[INDONESIA-L] GvK - More English Cl

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From: apakabar@Radix.Net
Subject: [INDONESIA-L] GvK - More English Clippings from Kupang (long)
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Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 17:16:02 +1000
To: John MacDougall <apakabar@saltmine.radix.net>
From: Gerry van Klinken <g.vanklinken@mailbox.gu.edu.au>
Subject: More English clippings from Kupang, West Timor (long)

Note the interview with Eurico Guterres here, and with a refugee woman.

---------

TRANSLATION OF NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
FROM LOCAL NTT NEWSPAPERS,
16 SEPT-1 OCT 1999
Thursday, Sept. 16
SURYA TIMOR
Headline: hundreds of militia weapons seized.
Joint police/army operation in Kupang seizes weapons such as knives,
machetes, swords, even grenades. Seven IDPs were caught with weapons and
grenades. Surya reporter in Kefamenanu reports 104 sharp weapons were
seized there.
ATAPUPU - Aitarak Commander, Mariano Cabral says they (Aitarak? his
battalion?) have about 200 Indonesian made guns (AR-15, AR-16, SKS, SP, LE,
M-16 and FNC) and some Portuguese made guns (mouser and getmi). Aitarak
members were paid Rp. 300.000,- /month and 50 kg. of rice. This contradicts
info. from Maia (another Aitarak member) earlier this month who said Aitara
militia members received Rp. 150.000,-/month from Dili development funds
since they were recruited to provide security for Dili during the mass
exodus. Bishop Belo was on their hit list since he was considered a
spokesperson for Falintil.
#1 commander of Aitarak armed militia, Eurico Guiterres, cried during
visits to the two largest IDP locations in Kupang. "We are victims of the
political elite...There are no longer pro-integration and pro-independence
refugees, we are East Timorese seeking to save ourselves in NTT. Our
struggle is not over. We must defend integration."
2 photos of militia presence on the streets of Kupang - 1 a van whose back
window reads "Aitarak Pos 12" and one a militia member on a motorcycle on
the bakc of a pick-up. Such vehicles were still being seen on the streets
as of 15 Sept. p.m.
SO'E - 10 members of TTS regional military plus their commander have
surrounded a hut in the forest (in the Bone / Nobi-Nobi region) suspected
of holding illegal refugees ("pengungsi ilegal").
SO'E - TTS regional government contributes 1 ton of rice for IDPs.
KEFAMENANU - People's Regional Consultative Assembly pressures the govt. to
realize its promis of aid to IDPs on the border between TTU and Ambenu [E.
Timor enclave in W. Timor].
ATAMBUA - 1,756 people in Haliwen Stadium need electricity (at night) and
drinking water.
ATAMBUA - A group of integration fighters (PPI) threat to teach the UN a
lesson if Secretary General Anan sends troops from Australia, New Zealand,
Canada and America to East Timor.
ATAMBUA - * 4 companis of special police force (Brimob) have erected
temporary shelter in Halifehan. Their job is to escort IDPs from E. Tim. to
NTT. They deny that the goods around their site have been looted from E. Tim.
* 2 foreign journalists were denied access to the Atambua Media Center.
* IDPs in Atambua hope the Belu government will help them find land
transport to help evacuate IDPs remaining in E. Timor. Efforts to secure
private trucks have been unsuccessful.
ATAMBUA - The situation in Atambua is coming under control thanks to the
nightly patrols of the Belu police.
ATAMBUA - A leader from the United Forum for Democracy and Justice (FPDK),
Ermera branch (E. Timor) says it is a good idea for IDPs in regions close
to the East-West Timor border to accept the Indonesian offer to move to
transmigration locations.
KUPANG - Head of NTT Social Services, Laurensisus Belang, denies that Rp.
30.292.939.000,-, allocated by eight countries is for IDP aid. Only Rp.
10.167.254.000, is for IDPs. Of the Rp. 749.700.000,- to be distributed
during the first stage, Rp. 428.400.000,- will be distributed once the
regions with IDPs have made a report accounting for the funds they have
already received.
KUPANG - A breakdown of diseases among IDPs at GOR Oipoi site is as
follows: 78 respiratory disease, 19 with diarrhea, 10 with dysentary, and
14 with malaria.

POS KUPANG
Eurico Guteres stresses that The Integration Fighters Force (PPI) will work
together with the youth of Kupang to control members of Aitarak and Red
White Iron (BMP) militia who have been making Kupang residents and IDPs
uneasy.
As of yesterday there were 75,000 IDPs in the Atambua area (Belu). As many
as 7,810 IDPs, in Atambua since 5 Sept., have not received the aid promised
to them by the regional government, namely Rp. 1.500, and 2.5 oz. of rice a
day. Head of the PDIP emergency relief effort in Atambua says they heard a
television report saying the aid had been sent, but they haven't seen it.
Local police have held four UNAMET cars in their vehicle operation (28
August - 14 Sept.). It is thought the vehicles were left by UNAMET staff
who ran from E. Timor when their safety was threatened.
Of the 3,200 tons allocated, the NTT government has already distributed 600
tons of rice to IDP locations throughout NTT. 300 of these 600 tons has
already reached the hands of IDPs. Of the Rp.10.167.254.000,- available for
relief, Rp. 749.000.000,- has been distributed to six admin. regions
(Kabupatens) in NTT where IDPs are located. Social Services. Dept. data
indicates a total of 152,442,000 IDPs currently in NTT.
Two police lt. col. (one in charge of planning, the other in charge of
traffic) have been installed to replace the current officers.
Sanitation of IDP sites draws concern. 66 IDPs currently receiving help at
the Kupang general hospital, 50 of whom have had operations (44 of those 50
were emergencies).
NTT not anxious about Australian threat to boycott the Indonesian tourist
industry because tourists don't enter NTT only through Australia.
Lots of food peddlers (PKL) are selling at IDP sites at slightly higher
prices and making good profits.
Photo of Brimob (special police force) holding automatic weapons at the
Noelbaki IDP site with caption: Police from the NTT Brimob are on alert
every day at the Noelbaki site to prevent outside distortions that want to
disturb the situation for certain political groups.
ENDE (Flores) - In a letter to the regional People's Consultative Assembly,
students strongly reject the moving of Dili military command post (Korem)
to Ende.
10,033 IDPs who were civil servants in E. Timor have begun to sign up at
the NTT Bureau for Civil Servants to receive their salary.
In a letter to the Indonesian president and several cabinet ministers, the
Sikka (Flores) branch of the Indonesia Struggle for Democracy P arty
(PDIP), speaking on behalf of about 70,000 Sikka residents, reject the
moving of Dili military command post (Korem) to Maumere.
NTT Education & Cultural Dept. (Depdikbud) denies the accusation that
funds, sent to relocate Indonesians who have been teaching in E. Timor,
have been misused.
The sub-regional Ed. & Cult. Dept. (Depdikbud Perwakil.) says emergency
schools are needed in NTT, particularly in Atambua, and teachers coming
from E. Timor who would teach in them should receive a bonus of 5 billion
rupiah.
A.M. Hendropijono, transmigration minister says there are three groups in
E. Timor. Besides pro-autonomy and pro-independence groups there is also a
pro-transmigration group.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM LOCAL NTT PAPERS, 18 SEPT 1999

SURYA TIMOR (Sat., 18 Sept.)
ATAMBUA - As of Friday (17 Sept.), Belu listed 101,138 IDPs. In the past
several days 90% of these have suffered from respiratory illness, diarrhea,
and malaria. Much of the illness is due to a lack of clean water and
sanitation facilities.
ENDE - Ende District Head (Bupati), Paulinus Domi, has announced that all
non-E. Timorese IDPs who wish to return to their original locations via
Ende will be fully served by the regional govt., from providing shelter to
arranging for departure to other locations.
Eurico Gueterres, commander of PPI (militia forces), is pessimistic about
the pease that is supposed to be created by multinational forces. If the UN
troops take sides, e.g., side with pro-independence, PPI forces aren't
going to just disappear from E. Timor. PPI will fight the UN troops to the
end. They aren't afraid and will defend integration. He also proposes a
division of E. Timor. 8 regions for integration (Ermera, Ailiu, Manututo,
Bobonaro, Liquisa, Kovalima, Ainaro, and Dili), the other (5) for
independence. There are 16 PPI forces including Aitarak, Laksaur, Besi
merah putih, Darah Integrasi, and Mahidi. There are 1,000 PPI troops ready
to face the UN, with no need for help from the Indonesian army, to prove to
the world that E. Timor is still the possession of E. Timorese. "I'm not
going to welcome the UN troops because they are a nation of white skin. I
warn you, with 1000 personnel I will be faced by 6000 Australian troops.
Australia can go home with 1000 because we E. Timorese are thirsty for the
blood of white skins."
Hundreds of tourists have left Kupang.
Increase of IDPs in Kupang creates water shortages. General Director of
Kupang Water Works, F. L. Foenay says that limitations in water at IDP
sites are caused by limited numbers of holding tanks in Kupang. The number
of tanks prepared by Public Works was based on initial figures of IDPs, and
this number has been far exceeded.
During the next two months, Kupang regional govt. plans to build 20,000
houses for 20,000 households totally about 100,000 IDPs. These new sites
are to be built along the northern shore areas of Sulamu, Fatuleu, North
and South Amfoang. The land in these areas is relatively empty and can be
farmed. The govt. also plans to build a 200 km. highway and bridges along
this north shore. Kupang regional head (Bupati), I. A. Medah hopes that
data concerning aid relief is not manipulated, "Don't take advantage of
others' suffering." [NOTE: Kupang region has had a plan in place for
several years to move regional offices to Sulamu but to date this has not
been realized effectively.]
KEFA - Hunger and disease are spreading among the 16,500 IDPs in North
Central Timor (TTU) as a result of inadequate food, sanitation facilities,
and medicine.
KEFA -A UNAMET car, heading from Ambenu to Atambua was burned by an unknown
party about 2 hours after it hit a ditch and flipped over. Fresh blood was
still seen inside the car.
KEFA - Telecommunication Office has been forced to add communication
facilties to serve an increase in demand, much created by the influx of IDPs.
SO'E - Rice aid distributed through TTS Social Services is almost gone with
only a few kg. remaining. The first drop of rice to TTS was 4,812 kg. and
the second phase was 3,000 kg., while money for food supplements has been
Rp.11.160.000,- for the first phase and Rp. 10 million for the second.
There have been no clear guidelines concerning allocation of this aid.
SO'E - At least five people arrived on Friday (17 Sept.) to view closely
the system for aid distribution in TTS in order to facilitate technical
activities in the field.
KUPANG - Bina Swadaya NGO gives special attention to the health, education
and psychological needs of IDPs.

