TNI's new command center in Atambua makes E. Timor nervous
TNI's new command center in Atambua makes E. Timor nervous
Yemris Fointuna
The Jakarta Post
Kupang
The Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters has yet to consider
transferring the headquarters of the Udayana Regional Military
Command from Denpasar, Bali, to the East Nusa Tenggara capital of
Kupang, Udayana Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Willem T.
da Costa said on Monday.
The two-star general, however, said that a Strategic Command
Center, under the supervision of the Udayana Regional Military
Commander, would be established in West Timor's town of Atambua,
which borders the Democratic Republic of East Timor.
"It's not true that the Udayana Regional Military Command will
be moved to West Timor. The truth is that there will be a
Strategic Command Center in Atambua," Da Costa said.
He said that the establishment of the strategic command center
was not meant to invade or disrupt the neighboring country.
"The command will be a non-permanent one. If the problems of
refugees are settled and no threats come from East Timor, it will
be phased out," he said.
The commander said that if there were attacks launched against
West Timor, TNI's jetfighters would reach Kupang in less than an
hour.
Rumors of a plan to move the Udayana Regional Military Command
to Kupang have given cause for concern to East Timorese people,
including President Xanana Gusmao and representatives of the
United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF).
"President Xanana Gusmao and the UNPKF representatives
recently met with me in Denpasar, asking whether the TNI would
set up a regional military command (Kodam) in Kupang. I told them
it was not true," Da Costa said.
He said Gusmao asked whether the rumor to transfer the Udayana
Regional Military Command to Kupang was politically motivated and
intentionally launched to frighten the East Timorese.
"I've heard that the Udayana Regional Military Command will be
moved to Kupang. If it (the rumor) was true, there will be rumors
that the TNI will invade East Timor," Gusmao said as quoted by Da
Costa.
Separately, Chief of the Wirasakti Resort Military Command,
overseeing East Nusa Tenggara province, Col. Moeswarno Moesanip
said on Monday that in an attempt to support the operations of
the strategic command center in Atambua, the TNI Headquarters
would send a fresh battalion, consisting of 600 troops, to defend
the border areas in East Nusa Tenggara.
"The 407 Combat Detachment of Central Java's Diponegoro
Regional Military Command will be deployed at the border areas to
replace the 641 Combat Detachment from Kalimantan's Tanjung Pura
Regional Military Command," Moesanip said.