.

The former Portuguese territory is presently in a state of anarchy with killings and arson blamed on pro-Jakarta militias following the announcement of a popular vote held last week in favor of independence.

The poll results will be submitted for approval to members of the People's Consultative Assembly, which will meet some time in November. If it is approved, administration of the province will be handed over the United Nations to pave the way for the establishment of the new government of the new country.

Telkom and its exclusive partners in the Joint Operation Scheme (KSO) have built approximately 14,000 wireless fixed line units in East Timor since the province joined Indonesia in 1975, he said.

He said Telkom has invested a lot of money to provide telecommunications facilities for around 7,200 customers in the province using satellite transmissions from the Palapa B2R and Palapa B4 satellites.

The violence, arson and property damage, resulting from the conflict, has affected telecommunication services, especially in remote areas, according to Minister of Communications Giri Suseno.

Giri said disruption in transmissions occurred in some remote areas because the repeater stations in those areas were abandoned by the frightened Telkom employees.

Dody said Telkom evacuated many of its staff from several remote and unsafe areas, leaving a number of facilities, most of which are repeater stations, unattended.

Telkom, however, would strive to continue providing services in the main cities, especially Dili, he said.

He said telecommunications in Dili were so far not affected because main facilities and infrastructure were guarded by the military.

Telkom has evacuated half of its 127 employees, 50 of whom are East Timorese, he said. (43/cst)