POS KUPANG
NTT Gov. Piet Tallo has designated the NTT Financial Bureau to manage all
IDP funds and aid to prevent corruption.
Major General Syahnakri says all "doors" to Dili will be closed to avoid
tension between multinational and militia forces. The overland route to
Dili will be guarded by a security post at Tasitolu in West Dili to
confiscate all weapons. The armed forces will help the UN forces find other
strategic posts to enable them to carry out their mission while avoiding
confrontation with militia.
To date, the NTT govt's sweep to confiscate weapons has resulted in 19
handmade fire arms, 5 hand grenades, and tens of sharp weapons (knives,
machetes, etc.).
Respiratory diseases and diarrhea being treated at the Kupang General
Hospital is on the rise. 57 IDPs treated there suffer from one or both of
these.
KUPANG - According to Head of the Forum for Inter-Enterprise Communication
(NTT, E. Timor, & Australia), Ferdi Tanoni, the Indo. central govt. must
immediately reexamine the bilateral working agreement regarding oil
exploitation in the Timor Gap as signed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali
Alatas and Australian Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans in 1991 due to the
conflict in E. Timor and the strain it has put on Indonesian - Australian
relations.
KUPANG - Real Estate Indonesia NTT is ready to build houses for IDPs who
wish to remain in NTT as long as there is a clear go-ahead from the central
govt.
KALABAHI (Alor) - About 2,140 of a total 2,220 IDPs in Alor are staying in
the homes of famlieis in Kalabahi so that aid relief (money and rice) must
be delivered by the Social Services Dept. to the homes. The govt. camp only
hold 116 IDPs.
MAUMERE - IDPs presently in Sikka have asked President Habibie to
compensate them for their possessions that were ruined in E. Timor. "If
there had been no option, we wouldn't be facing this situation. The things
we own through years of struggle have all disappeared. The President must
be responsible and provide compensation."
KUPANG - 20,000 IDP households will be allocated farmland to work and land
for houses in the Sulamu area of North Amfoang. Kupang District Head, A.
Medah, has asked govt. agencies to make a plan including funds for 20,000
houses, road building and improvement (200 km. long), the building of
schools (for IDP children who have had to drop out of school) and
compilation of data concerning land ownership in the area. He also requests
the agencies to develop a plan for distributing seeds, a program for the
development of houses of worship, and clinics in the locations where IDPs
are to be resettled.
MAUMERE (Flores) - Responding to the plan to form a military post in
Flores, members of the regional People's Consultative Assembly, were to
meet with the govt. today to receive an explanation. The district Bupati
reminds everyone that such a move must be by means of a thorough survey. If
the plan to move the post cannot be avoided, he hopes the army will prepare
the soldiers to behave in such a way so that their presence will
bereceived. Ende is just trying to avoid a repeat of what happened in E.
Timor.

POS KUPANG, Sunday, 19 Sept.
Interview with Dr. Frans Taolin regarding respiratory infections at IDP
locations. Inadequate shelters make IDPs vulnerable to night dew and lack
of WCs both contribute to the spread of such disease. Because IDPs tend to
be in a weakened condition they are more vulnerable. Diarrhea also spreads
easily in these conditions.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM NTT LOCAL PAPERS 20 SEPT. 1999

SURYA TIMOR
ATAMBUA - UNHCR will open a secretariat in Atambua, working together with
the NTT regional govt. and Belu district govt. UNHCR will help with crisis
management. Head of UNHCR team, Sadako Ogata, says his visit is to see
directly the situation of the IDPs in the Atambua area after which a plan
will soon be made. Major General Adam Damiri says that the Indo. army will
slowly withdraw its troops from E. Timor, and hopes the UN troops can
create peace. Damiri also knows that those seeking refuge to NTT are n
ATAMBUA - Red White Iron (BMP) militia member arrested by Belu (Atambua)
police for stealing a police car. The militia member said he took the car
to evacuate friends still in Liquica.
ATAMBUA - Several Aitarak and BMP militia members protested a joint
operation by police and army, that confiscated 47 motorcycles and a number
of sharp objects, as an effort to undermine their struggle.
ATAMBUA - In Balibo, PPI commander Tavarez says that if UNAMET had not come
to E. Timor, civil war would still be far away. "We will shoot Australians
dead."
ATAMBUA - Two IDP boys (12 and 10) drown when bathing in a cekdam at Sesekoe.
SO'E - IDPs in So'e as of Sunday (19 Sept.) are only 40% of that targeted
by the So'e govt. Of the 2,235 IDPs, 19.5% are in camps, 80.5% are staying
in the homes of So'e residents.
RUTENG - Former secretary of the Indo. Democratic Party in Ruteng says
there is no good reason for there to be a military command post anywhere on
Flores and rejects the proposed move of the Dili post to Ende.
BAJAWA - The flow of IDPs into Ngada (W. Flores) in the past few days has
increased to a total (as of Sat., 18 Sept.) 227.
KUPANG - Dili Mayor, Mateus Maia says that the East Timorese will struggle
to the end to chase out the peacekeeping troops if they try to institute
new colonialism in E. Timor. The threat of the UN troops towards militia
forces (PPI) is indirectly violating human rights. UN is blamed for war and
mass exodus. In Balibo (18 Sept.), pro-integration E. Timorese declared an
organisation, complete with deputies (political, economic, welfare,
finances, etc.), an advisory board and an executive board, to defend
KUPANG - Letter published by major religious leaders in Kupang calls for
its members to:
_ strengthen faith to create an atmosphere of fellowship which does not
discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, race, or social/economic
status (SARA);
_ stay watchful so that they don't do anything (i.e., over-react to little
problems) that will harm their lives or that of their neighbors;
_ increase prayers and awareness so that they don't easily believe issues
and gossip that aim to create chaos among members of different religions
_ try with all their strength to develop mutual understanding and working
relationships so that they will become increasingly warm and be energetic
to carry forward development for mutual welfare.

KUPANG - Social Minister, Yustika Baharsjah, and Minister for Education and
Culture, Juwono Sudarsono promised 60 billion rupiah for IDP relief, but to
now its status is unknown. Thus the (provincial) Ed. Dept. has been forced
to borrow 400 million rupiah from a third party to pay IDP teachers. Aid
received to date by the NTT Ed. & Social Services Depts. Is emergency aid.
As of 15 Sept., aid distributed to IDPs in NTT (12 districts & Kupang
City): 585,600 kg. rice, money for food supplements - Rp. 523.047.500,- ,
50 tents, 50 mats, and 2000 pieces of clothing.
KUPANG - Repeated gunfire heard shortly after midnight Sun. (sic- it was
Sat. midnight) in the Kelapa Lima area of Kupang startled residents in the
area. The gunfire came from a drunk Brimob (police special forces) member.
National Security Post has not yet received a report whether or not there
were any casualities. This post says the army could not stop the shooting
because it has only a few personnel here since most have been sent to
Atambua. When NTT police were asked about the same incident they di

POS KUPANG
Employees of the E. Timor Judicial Dept. who are in NTT each receive
compensation of Rp. 450.000,-. To assist with the distribution, 7 staff
from the Director General's office will be helping the NTT office.
Minister of Investment, Marzuki Usman, has asked PT Cement Kupang to direct
a market for its cement to Timor to rehabilitate the buildings there that
have been destroyed. Usman visited the site of a second cement factory to
open in March 2000 in Osmo, W. Kupang which will have a production capacity
of 300,000 - 400,000 tons/year. He hopes this factory can be operational as
soon as possible to help meet the needs of E. Timor.
Head of NTT Public Relations, J. M. Sitepu, says his dept. will fire
employees found to be demanding an illegal tariff from IDPs seeking to
leave for Ende, Alor and E. Sumba by boat.
MAUMERE (Flores) - Students at the Catholic school of philosophy in
Ledalero in an open letter reject the move of Dili Military Command post to
Flores. The post did not succeed in bringing safety and peace to the people
there, so if the post is moved to Flores it will not help people feel more
secure but feel more nervous.
ENDE - Four civil servants and 36 teachers, IDPs from the E. Timor Ed.
Dept., have begun to work again in Ende. All of them originate from Flores,
the majority from Ende.
KUPANG - Minister of Transmigration, A. M. Hendropriyono, says that there
is land available in NTT to support only 100,000 IDPs (20,000 households).
8,550 households can be resettled in irrigated areas and 11,450 households.
A detailed breakdown of locations in NTT with potential resettlement
locations is listed. The minister continues: It is hoped that IDPs will
want to return to E. Timor, but if they want to remain in Indonesia the
govt. is obligated to help them find a place to live. Because the numbe
Following complaints of IDPs in Atambua that they haven't been receiving
aid, head of Belu Social Services, Damra Papageka on Friday (17 Sept.) asks
IDPs to immediately report to the administrative heads (kepala desa, lurah)
so their needs can be processed to receive aid. He also reports that as of
Fri., 17 Sept., Social Services had distributed more than 100 tons of rice
and about Rp. 213.607.500,- but acknowledges that it has not been
distributed evenly.
ATAMBUA - Belu police along with the army have carried out an operation in
the past few days to confiscate weapons being carried by civilians, but did
not provide a breakdown of the weapons confiscated.
KEFAMENANU - Kefa general hospital suffers from a lack of clean water,
especially to serve IDPs. Head of the hospital, Dr. Hartono, says this has
contributed to sanitation problems at the hospital. The three wells serving
Kefa have experienced a drastic reduction in water.
KUPANG - Transmigrat. Minister, Hendroprijono, says the govt. must
accelerate the development of Sulamu as the capital of Kupang District
(Kab.), for example completing a 200 km. road from Kupang to Netemnanu in
North Amfoang, considering that is the area to receive IDPs who choose to
remain in NTT. NTT Gov. Piet Tallo welcomes the central govt.'s plan to
accelerate Sulamu development and encourages the Bupati of Kupang District
to take pro-active steps to support this.
KUPANG - In his talk at the seminar, ""Investment Strategy and Empowerment
of People's Potential in the Effort to Overcome Poverty," Nusa Cendana
University Rector Agus Benu, says the referendum results in E. Timor will
have a negative impact on the implementation of regional autonomy in NTT
because of the huge influx of IDPs many of whom themselves are poor.
OEKUSI - At the same time Major General Cosgrove was in Dili (Sun., 19
Sept.), militia groups razed Oekusi, regional capital of Ambenu, the E.
Timor enclave in W. Timor. Almost all govt. buildings and residences were
burned. No one was hurt, owners of residences were allowed to take whatever
they could carry. On Sun. (19 Sept.) many trucks were seen carrying
possessions.
BALIBO (E. TIMOR) - Pro-integration fighters who have struggled via several
forums and alliances declared the Front for a United Nation (FPB) as the
only body struggling to defend integration with Indonesia. Other
pro-autonomy social political organizations are to be dispersed and join
with FPB. They seek to keep E. Timor free from all new forms of colonialism.

