Troops withdrawn from E. Timor have not been replaced: ABRI
DILI, East Timor (JP): East Timor Military Commander Col. Tono Suratman bore witness on Thursday evening that, contrary to recent media reports, there has been no deployment of new troops in the province to replace 1,400 combat troops withdrawn in August.
Tono challenged both national and foreign journalists to visit the territory and prove the reported new deployment. He said he would provide helicopters to transport them to visit any regencies to check the accuracy of his statement.
"I swear to God that I do not lie. The reports are baseless," Tono said.
Local residents believe that the Armed Forces (ABRI) has been increasing the number of troops in the province, especially in Baucau, Manatuto, Viqueque and Los Palos, allegedly as part of preparations for a fresh assault against 200 Fretilin separatist fighters.
In a meeting with Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung in Dili last week, Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo conveyed the public's allegations that ABRI had secretly sent fresh combat troops to the country's youngest province.
"I have honestly explained, the remaining troops here are only for territorial and health operations," Tono asserted.
He also denied that he had a plan to begin a fresh campaign against separatist guerrillas in the province.
"I am very proud that there has not been any armed contact in the last few months. That is because we have not seen them intimidating people," the colonel said.
Tono's claim was confirmed on Thursday by the chairman of the Movement for Reconciliation and Unity for East Timorese People, Manuel Viegas Carrascalao.
"The guerrillas in the forests have taken a correct decision not to shoot arbitrarily at outsiders and civilians," Carrascalao said.
Tono said people might have misinterpreted what they believed were signs of increasing ABRI activities in East Timor. He said the Armed Forces were just preparing to celebrate their 53rd anniversary on Oct. 5.
East Timor was integrated into Indonesia as the country's 27th province in 1976. The United Nations, however, still recognizes Portugal as the administering power in its former colony.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his counterpart Jaime Gama from Portugal agreed in August to hold further discussions on a proposal by President B.J. Habibie to grant the province special status.
Separately, Carrascalao disclosed on Thursday that the Fourth All Inclusive Intra-East Timorese Dialogue (AIETD) will be held in Krumbach, Austria.
The UN Secretary General's special envoy for East Timor Jamsheed Marker will open the four-day meeting which starts on Oct. 27.
The meeting will be attended by both pro-integration and pro- independence leaders. There were 35 participants in last year's meeting.
The meeting agreed on the establishment of an East Timor cultural center but failed to agree on the center's structure, funding and legal status. (33/prb)