(files dated 22 and 23 were unreadable)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM LOCAL NTT PAPERS, 25 SEPT. 1999
(This day's info also sent earlier)

SURYA TIMOR
Front page headline: 5000 PRO-INTEGRATION HOUSEHOLDS HUNTED BY INTERFET
with a picture of an Australian soldier aiming an automatic weapon (the
same soldier graphic appeared yesterday on ST's front page.
JAKARTA - At least 5000 members of pro-integration families consisting of
women, children and parents are now being held in the Districts of
Manatuto, Viqueque and Los Palos (Leutem) and are worried they will become
the target of an Interfet operation to chase militia. This was told to
ANTARA news agency in Jakarta by Basilio Dias Araujo of the Front for a
United Nation. "They are unable to leave to go to the border because the
road out has been blocked by Falintil." He denies CNN reports that
pro-integration troops are still in the region of the border and are
planning to attack Interfet troops. Interfet must give access and
protection so that the pro-integration families may leave. [Note: This
article indicates just how sensationally inaccurate ST has become in the
formulation of its front page headlines.]
JAKARTA - The Australian govt. has tried to blur the cruelty of its troops
in Dili that have burned a militia member yesterday afternoon with only
sending a written denial through the office of its embassy in Jakarta. "The
press report that says Interfet troops from Australia burned a militia
until he died is absolutely not true." This contrasts with a report from a
commander of the pro-integration forces (PPI), Filomeno Antonio Britto,
several days earlier that painted the cruelty of the Interfet troops from
Australia who tortured 8 of his soldiers at the Dili harbor, including one
named Clementino who died after he was drenched with benzine and set on fire.
CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, advises to wait and
observe developments in East Timor before deciding whether or not to add
more Australian troops.
JAKARTA - Security will be surrendered from Major General Kiki Syahnakri to
Interfet Commander Major General Peter Cosgrove on Monday, 27 Sept.
However, the capture of militia by Interfet troops still needs clarification.
KUPANG - Around 400 commercial sex workers who operate daily in Karang
Dempel (a neighborhood close to the Kupang harbor) have been forced to
flee. But they have evacuated themselves, not because of Interfet troops
but rather because they have been terrorized by members of the mobile
brigade (Brimob) and armed forces (TNI).This happened after a night of
random shooting. According to taxi drivers and kiosk owners in the area,
this has happened repeatedly in the past few weeks. On Wed., 22 Sept. a
parade of fighters began shooting in 4 sex worker locations. A week ago a
Brimob member from Dili was almost killed by a military police (POM) from
Dili because the Brimob wrecked Ganesa discotheque with a hand grenade.
Some think the shooting may be because the workers raised their rates.
2 photos in the middle of p. 5 show armed soldiers in Kupang. The caption
reads: "Is Kupang becoming a military town? This question emerged with the
social change that happened following the arrival of thousands of E.
Timorese refugees. One phenomenon of the change is that the color of Kupang
has changed with the arrival of military personnel, whether they be with
the armed forces, police, navy, or air force. In almost every corner of the
city, on main streets, at bus stops, and in restaurants, members of the
armed forces and police are seen wandering around in full uniform. The
atmosphere, then, gives the impression that Kupang is a military town. A
number of restaurant owners complain about the presence of the military.
They carry out acts of violence, among other things, after eating they
don't pay, and create damage when they get drunk. Restaurant and
discotheque owners are reluctant to report such incidents to the
authorities or even to the military police because there is no follow-up
said a discotheque leader (?) on Jln. Siliwangi.
SO'E - A refugee from E. Timor, Joanna Noronha (70) who was staying in TTS
for the past few days died at the PLN refugee site in the old Rotinese
neighborhood of So'e due to illness.
KEFA - On Wed., as many as 2,773 refugees from Liquisa have arrived in
Wini, an area about 84 km. south of Kefa on the border between TTU and
Ambeno. The refugees, who used a ferry, were transported in two waves.
There are now 4,701 people in Wini - 1,362 from Ambeno and 2,773 from Liquisa.
KEFA - 32 handmade weapons owned by refugees have been surrendered directly
to the TTU (North Central Timor District) police. Secretary of Babikenya
Village of Liquisa District (E. Timor), Paul Salvina, representing the gun
owners said they were now in NTT and so feel their security is guaranteed.
KEFA - A team of doctors from The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia in
Indonesia is ready to help refugees at no cost.
ATAMBUA - Refugees in camps around Belu are full of complaints. One refugee
complained that there was no money to pay for the funeral of a family
member who had died. Another complained while asking for a tarp to make an
emergency shelter because since arriving in the camp she had been staying
under a tree because there were no tarps. A civil servant from Dili
complained yesterday that he had not yet received his salary, that his
savings were gone, and so he had to borrow money from friends to support
his family. Also, he had not yet received the food and money for food
supplements from the Dept. for Social Services. According to Ignatius
Raydais, coordinator for refugee matters in Belu, there are about 20-30
complaints a day made to his post so he has sent out an appeal to local
NGOs to help as much as they are able.
ATAMBUA - Police personnel from E. Timor will be secunded to the Belu
police after which they will be moved according to their requests.
According to Chief of Police, culturally E. Timor and NTT are the same.
What differentiates them is history. But there must be adaptation among
personnel from the Atambua police and police from E. Timor. Responding to
police from the provincial police of E. Timor who asked about the wealth
they had to leave at the time they fled, the chief advises them to be
patient. "Be patient in this new place and later you will be able to build
a house." The chief of police also mentioned a plan to form two mobile
brigade companies for a total of three in Kupang, Flores, and Sumba.
Concerning security along the border, he stressed an effort was being made
so that those parties that don't want autonomy don't enter NTT because
their presence is not conducive to security in NTT.
ATAMBUA - From 14-24 Sept. 1999 the emergency ward of the general hospital
has treated 196 people, a portion of whom are refugees treated for [wounds
from] accidents, respiratory disease, and infections. According to one
doctor, an obstacle to treatment is that the refugees don't come with
adequte identification as to their status [as refugees] which makes
financial responsibility for their care difficult.
KUPANG - 35 members of the Solidarity Forum for Students Caring for Reform
demonstrated at the NTT People's Consultative Assembly building to protest
the moving of Dili Military Resort to Flores.
BAJAWA - According to Plt. (?) Bupati , Djidon de Haan, the plan to move
the Dili Military Resort to Flores has led to both pro and contra
positions. "The presence of the military resort in Mbay should not upset
the social peace. If it brings added value, ya, please [come], the district
government will not create a fuss. What's important is that there must be
an ethic of politeness and respect for the social order of the people
here." The plan to move the resort to Mbay must first be "socialized"
(explained adequately) to the people there since they don't understand
fully. The pro and contra positions towards this plan have been influenced
by information and the trauma of militarism that has occurred in other
places like Aceh, Ambon, and Irian Jaya.
A table comparing commodity prices of food (in rupiah) in North Central
Timor (TTU) and Belu is as follows:
Commodity One TTU Belu
Cultivated chicken egg 1 egg 750 6.000
Country chicken egg 1 egg 1.000 10.000
400 gr. Powdered milk 1 can 30.000 15.000
sweetened condensed milk 1 can 3.500 3.500
tamarind 1 kg. 8.500 5.000
red onions 1 kg. 9.000 6.000
garlic 1 kg. 7.000 8.000
palm sugar 1 kg. 2.500 5.000
salt 1 kg. 2.000 1.000
soy sauce 1 bottle 6.000 12.500
nut (like macadamia) 1 kg. 7.000 7.500
black pepper 1 kg. 65.000 70.000
red hot pepper 1 kg. 30.000
shrimp paste 1 package 1.000 10.000
ginger 1 bunch 5.000 4.000
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM NTT LOCAL PAPERS, MONDAY, 27 SEPT.

POS KUPANG
ATAMBUA - Since Thursday (23 Sept.) Interfet personnel from Australia and
Falintil have held hostage 4 Atambua residents along with 12 PPI
(pro-integration force) members in Tibar Village, Liquisa (38 km. west of
Dili). According to Aitarak commander, Domingos Pereira at the Media Center
in Atambua on Sun., 26 Sept., the four were helping transport IDPs from
Dili to the Belu border. Their arrest was led by Village Head of Tibar and
PPI Commander (of the Red White Iron militia) in Liquisa named Alberto who
has already switched sides to join Falintil. 16 PPI Aitarak members who
tried to free them were ambushed by Interfet and Falintil. 4 of the PPI
fighters were caught, however 12 were let go after yelling for help from a
group of armed forces soldiers (Linud 700) from Ermera wanting to go to
Dili and happened to be crossing the area at that time. Pereira says
Aitarak has information that these 4 PPI hostages have been freed along
with another friend, Caitoni, caught in Dili by Interfet a while ago.
PPI Aitarak tried to avoid armed confrontation with the joint
Interfet-Falintil 50 member force, however they weren't willing for 4
people to be held, tied and kicked. The confrontation lasted about 2 hours
(14.00-16.00) on Sat. (25 Sept.).
Alan Dupont, a military analyst at ANU in Canberra, is quoted as saying
that all serious incidents in E. Timor, experienced by both pro- and
anti-intergration supporters, should be investigated by an independent
team. "It can be seen on TV how Australian troops continue to aim at
militia members even after they've been tied. Such actions clearly don't
receive sympathy from ASEAN countries, and damages Australia's image in the
area." He hopes 2-3 monts will be long enough for Australian troops in E.
Timor, and after that they will be replaced by a civilian peace mission in
accordance with the UN Security Council's mandate.
Also, on Sun. (26 Sept.) remaining residencies and buildings in Dili,
including the Dili branch of Bank Danamon, were burned and the burning was
much greater than any that has gone before. Sources in Dili say although
the perpetrators are unknown, it is strongly suspected that those who are
burning are disatisfied witht the behavior of Australian Interfet troops.
It is also reported that Xanana is going to the US to discuss economic
restoration for E. Timor with the World Bank and to visit the UN. After
that he will go to Portugal for a consultation before returning to Darwin
where he and other leaders have discussed the formation of an E. Timor
government.
KUPANG - Relief aid continues to flow in. UNICEF emergency coordinator, Ram
Koirala, said that UNICEF aid, brought from Copenhagen, consists of baby
food, 120 tents, 20 tanks of water, and 14,500 jerrycans of water. Only a
portion will be taken to Atambua. In the Kupang area, aid will be sent to
IDPs in Naikliu because they are sleeping under trees. Food and clothing
have also been donated by Minang Family Tie and a Catholic grade school.
KUPANG - It is suspected that an armed forces personnel, SO, has cheated 8
people testing to enter the army by promising they will pass if they pay a
bribe of about Rp. 3 million each. This emerged after a youth who failed
the initial test became hysterical at the army hostel in Kuanino
neighborhood of Kupang, asking that as much as Rp. 2.840.000,- be returned
to him. When the youth and his mother went to the home of SO to ask that
his money be returned, SO threatened him saying that if he told anyone he
would be killed.
When the matter was reported to military police and they went to the home
of SO, it was locked.
KUPANG - Public Relations regional office will make free tickets for IDPs
to use for sea transport. The free tickets will be given to each IDP who
has signed up at their local Coordination Center (Satkorlak) to return to
their place of origin. Until now, a letter of recommendation (not free
ticket), with the names of 5 people or one family, have been used.
According to J. M. Sitepu from the NTT Public Relats. Dept., with this
system each person will have their own ticket so that at the harbor they
will no longer check the names of passengers one by one, and will also cut
down on non-IDPs who have been taking advantage of the letters of
recommendtion to get free transport.
KUPANG - NTT Public Works Dept., has pitched 539 emergency shelters (tarps
and water-resistant plastic) for IDPs in NTT. They plan to develop other
facilities for the IDPs with total funding needed at 30 billion rupiah to
come from Jakarta. Other help includes house expansion of residents in
Alor, Kupang City, Kupang District, South Central Timor (TTS), North
Central Timor (TTU), and Belu who are holding IDPs, barracks, and expansion
of schools in 6 districts. 731 simple bathing rooms/latrines of a planned
881 have been realized in Belu District. In Kupang, NTT PW has prepared 31
of 58 mobile water tanks, 275 garbage cans, along with 2,470 of 21,965
pails and jerrycans. The other pails / jerrycans are enroute from Jakarta.
MAUMERE - Sikka District Head (Bupati), Paulus Moa, who visited an IDP site
in Maumere on Sat. (25 Sept.), is very concerned about the plight of IDPs.
Having worked in E. Timor for 18 years, Moa cried when he spoke to the IDPs
in Bahasa Tetun. District Social Dept. Head and his staff who were
distributing aid at the time were surprised by the Bupati's unannounced
visit. Moa told the staff to be sure they attended to the needs of the
IDPs, "Don't let those who have already suffered so much suffer more while
in Maumere." He also invited the IDPs to drop by his house at night to
"play" if they had a chance.
An IDP who spoke to PK reporter and who doesn't know where his wife and
child are now said, "Our situation is really one of suffering. But it is
even moreso when I think about the fate of my wife and child who, until
now, I don't know where they are. It is better for us to return to Dili and
fight to oppose whomever doesn't want the people of Dili to live in peace
rather than experience an uncertain fate like this."
The Manggarai govt. has been facilitating transport for IDPs headed west.
Info. from Labuanbajo in Manggarai District indicates that to date 483
IDPs, 149 cars, 8 6-wheeled vehicles, and 40 motorcycles have taken the
ferry to Sape.
Info. from North Central Timor (TTU) is that there are now 29 local
donators of aid, including several schools, some of whom began giving aid
on 13 Sept.
ENDE - The Ende branch of the Association of Muslim Students (HMI) support
the development of Military Resort 164 Wiradharma in Ende as long as Flores
becomes a separate province. An undated letter to this effect, signed by
the HMI Chair and the Secretary is addressed to the Chair of the Ende
People's Consultative Assembly. HIM also supports the activities of
district leaders to "socialize" Ende residents regarding this move.
Rejection of this move has been expressed by the Cipayung Group on 15 Sept.
and by Student Forum of Ende (FMKE) on 20 Sept.
KEFAMENANU - Foreign donors carrying out humanitarian social missions to
help IDPs in Kefa are being escorted tightly by local security officers.
TTU Chief of Police, Lt. Col. Agus Suradi, along with his associates were
seen to be escorting members of German Agro Action, a non-religious and
non-political NGO that assists in humanitarian assistance when members of
this NGO visited the Naen IDP site in Kefa. According to Project
Coordinator, Norbert Burger, German Agro Action had been carrying out its
humanitarian mission in Ambeno by helping supply clean water and other
projects. Pos Kupang also witnessed a Belgian with Medicins Sans Frontieres
helping IDPs with sanitation and environmental health needs.
Chair of the Ende Disaster Relief Coordination Center (Satkorlak) says they
are overwhelmed in facing IDP demands. Different than the IDPs in TTU who
have already received rice and money for food supplements, about 1290 IDPs
adopted in Ende to date have not received the 400 gr./Rp.
1.500,-/day/person from the government.
ATAMBUA - Arriving on Sunday, 26 Sept., 2 airplanes of people (including
the wife of Indonesia's Chief of Police, Principal of Women's Police
School, and others) visited the wives of E. Timor District police who are
now IDPs at the police resort in Atambua. Ny. Roesmanhadi, wife of
Indonesia's Chief of Police, stressed to the women that saving one's family
was more important than saving worldly goods. Help will immedialy be
arranged for the educational needs of children from the family of E. Timor
District Police now living in NTT. She will help to arrange for an
emergency school for these children at their IDP site (the police resort).
14 doctors in the group, working together with the local health dept., also
provided free medical services to all IDPs. The group explained that at
this time priority is being given to members of the Indonesian police
family, however later they plan to handle the needs of other IDPs.
KUPANG - As many as 100 seminary students and pastor candidates from the
Santa Maria Imaculada Conceicao Seminry in Dili who have been in Kupang
since early Sept. returned to Dili on Sat. (25 Sept.) to resume their
schooling. According to Pastor Juvito, a teacher in Kupang, they used an
army Hercules plane and were accompanied by teaching staff from that
school. Juvito added that army leaders in E. Timor had guaranteed the
safety of students and teachers to resume their teaching and studies. He
said that this effort to return students to their school in Dili was one of
several constructive joint efforts between E. Timor church leaders and the
armed forces there since the military emergency took effect. Catholic
sisters have also expressed a desire to return to E. Timor to help with aid
relief. Head of PRR convent in Naikoten says that sisters at this convent
want to go to E. Timor to provide health services for pregnant women and
young children. They have already prepared medicines and food for babies
and pregnant and nursing women to take with them to E. Timor.
>From the IDP site in Noelbaki: One IDP complains when he listed his
motorcycle to the Vehicle Registration police had to pay Rp. 25.000,- When
he complained it was lowered to Rp. 10.000,-, but he was given no receipt.
"We refugees don't have a house, no belongings, and we have to pay Rp.
25.000,-" Three IDPs from Manututo headed for Solo (Java) via Larantuka
(Flores) had to pay Rp. 300.000,- to transport their 4-wheel vehicle
despite the letter of recommendation they carried from the NTT Disaster
Relief Coordination Center to reduce the amount. "Our house in Manututo has
been burned. This vehicle is all we own. An official like that is very
strange." Due to increasing no. of IDPs, relief staff at several IDP sites
(Neolbaki, the Social Services complex in Naibonat, the White House [?])
have arranged their schedules to cover their posts 24 hours.

SURYA TIMOR
BAUCAU - As broadcast by Portugal Radio Television, a red and white flag
flying in front of Hotel Flamboyan in Bacau was burned by Falintil soldiers
Sunday (26 Sept.) p.m.
Before it was set on fire it was stomped on. After this flag was burned a
CNRT flag was hoisted on the same flagpole. An action occurred in Soai,
about 40 km. from Atambua (NTT). Hundreds of local residencies were burned
by unknown forces. According to Portugal Radio Television, all the houses
in Soai were burned. People remaining there were forced to leave their homes.
ATAMBUA - Headline: Interfet-Falintil threaten to burn 16 PPI members
Since Thurs. (23 Sept.), 16 PPI (pro-integration forces) wanting to
transport IDPs from Dili to Belu (NTT) have been held hostage in a coffee
building in Tibar Village in Liquisa by Interfet - Falintil troops. An
armed confrontation between Aitarak PPI fighters wanting to free the
hostages and about 50 Interfet-Falintil fighters lasted about 2 hours on
Sat. (25 Sept.). Aitarak Commander, Domingos Pereira in Atambua stressed
that 6 completely armed Australian Interfet members were using a UNAMET
car. 4 members of [the fighting?] PPI were caught and 12 freed after
screaming for help from Indonesian Army Linud 700 who happened to be in the
area when going from Ermera toward Dili. "At the moment our friends were
caught, several pro-independence people took gasoline to Tibar, probably to
burn our friends. But the army was there and saved them," said Pereira.
We've heard that our 4 other friends have been released along with Caitoni,
a friend captured by Interfet in Dili.
Of the 16 still being held hostage, 4 are from Atambua and were helping
transport IDPs from Dili to the border. Aitarak has reported the hostage
situation to PPI commander J. Tavares who is waiting for an order for
further action. "If we are ordered to enter again to E. Timor we will take
40 people to free our friends. It is clear that Interfet is not neutral and
pro-independence members have become their spies."
PPI leader Tavares says that Interfet's actions towards pro-integration
people are no different than UNAMET. That the UN forces, especially
Australians, let pro-independence kill pro-integration people still in E.
Timor. This shows that the troops are pro-independence. It is as if they
are only confiscating weapons from the pro-integration side, not from the
pro-independence fighters. What's worse, these troops are joining in
torture and attacks of pro-integration people with no clear reason.Tavares
also said that PPI never sought emnity with Interfet because the real enemy
was Fretelin who has a different political view. Tavares hopes that the UN
troops will not fish for emnity with PPI, "If Interfet continues to involve
itslef or always sides to defend pro-independence interests as supported by
Fretelin, who will suffer loss is Interfet itself." The involvement of
pro-independence groups in every Interfet patrol in Dili and surrounding
area is evidence that Interfet and Falintil are working together. Since it
was advised that PPI be shifted west with the arrival of Interfet, Dili is
now controlled by Falintil. "Falintil members freely carry their fire arms
in the city, however, nothing is ever done about it by Interfet troops, and
that needs to be demanded [protested] by E. Timorese who are in refuge.
Interfet must remain neutra, it may not just mistreat the pro-integration
side," said Pereira.
Exclusive interview with Eurico Guterrez (on Sunday, 26 Sept., in Kupang)
Aitarak/PPI Commander Guterrez gives Interfet an ultimatum of 3 weeks to
take a just attitude. He understands Interfet's presence to ensure peace
and reduce conflict beween pro-independence and pro-integration groups, but
their presence has added to the suffering of E. Timorese. "I have
information from my troops that soldiers from other countries are more
neutral than troops from Australia. Australia has clearly joined with
Falintil to carry out captures and attacks. Yesterday afternoon in Tibar
they attacked E. Timorese who were to take logistics in Dili. Two people
were caught and two beat up/cut up. The latest information I have is that
they aren't just butchering/beating or burning E. Timorese, they have also
begun to rape E. Timorese....I say there is no white skinned person who
considers a black skinned person their brother. They consider black skinned
people as an enemy and their slave. This is really an exceptional human
rights violation. I ask for solidarity from 210 million Indonesians. This
relates to the nation's self respect. This must be accounted for by the UN
Secretary General Kofi Anan and by the Indonesian government, especially
President Habibie...I'm giving an ultimatum, I'm asking that this must be
accounted for in 2 to 3 weeks. If in three weeks, no one has taken
responsibility, I won't know [acknowledge] the UN forces, who is the
Indonesian govt., who is the Portuguese govt., govts. from wherever. This
relates to my rights where that land is the land of my birth."
ST: How many PPI troops are there now?
EG: The PPI forces I've gathered total 6 battalions; what were once 4
sectors and 13 battalions I've changed to become 6 battalions.
ST: Several sources say PPI owns as many as 460,000 rifles.
EG: Yes, we own weapons, both what were left by Portugal and also handmade
weapons I've made myself.
ST: Information says you are asking for as many as 3 trucks of weapons from
Prabowo.
EG: I don't want to ask for weapons from anyone, whether it be the NTT
province, the Indonesian govt., or Prabowo. He's no longer army, he is
already on pension. I don't want to ask for help from anyone.
ST: What's the strategy to face the UN supported by Falintil, since they
are fully armed?
EG: Although they are fully armed, they don't control E. Timor. I control
E. Timor. It's not possible he [sic] has a panzer that can climb Mt.
Matudian or Mt. Maralau. They also aren't accustomed to a difficult life.
ST: But the commander of the UN forces has experience in combat regions.
EG: E. Timor field is not the same as fields in Somalia, Iraq, Australia,
etc. E. Timor fields kill. For us E. Timorese, what's important is to know
how to load the gun and cock the trigger. We don't need practice.
ST: The purpose of your coming to Kupang?
EG: I'm in Kupang to coordinate with the NTT government and National
Committee of Youth to work together in ensuring security for E. Timorese
and NTT residents. I don't want E. Timorese in NTT to make NTT people
restless. There are indications that an effort is being made to pit E.
Timorese and NTT people against each other. Also, I want to give support to
security forces. So it's not because I'm scared, afraid to be in Atambua.
The people know that until now the one who is always close to the people is
only me, Eurico Guiteres. Not even one political elite, whatmore government
official from E. Timor, is close to the people. And tomorrow I go to
Atambuat, but I'll be going back and forth.
ST: There are those who say your presence in Kupang has been engineered by
Ramos Horta.
EG: That's not true. I do know Ramos Horta. But I'm not like Ramos Horta.
Ramos Horta can only enjoy [himself] on top of the suffering and tears of
the E. Timorese people. Whoever said that is probably someone with Ramos
Horta. They are only trying to make me fall.
ST: Considering your troops, there's information that your troops come from
people who also played a role in the 12 Nov. Santa Cruz incident.
EG: My troops and I don't originate from the 12 Nov. incident. We really
were born from a desire for integration. We are people for Pure
Integration. Whoever said that is someone who requests integration with a
particular desire.
ST: There's an insinuation that Aitarak is actually anti-integration and
that you have carried E. Timor into a ravine.
EG: For awhile I, at 27 years old, am known around the world. Some are
jealous of me so that they use a method like that. He's precisely the one
who has carried E. Timor into a chasm, but I already know who's doing it.
ST: It's said that you have a family relationship with former governor,
Carascalao.
EG: I don't have a realtionship with him; I'm from Vikeke.
ST: Probably from your mother with Carascalao's wife.
EG: I'm from Vikeke, I don't know him. But because we are E. Timorese, I
know him as governor. My mother is from Vikek, he [Carascalao] is from Dili
or from where I don't know.
ST: What's your response to Abilio Soares who is arranging for a Kupang
residency card?
EG: I haven't yet obtained certainty about that, so I can't yet comment
further. Hopefully this doesn't happen, but if it's true that he's getting
a Kupang residency card, I don't know where he's accountable. As a leader,
good or difficult, hungry or happy, I ask that [he] must be together with
the people.

Another interview was with a woman whose husband is said to have been
mistreated by Australian troops.
ST: Can you tell about the cruelty of the Australian soldiers towards E.
Timorese?
L: The Australian army is good. But the actions of Falintil are very
brutal. Since the UN landed in Dili, Falintil has come down from the
mountains. They've entered Dili and have tried to win favor with the UN.
They look for E. Timorese. If they suspect he/she is an E. Timorese they
report directly to the UN army, "Mr. ___ is militia." Those are Falintil's
words if they see an E. Timorese. They suspect everyone, then they report
to the UN forces, especially Australian. Since the referendum results were
announced on 4 Sept., thousand of E. Timorese have been slaughtered. They
were brutally murdered. I was horrified to see the corpses on the road. So
we are very scared. After 4 Sept., we began to get our things ready. We
then moved to the mobile brigade (Brimob) housing, Asrama Kifa, until we
arrived in Kupang on Sat. a.m. (25 Sept.).
ST: Can you tell how your husband was mistreated, tied with rope, by
Australian army?
L: We were staying at the Brimob housing because that's where my brother
was. But we had a house, so my husband often went to check on the house,
even though it was empty. Last Friday, my husband was spied on by Falintil
members who reported him immediately to Australia army, "He's militia." He
was reported by Falintil to Interfet. Interfet immediately approached my
husband and tied his hands. They didn't hit him or do anything rough, just
tied both his hands behind him for one night. But my husband and I didn't
do anything wrong, but why must we be treated so cruely? This is clearly
inhumane.
ST: So as long as you were in Dili you witnessed a lot of things that
Interfet was doing to E. Timorese?
L: Too much. Please don't write my name. Because I still have a lot of my
family in Dili. If they know I spoke, for sure my brothers there will be
mistreated, treated roughly and could even be killed by Falintil. Falintil
is really evil. Good thing they don't have weapons. If they had weapons,
they'd kill whomever they saw. We saw lots of horrifying incidents, murder
and burning of government buildings. We hoped that the presence of UN
troops in E. Timor would bring peace. Apparently it is just the opposite,
the cruelty is scaring the people. So in 2-3 days, and the coming weeks,
lots of E. Timorese will be fleeing to Atambua and NTT.
ST: Do you have a plan to return home to Dili?
L: Go home? How is it possible? We are scared. We don't have a thing.
Everything is gone. What's important is that we are safe until Kupang. We
hope our brothers still in Dili can come to NTT as quickly as possible. We
need comfort. The problem of returning - wait a bit. We'll care for our
family here first. Later, we don't yet know.
L's husband was away from the house for the night, but according to L, her
husband's hands were tied so tightly that they are still swollen. "Tomorrow
you can see my husband's hands for yourself. It can still be seen clearly
the marks of the rope on his hands." According to L, as of 25 Sept., a
portion of Falintil had already come out of the forest. She says they are
in all the sub-districts. They have only one purpose: to find militia or
pro-integration E. Timorese and eliminate them. Because they have not yet
been given weapons, they are working together with the Australian army to
eliminate Indonesians. They are really brutal.
KUPANG - Bishop Belo met with the Portuguese govt. on Sat. (25 Sept.) to
seek financial and physical aid for E. Timor, especially to fix education,
health, and various public facilities.
KUPANG - About 300 students at Unwira, the Catholic University in Kupang
(Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira) who originate from E. Timor have not
yet returned (since the referendum) to the university to continue their
studies. Unwira's policy is to accept any students who were at the
University in E. Timor (Untim) who may want to continue their study at
Unwira. Director of the Management School (STIM) in Kupang says there are
not yet any IDPs since the referendum who have registered at their school,
only some who registered prior to the referendum but whose parents are now
IDPs who can't pay for their fees. STIM has given contributions up to Rp.
2.260.000,- to IDPs.
KUPANG - According to Vice Chair of the NTT Development Planning Board,
Emilianus Dembo, funds promised by Coordinating Minister for Welfare and
Poverty Alleviation, 2 quintillion (triliun) rupiah, are not just for IDPs,
but for alleviating poverty in NTT and E. Timor. But the channeling of the
funds needs a lot of time and hasn't yet been received. The funds are to
come from the general treasury, then discussed by the national development
planning board, and then sent through the Office of the Treasury and
National Cash before being disseminated by the NTT Development Planning
Board. And the funds may not be for use now but for the middle or long
term. He also said that 232 billion rupiah are needed for housing IDPs in 3
locations - Belu (5,800 households), Ponu in Kefa (2000 households), and
Sulamu in Kupang (6000 households).
KUPANG - IDPs who have been staying in and around the GOR Stadium and KONI
Budaya building in Oepoi will immediately be moved to Sulamu. In a meeting
with representatives from higher education and other regional leaders on
Sat., 25 Sept., NTT Governor, Piet Tallo said, "The refugees in GOR and
KONI must immediately be moved because their living conditions are no
longer possible [viable]." Kupang Bupati, I. A. Medah, suggested to the
Coordinating Minister for Welfare and Poverty Alleviation and several other
members of the reformation cabinet who visited Kupang awhile ago, that
Sulamu, the candidate for the District City [which has long been planned],
be the site for one IDP resettlement location. The Governor has ordered
an official from the NTT Public Relations office, J. M. Sitepu to prepare a
ferry to take IDPs to Sulamu. Medah says the IDPs will be resettled in
sub-districts along the coast, and that there are for the time being 6
government buildings that can be used to hold the IDPs currently in Oepoi.
They will also stay in houses that have been built for civil servants while
waiting for the construction of barracks or houses in the local
transmigration to be complete. However, he said, there is a shortage of
wood to build all these houses. A recommendation is needed from the
Governor to areas where there is wood to help with wood on behalf of
development ("untuk kepentingan pembangunan"). To urge IDPs to move to
Sulamu, according to the Governor, who must move first are families of the
regional police. Concerning difficulties with clean water in Sulamu, the
Gov. said his office would immediately ask the NTT Water Bureau to prepare
bore wells. "What's important is for the refugees in GOR and KONI to move
first, the problem of water will take care of itself."
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM LOCAL NTT PAPERS 27 SEPT 1999

More from SURYA TIMOR, Monday, 27 Sept. 1999 (see below for Tues., 28 Sept.)
KUPANG - On Sunday, 26 Sept., UNICEF gave aid valued at 10.4 billion
rupiah, that has been given in stages since Sept. [?]. Arriving at Eltari
airport yesterday were 120 tents, 14,500 10 liter jerrycans, and 20 water
tanks. Sarongs, woven mats, spoons, soap, toothpaste and detergent have
also been distributed to the districts of Belu, TTU, TTS and Kupang City.
UNICEF emergency relief coordinator, Ram Koerala told reporters that the
most pressing problems for IDPs include clean water, sanitation, and light.
UNICEF will also provide school supplies and counseling to IDPs who have
experienced shock as a result of the tragedies overwhelming them.
KUPANG - Kupang residents are complaining of insufficient public transport
and public drunkenness. Kupang mayor, SK Lerik, says public transport
businesses are reluctant to expand services due to increase in fuel prices,
trauma from last November's unrest [Christian attacks on Muslims], along
with the current influx of refugees. Concerning drunkenness, Lerik said
there will soon be an operation to bring it under control. "Considering
that the current situation is still very sensitive as a result of the
arrival of IDPs, among whom carry sharp weapons and firearms, both handmade
and factory made, the people of Kupang City are asked to just remain calm
for the time being." Lerik added that besides drunkenness, all problems
related to public services will be accounted for and addressed immediately
in an integrated manner with other groups such as the Kupang police force,
military command, the courts and members of the government.
KEFA - The fate of IDPs along the TTU-Ambenu border is very sad. They have
no food or water and are living under trees. This is what Surya Timor
observed on Fri., 24 Sept., in Tasinifu village, W. Miomafo sub-district
where there are about 3000 IDPs, most of whom are children and older
adults. They are still on the edge of Kusi river with their belongings and
some livestock (cows, goats, horses), waiting for their husbands/fathers
who are still looking for temporary shelter. These IDPs originate from
Ambenu villages - Lel'Uf and Banafi Nitibe (600 IDPs), Kenya Oesilu (350
IDPs), Abani Passabe (501 IDPs), Nibin and Bobmeto (500 IDPs), and Nunpo
(700 IDPs). It is anticipated that the flow of IDPs will continue and that
the total will reach about 5000 people. Village Head in Tasinifu, Lazarus
Thaal, said that in general the IDPs have a problem with being evacuated to
the IDPs location that has already been prepared for them by the regional
government because besides saving themselves they also were able to save
some of their livestock which is their only hope for continuing their
livlihood. TTU Bupati, Anton Amaunut, visited these IDPs on Friday and
admitted there was a problem with building barracks because of a problem
with roofs.
KEFA - Police at the TTU police resort have strongly threatened militia
members who do things that make people in TTU, especially the IDPs,
nervous. Vice-Chief of TTU Police, Major M.M. Patty, told IDPs this in a
visit to Aplal [TTU-Ambenu border] on Friday (24 Sept.). He said that
militia who wander around like IDPs shouldn't behave like they are the ones
in control in TTU. "You have to know how to distinguish the situation now.
If you are in TTU you must submit to the functioning norms here. If not,
please, move your feet from this region." Patty promised to process
whomever was abusing authority and hoped that the militia along with local
security personnel would give protection to everyone, especially IDPs, by
creating security and order. Patty will build a security post at the IDP
site in Tasinifu because it is on the border with Ambenu.
"Around So'e-Kefa" - A police operation truck that broke down in Tuplopo,
W. Amanuban sub-district, on Sat. has been picked over; front and back head
lights are missing. The trunk of a large jati tree placed in the right lane
of traffic (E. Timor highway) in the Oebesa Complex of So'e stalled traffic
for about 30 minutes. Team AMDA from Japan is providing medical services in
Tasinifu village, but they can only use sign language with their patients.
For three days running Kefa residents have heard not the sound of gunfire
but the sound of a helicopter. A civil servant from Liquisa, when asked to
fill out a form to receive a salary confessed he/she was unable to write.
Traffic laws are breaking down in Kefa with people and vehicles wandering
around as they please.
ATAMBUA - Heads of govt. agencies and NGOs had a coordinating meeting on
Sat., 25 Sept. to improve management of IDP relief aid. Govt. personnel
complained that NGOs didn't inform or respect the govt. when it comes to
giving aid, only when it comes to collecting data. Also, the lack of
coordination between govt. agencies (Social Dept. is accused of working on
its own without the knowledge of the coordinating group handling IDPs)
prompted M. Napitupulu from the Atambua public prosecutor's office to
remind those present that whomever strays at a time like this will be
caught and tried, and that it would be better if they just stepped down.
Some complained at his remarks saying that he could talk because he got
money from trying cases. Another said, if that's the way he felt they would
all step aside and let him handle all the IDPs by himself. Barracks are
promised to be finished by 2 Oct. As of 25 Sept., 193 barracks have been
built and 26 more are under construction. The barracks are equipped with
latrines. It is thought that with the completion of the barracks, schools
being used to house IDPs can be emptied so that children can return to
school. Many IDPs still have no place else to stay than on the porches of
govt. buildings. NGOs who use foreigners to help with aid relief are
reminded to take care and have police accompany them when providing aid.
ATAMBUA - For the time being security along the border is good. According
to the police commander at the Motaain post, Sukabir, more vehicles are
leaving Atambua for Dili than are coming into Atambua. Handmade weapons
(10-20/day) and looted goods are held at the post. "The weapons will be
returned when the militia members return to E. Timor," said Sukabir.
Beginning at the Motaain post, the road is lined with emergency shelters.
Most of these IDPs are families of Halilintar and Bobonaro militia.
RUTENG - Manggarai district (Flores) is seeing a big increase in the number
of IDPs, not only people who originate from Manggarai, but E. Timorese. 622
IDPs have already in transit in Manggarai. 27 IDP jr. high school teachers
(who originate from Manggarai) have signed up at the Ed. Dept. and will
start teaching, however there is inadequate data on the number of IDP
students who will begin school in Manggarai.
KUPANG - A well-known Kupang night spot (karaoke and dischoteque) has been
closed the past four nights. Since an incident there last Wed. (22 Sept.),
employees have been afraid to work. A group got drunk without paying,
started making threats, hit a foreign guest, and ruined glasses, a fan,
windows. The owner is faced with 1.5 million rupiah worth of damage. If
this kind of incident continues, the owner will probably just close his
business. Workers at the night spot said the group came with pistols and
hand grenades and entered the DJs room and played the music they wanted.
"They threatened that if we reported them to the military police they would
finish us off." Another night spot in Kelapa Lima has had window damage
(from random shooting) that amounts to Rp. 700.000,- Several spots have
begun to close as early as 19.00.
ATAMBUA - World Vision (US) has given family kits (soap, dishes, pans,
glasses, pails) and water tanks worth 14 billion rupiah to help IDPs. 1,144
units have been distributed to IDPs in Belu and 1,200 will be given in
stages until Nov.

SURYA TIMOR, Tuesday, 28 Sept., 1999
KUPANG - According to pro-integration fighter, Marcelino Menes, 400 PPI
"Red Blood" fighters in Ermera and 100 Mahadomi fighters from Manatuto have
been murdered by Interfet troops. 56 pro-integration people are being held
by Interfet in Tibar, about 10 km. From Dili. Despite the killings, PPI has
not responded as they are waiting for orders from their leader, Joao
Tavares. In Atambua, three unarmed members of Integration Blood militia
(Ermera) were shot Sun. (26 Sept.) by Falintil on their way from Ermera to
Dili. The three were rushed to the Atambua hospital where they will be
operated on to remove bullets.
ATAMBUA - In a press meeting at Atambua Media Center, Joao Tavares (68
yrs.) said that Interfet troops are more despicable than Unamet and have
treated pro-integration members like animals; its soldiers have burned PPI
fighters from Manututo and hit pro-autonomy people. He regrets that
Interfet is not neutral and because it is not, as one born in E. Timor, he
has the right to own a portion of the land of his birth. "If Interfet wants
war with PPI, go ahead. I am ready to serve Interfet," he said, wiping
tears from his cheeks. As reported by ST and several other national and
international media, Interfet troops that have already joined with Falintil
burned Mahadoni PPI troops last week. Tavares' tears are the beginning of
enthusiasm to immediately make the blood of Interfet troops, especially
Australian, flow in Lorosae land. The red blood of white skinned humans in
a short while will become a flood in the land that once joined with
Indonesia for 23 years. It probably won't be an open war because Tavares
has said they plan to use a guerilla strategy. * philipus mat
ATAMBUA - Aid for IDPs in the Belu District is increasingly uncertain. At
the beginning of August aid flowed well, but now into the third week of
Sept., people are not receiving their allotments of rice and money for food
supplements. Petrus Nahak, a leader of the people in Belu District has said
that during the last few weeks, signs that relief aid has been used as a
"project" to benefit individuals and groups distributing the aid are more
apparent. The govt. wants to increase supervision of aid distribution in
the field. Several IDPs interviewed have said they want to return to their
homes in E. Timor asap so they can care for their livestock, coffee plants,
etc. They hope to be back home by Christmas.
ATAMBUA - As witnessed by Thomas do Rosario Fatima, one of four captured
PPI Aitarak fighters, Interfet troops from Australia tore the Red White
flag in Tibar, Liquisa sub-district on Sat., 25 Sept. On that day, 12
Aitarak went to Tibar to free 10 pro-integration people being held hostage
there since last Thurs. (23 Sept.). 4 of them were caught by Interfet, had
their hands tied with plastic rope, were aimed at and hit. 3 army trucks
passing by stopped and ordered Interfet to release the 4. Interfet isn't
neutral but is working together with CNRT and Falintil to oppose
pro-integration. If they are a peace-keeping force they should be pacifying
both pro-integration and pro-independence sides.
KUPANG - About 200 Undana university students joined from the Communication
Forum of Law Students (FKMH) carried out a demonstration at the NTT
People's Consultative Assembly (DPRD) on Monday (27 Sept.) to refuse NTT
becoming a military base. Protesters, coordinated by Yusuf Ngongo and John
Seni, demand that the DPRD request accountability from Interfet for its
abuse of human rights in E. Timor, because no matter what, E. Timor is
still part of Indonesia. They have also asked that armed sides, both
pro-integration and pro-independence not use their weapons to disturb
people, especially those in IDP sites. They have also asked that the PKB
(handling of dangerous situations) legislation be reconsidered.
KUPANG - An 18 year old IDP was raped by another IDP after being shown
around Kupang on Sun. night (26 Sept.). The older man told her that he and
his wife had not been able to have sexual relations as long as they were in
the IDP site and then proceeded to rape the young woman. Another man, a
drunk youth who admitted to being intelligence with the Kupang police,
nearly raped a 16 year old in the middle of the night at the Oepoi IDP site.
SO'E - According to Josef Setiohadi, an official with the NTT
Transmigration Dept., Taikola and Bena in the S. Amanuban sub-district are
the areas that have been prepared to receive transmigrants. Based on the
settlement plan that expects to resettle 20,000 households in 41 locations,
and according to the integrated map, transfer sector, and information from
irrigation officials, TTS can absorb 500 households. To realize
resettlement locations as is hoped, well-developed planning and a steady
program are needed, and it must be received socially so as not to cause
imbalances between IDPs and original inhabitants. Population per square
meter of all the sub-districts in South Central Timor (TTS) is listed.
Although the density is comparatively low, investigation of land use and
ability to support transmigrants is needed. The TTS regional development
planning agency is to investigate potential sites.
ATAMBUA - As of Mon. (27 Sept.), the total number of IDPs listed with the
Belu Post for IDPs is 29,601 households (128,553 IDPs). Since 29 August,
100 IDPs have died, and 30 have given birth.
ATAMBUA - Since 20 Sept., as many as 488 households have complained to the
Belu relief post because they haven't received any rice. In general these
are IDPs who have already been in Belu District for 2 weeks.
KUPANG - KOREM commander, Col. Art Jurefar says the status of Military
Command Resort 161/Wirasakti in Kupang (KOREM) is to be raised to that of
Military Command Region (KODAM). He says the change in status had been
planned to take effect in 20004 [sic], "but seeing the situation lately
with the separation of E. Timor from Indonesia, the KOREM status will
immediately be raised to become KODAM." He also said that the plan had been
in place for a long time, "...the plan to form KODAM in NTT is not because
E. Timor has been let go from Indonesia." With the change in this status,
formation of a new KOREM in NTT is needed to guard more intensely NTT
territory. "We [the armed forces] have already planned the formation of a
new KOREM in Flores because the population there is sufficiently dense and
the territory fulfills prerequisites for formation of KODAM [sic]." He also
explained that the formation of a new KOREM was not moving KOREM
164/Wiradhama from E. Timor to Flores as people were making such a fuss
about. "Formation of a new KOREM is not moving KOREM." Each KOREM has its
own territorial region so that it can't be moved. Not all the personnel
from KOREM in E. Timor will be moved to the new KOREM in Flores - some will
be appointed to Timor and Sumba. The new KOREM in Flores will be KOREM 165,
but he doesn't yet know the name of the location that will be placed behind
the number. According to the plan, the new KOREM is to be developed in
Mbay, Ngada District, although the armed forces has already rented 20
hectares of land in Maumere, Sikka District.
Jurefar also denied that the shift in status from KOREM to become KODAM was
to follow the change in status of NTT Provincial Police (Polda NTT) which
is to increase from Type C to Type B as explained by Chief of Police
[nationwide], General Roesmanhadi when he visited Kupang several weeks ago.
At that time Roesmanhadi said that with the separation of E. Timor from
Indonesia, Polda NTT was to move from Type C to Type B and be headed by a
Brigadier General. This decision of the Chief of Police relates to the fact
that NTT is directly on the border with E. Timor that has already separated
itself from Indonesia to become its own country. According to Roesmanhadi,
the increase in Polda status is "...to avoid the emergence of any criminal
problems on an international scale."
KUPANG - A member of E. Timorese Provincial Police sustained minor wounds
on Mon. (27 Sept.) when the motorcycle he was driving was hit by a
motorcycle being driven by a member of armed forces (TNI) unit 744 from E.
Timor. The motorcycle driven by the TNI soldier had no official papers and
the driver was not carrying his TNI membership card, but he denied that the
motorcycle had been looted from E. Timor.
ATAMBUA - PPI leader, Joao Tavares, says that after Indonesian reporters in
E. Timor left since their safety could not be assured by Interfet, there's
a strong possibility that the behavior of UN troops there will get worse.
He requests, therefore, that after the surrender of security that not even
one member of the armed forces or police remain in E. Timor.
DILI - After the formal exchange of authority and responsibility for the
security situation in E. Timor from TNI to Interfet, Indonesian armed
forces remaining in E. Timor include one army brigade, one company of
mobile brigade police, one company of marines and one company of ____
troops [Paskhasau?] which total 1000 personnel under the command of E.
Timor Taskforce commander, Police Brigadier General, T. D. Sitorus.

POS KUPANG, Tuesday, 28 Sept. 99
KUPANG - Hundreds of demonstrators from Undana (Kupang City Student Forum)
put forward seven demands to NTT People's Assembly (DPRD) on Monday, 27
Sept. They demanded that all TNI and police be withdrawn from E. Timor to
prevent further accusations that these groups are interfering with
Interfet's job. They are upset that Interfet does not treat militia and
pro-independence groups the same. With the increasing flood of IDPs into
NTT they request that NTT not become a military base, and that troops
withdrawn from E. Timor not go around NTT shooting as they please. Their
demands also included problems related to UU PKB (legislation on handling
"dangerous situations") and the Bank Bali case. Following this demo, the
DPRD received 17 students from Catholic Youth of Indonesia (PMKRI) who made
similar demands to the Undana students.
KUPANG - The case of armed forces member, Sertu SO, who was accused of
demanding payment from those taking the TNI entrance exam, is being
processed by armed forces military police and will be harshly tried,
perhaps dismissed from TNI according to Col. Jurefar, Commander of KOREM
161 Wirasakti, Kupang.
KUPANG - Pos Kupang and two radio stations distributed aid (2000 blankets,
1000 boxes of baby food, 20 boxes of used clothing, medicine, soap, and
milk) to E. Timor IDPs in five locations around the Oepoi IDP site on
Monday, 27 Sept.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM LOCAL NTT NEWSPAPERS 28 SEPT. 1999

More from POS KUPANG, Tues., 28 Sept. 1999
KUPANG - According to Branch head, Sonny Sutarso, the Dili branch of Bank
Duta has made available about 2.5 billion rupiah to serve transactions for
about 2000 accounts originating in E. Timor that have now fled to NTT. The
bank is limiting its service to withdrawal of savings and the closing of
accounts. Bank Duta had a branch in Dili from March 1998 until a few months
ago and accounts for about 8000 people. The majority of the accounts came
from armed forces and police personnel. Payment of savings is in Kupang,
bookkeeping is being handled directly by the Bali branch of the bank. A
majority of the bank's employees have been secunded to the Bali branch of
Bank Duta where operational activities from the Dili branch are also now
being managed. In the near future Bank Duta, which has been using a room at
the Kupang branch of Bank Bukopin, will close its service in Kupang.
"Probably in another week because transactions have obviously begun to slow
considerably," said Sutarso.
ENDE - About 75 youth joined in the People's Youth Forum Caring for Ende
City (FPMPE) "invaded" the People's Consultative Assembly building in Ende
on Monday, 27 Sept. They read a statement supporting the presence of
Military Resort (KOREM) 164 Wiradharma in Ende. The statement, read by M.
Farid A. Numba, included the following points:
1) accept the presence of KOREM 164 Dili to Ende, taking into account that
Ende is very strategic as it is located at the center axis of Flores;
2) such a post is very needed anticipating a number of challenges related
to the founding of a new nation in E. Timor;
3) such a post is very needed to face the challenges of globalization and
the free market era which also possess a current [that might threaten] the
ideological and economic order of the nation;
4) quantitatively, the presence of KOREM will increase the population of
Ende and stimulate the market and circulation of money to help increase
income for Ende residents;
5) the presence of KOREM could be the embryo for giving birth to Flores as
a separate province;
6) because the armed forces is born from the people, thus its leadership is
asked to hear the aspirations of the people of Ende in relationship to the
plan for KOREM there;
7) ask that the people's representatives pay attention to the desires of
the people of Ende in relation to the presence of KOREM and that they put
forward these desires via a legal corridor to decision-makers.
Temporary DPRD head, Ph. J. Suna, stressed that the plan for a KOREM in
Ende was in the process of being "socialized" via 5 teams (religion,
political parties, NGOs, youth and students, and women) and asked the youth
not to engage in physical altercations with youth who oppose the presence
of KOREM in Ende such as Cipayung Group and FMKE (Student Forum of Ende).
The 5 teams are to gather data about social assets and potential in Ende
while also hearing the opinions of the people regarding the plan for KOREM
in Ende.
A statement refusing the plan for KOREM in Flores and Company 745 in E.
Flores District dated 22 Sept. 1999 was given to DPRD reps. by KPMFT
(Concern Group for Problems in East Flores). One point of the statement
said, "Considering the condition of the E. Flores DPRD at this time in
which there is not yet a complete assembly nor definitive leadership, the
assembly does not yet have the right to make a final decision about whether
or not to accept the plan for the [KOREM] placement." It also stressed
that such a plan must be subject to democratic procedures and mechanisms,
to enhance the people's political rights so there is not the impression
that the desire of certain parties is being forced onto the people. Similar
sentiment was expressed in a 22 Sept. letter to DPRD from E. Flores branch
of WALHI [well-known national environmental NGO]. This letter suggests that
discussion regarding the placement of KOREM in Flores and a company in E.
Flores be postponed until definitive assembly leadership and the new
district head (Bupati) have been chosen. WALHI is of the opinion that
Flores does not yet need KOREM or military personnel because Flores is not
a DOM (military operation region). WALHI stresses there has been no
assessment of the impact of placing a KOREM in Flores and that the troops
joined to form KOREM Dili return to the posts from which they originated -
Battalion 700 return to Ujung Pandang (S. Sulawesi) and Battalion 401 to
Central Java. The Commisary of NTT Catholic Youth, Ende branch, in a letter
signed on 21 Sept. 1999 also strongly reject the presence of KOREM and
military companies in Flores and ask the DPRD in E. Flores to do the same.
DPRD E. Flores, which had previously planned to discuss and take a position
on this issue on Thursday, 23 Sept., failed to carry out such a discussion.
KEFAMENANU - Head of NTT Health Bureau, Agus Berek said that to prevent the
spread of infectious diseases in IDP camps, all children ages 9-12 would be
vaccinated. Berek was in Kefa last Fri. (24 Sept.) accompanying member of
foreign NGOs such as Medicins Sans Frontiers from Belgium that is carrying
out a humanitarian mission in the area. Other foreign donors include
UNICEF, WHO and ADB. Most common diseases suffered by IDPs to date are
respiratory, diarrhea and malaria. The problem of insufficient clean water
also needs to be addressed immediately.
KALABAHI - 69 students from the Nutrition Academy of Dili have been asked
to pick up their graduation certificates in Kupang since the graduation
ceremony planned for 8 Sept. in Dili didn't happen.
ATAMBUA - Both the quantity and kind of aid in Atambua and surrounding
areas is increasingly uncertain. An IDP from Liquisa says, "We get just
whatever food aid is available in the form of rice and dried noodles
because those distributing the aid have asked refugees to understand the
ability of our government at this time. Our nation's economy is in an
uncertain situation right now so that it is hoped there will be
understanding from the refugees." He and others hope to return to their
homes in E. Timor as soon as the security situation permits so as not to
cause more of a burden to the local govt. and people.
JAKARTA - Wife of armed forces General Amirmachmud [a leader of the
Communist purge in Indonesia beginning in 1965] said to the press on
Monday, 27 Sept., that it would be better were Indonesia to withdraw from
the UN and form a new block because the presence of Interfet troops in E.
Timor - mixing in internal Indo. affairs - was humilitating to Indonesia.
She also said it is time for Indonesia to sever diplomatic relations with
Australia, "We, as a cultured nation that deeply respects ethics, do not
accept the behaviour of Australian troops in E. Timor towards
pro-integration E. Timorese." Such behavior goes against that of Indonesia
which is polite and ethical. What they are doing in E. Timor reflects the
attitude of their ancestors who were criminals in England and thrown away
to Australia. "Even in Australia they behaved like criminals, murdering the
original inhabitants of the Astralian nation." She reminded reporters that
Timor was first divided in two, the east colonized by Portugal and the west
by the Dutch. This island is owned by the descendants of Timorese, not by
Xanana Gusmao or even Portugal so far from here. "This island is in
Indonesian territory, no?, so it is strange if a referendum was carried out
by foreigners without the agreement of the DPR/MPR [legislative bodies]."

POS KUPANG, Wednesday, 29 Sept. 99
JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Welfare and Poverty Alleviation,
Haryono Suyono, on Tuesday told Anna Gomez, Section for Portuguese
Interests in Indonesia, that IDPs are free to return to E. Timor. Haryono
said the Portuguese rep. In Indonesia will distribute humanitarian aid to
NTT and E. Timor from European international donor organizations and
individuals if Indonesia needs it. When asked if IDPs were unwilling to
return to their homeland for various reasons, Haryono said that for the
time being, IDPs are being given the opportunity to live in NTT and to
think for up to a year if they want to return to E. Timor. Gomez said that
her party highly respected Indonesia for facilitating UNHCR in carrying out
its tasks in E. Timor and NTT.
At the same time, 5 reps. from UNHCR, after meeting with NTT Gov. Piet
Tallo on Tuesday said they are ready to help IDPs in NTT who want to return
to E. Timor. Said one of the reps., "The IDP problem is currently under
international attention and from the information we have received, more
than 60% of IDPs want to return to E. Timor." Hearing the help offered by
Graig Sanders, the governor said that the more pressing problem that needed
to be discussed was how to distribute aid to E. Timorese in the IDP camps.
According to Tallo, the handling of IDPs by UNHCR in Kosovo, Kurdistan,
Cashmere, and several other countries was not yet finished up to now, what
more talking about returning IDPs to E. Timor which presents an even more
complex problem. He also told the reps. that UNHCR leader, Sadako Ogatha
when visiting NTT not long ago promised to build an office for UNHCR in
Atambua and Kupang. It is best they discuss how Ogatha's promise can be
realized rather than discussing other non-pressing problems.
When receiving the UNCHR delegation, accompanied by an employee of the
General Director of Cipta Karya, Public Works Dept., the Governor also
issued a strong statement to officials in the field so that they do not
abuse aid meant for IDPs. "It's very inhumane to eat aid funding meant for
refugees. This has already been experienced [a reference to
misappropriation of aid money for tsunami damage in Flores, 1992 and
earthquake victims in Alor] and may not happen again." The Cipta Karya
personnel refused to answer questions related to the building of IDP
facilities saying only the head of NTT Public Works Dept. could respond.
As of Tuesday, 28 Sept., the Coordinating Body for Relief (Satkorlak) says
there are now 234,691 IDPs in NTT. This is an increase over Monday's
figures of 232,672 IDPs.
KUPANG - A number of residents in Oesao Village, E. Kupang Sub-district,
were abused and three of their houses burned on Sunday, 26 Sept., by men in
camouflage and carrying weapons. One of the victims, Luther Ebenhezer (21),
an economics student at UNKRIS, was forced to be rushed to the Emergency
Room of the Kupang General Hospital because he suffered from serious
wounds. According to victims, the perpetrators were from (army unit) 743
Naibonat. Mother of the victim, Juliana Lalang Taek (51), said that at
first she thought her child had died. "I just knew that Luther was still
alive when a soldier came to the house and said his name was Jhon Masu and
that he had been sent from the Naibonat Company. He said that Luther was
being hospitalized at the army hospital and that his commander took
responsibility for what happened." Juliana immediately went to the army
hospital in Kupang, but didn't find him there; he was at the general
hospital. She found him with 8 wounds on his head and a wound on his
forehead, ear, and eyebrow. There were 15 stitches for 5 wounds on the
right side of his head and 4 stitches for one wound on the left side. His
forehead and eyebrow had 2 stitches each. His elbows were chafed and the
skin from his chest to his stomach was peeled. Dr. Ani at the hospital says
there is a good possibility he will suffer from brain seizures because his
head wounds are so serious.
According to Yuliana, that night, per usual, two of her children, Luther
and Novi, active in the Oesao Sarung Vocal Group, went for singing practice
at about 18.00 Central Indo. Time. At about 20.30 Novi came home alone with
a wound on her head so that she was taken to the health clinic in Oesao
where she received one stitch. According to Dedi Lalang, on of the victims
who got away, at about 22.00 Central Indo. Time [?], he, Luther, Novi, and
a number of other youth were on their way to borrow a guitar for their
practice. Suddenly they saw a group of people were long camouflage pants,
black shirts, with weapons on their left shoulders and wood in their right
hands coming in their direction. Not far from them two Hino trucks were
parked. "We didn't run because we thought they had no problem with us.
However, they suddenly attacked, hitting and kicking us. Fortunately I was
able to get away, but I saw them hitting Novy and Luther. I saw Luther fall
and not move. I ran into Teus Tuka's house, but they were chasing me and
went into that house so I ran through a back window. They burned three
houses...owned by the families of Pe'u Tuka, Gus Tuka and Markus Teti. Then
they also took Luther." He guesses the incident is related to soldiers who
were hit, it is thought, by Junaedi Teti about a month ago. Besides Novi
and Luther, others hurt in this attack were Ruben and Matheos Adu, but not
as seriously as Luther. At the General Hospital, the victim is being
"supervised" by two men wearling camouflage pants and black jackets. When
Pos Kupang asked their identity one admitted he was from Battalion 745 Los
Palos, E. Timor. The other who asked not to be identified said they had
been guarding the victim since Sunday night and went home on Monday after
Luther's mother arrived at the general hospital at about 13.00.
Battalion 743 Wiradharma in Naibonat, when contacted by phone, claimed not
to know about the incident. "John Masu isn't here, he is not a member of
the aid company in Naibonat. Lt. Col. Agus Kusnadi, Chief of Kupang Police,
said on Monday he had not yet received a report on the incident. Military
commander of 1604 Kupang, Lt. Col. Inf. W. Aritonang also did not know
about this case. Aritonang said he would ask military police (POM) in
Kupang about the case.
KUPANG - Cleanliness Bureau of Kupang have had to work extra hard the past
two weeks to take care of trash from several IDP locations around Kupang.
26 people have been placed at the Oepoi site, 2 trash barrels have been
placed at the Catholic Cathedral and St. Joseph's in Naikoten, Kupang.
KUPANG - Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Solidarity, a joint effort of
the Evangelical Christian Church of Timor (GMIT) and Artha Wacana Christian
University (UNKRIS) in Kupang, the the past two weeks has been giving aid
to E. Timorese, including E. Timorese students studying in Kupang. Help for
students has included money for rent, rice and food supplements. Help for
other IDPs has been prioritized for those staying with families and who may
not be receiving aid via the govt. Pos Solidaritas also gave money for
transport for 200 students to return home to E. Timor for the referendum.
Aid from the German govt. was given by Dr. Albrecht Von Der Heyden to NTT
Gov. Piet Tallo on Tues., 28 Sept.
KUPANG - NTT and Kupang City Health Bureaus are working together to
distribute medicines to private hospitals that need it to help serve the
IDPs being served there. As of the third week of Sept., Bhayangkara
Hospital (an army hospital) has given three health services to about 250
IDPs. Head of the hospital's documentation section says the hospital is
"bored" sending proposals requesting medicines to the govt. health bureau
because there is never a response. Other personnel at the hospital say that
administrative paperwork gets in the way of being able to serve IDPs who
need help.
KUPANG - On Tues., 28 Sept., the Indonesian Business and Industry
Association (Kadin) gave 100 million rupiah worth of aid for IDPs in the
form of rice, cooking oil, dried noodles, milk and soap. Aid has also been
given by 23 shops in Kupang City - rice, noodles, soap, toothpaste, etc.
LARANTUKA - The plan to move Military Resort (KOREM) 165 Wiradharma/Dili to
Flores and develop an armed forces company in E. Flores District has not
been protested only by lay people. 74 pastors have made a statement after
hearing the aspirations and concerns of their members. Their statement,
sent to several govt. and military leaders, includes 4 essential points:
1) The situation in Flores in general and in E. Flores in particular is
safe and there is absolutely no internal or external threat to security.
The one military post already in Flores is adequate;
2) KOREM 165 was formed for E. Timor. Now that E. Timor has been released
from Indonesia, the KOREM should disband;
3) Each province has one KOREM and NTT already has one in Kupang, so KOREM
165 should be transferred to new provinces;
4) E. Flores society in general consists of farmers who farm limited plots
of land. The presence of KOREM, that will need large expanses of land, will
reduce the land available for farming.
Several communities of Catholic sisters have also sent a letter refusing
the proposed move.
About 20 tribal and social leaders from Tiwatobi Village, Ile Mandiri
sub-district in Larantuka (E. Flores) protested (17 Sept.) to the local
legislature (DPRD II), the surrender of 10 hectares of land by four people
to the E. Flores military command for the purposes of building a company in
E. Flores, saying the land given is not the private possession of Petrus
Budi Hewen, but jointly owned by several tribes. Because the land was given
without their knowledge, it is viewed as a brutal action that disturbs
security in the area. Petrus, in a letter dated 24 Sept. to DPRD II, said
the letter accusing him was also the work of one man, not a group, that
this man was just jealous, and that there had indeed been a meeting between
several members of Lamahewe I tribe with military personnel on 18 Sept.
Shortly Maumere, Sikka (Flores) will be "invaded" by 100 members of the
Indonesian air force. This number is likely to grow in stages. Major
Subarno explained this in a meeting with Father Bene Daghi, Rector of the
Educational Institute for Religious Leaders on Monday, 27 Sept. Father Bene
wondered if this plan had been informed to the DPRD in Sikka. "We have
reported to them in a letter," said Subarno. Separately, Servulus Isaak,
Head of the Catholic School of Philosophy (STFK) in Ledalero, said that the
situation in Flores is secure and it is best if the army or any other armed
force not force themselves to be stationed in Flores. Each IDP, including
those from the military, who enter Sikka District, said Servulus, must
position themselves as guests. "If they are guests, each refugee must be
polite. If members of the armed forces, each weapon they bring must be
confiscated. And there is a strong reason for this, because those who come
are not special troops preparing for war."
MAUMERE - District govt. in Sikka, since Friday, 24 Sept., has opened a
special bank account to collect funds for humanitarian relief for IDPs from
E. Timor. The govt. has already stored 10 million rupiah from its district
budget in this account. The first stage of distribution has been for IDPs
in sub-districts Kewapante and Waigete. As of Sat., 25 Sept., there were
864 IDPs in Sikka District.
SEMARANG - Secretary General of the Judicial Dept., Soeyeti Wardhanto, said
the govt. will give amnesty to all political prisoners from E. Timor who
are still being held in Indonesian prisons. The data has been completed and
the amnesty will be caried out soon.

SURYA TIMOR, 29 Sept. 1999
In an interview with Malaysian reporter in Kupang, Eurico Guteres said that
his pro-autonomy militia total 16 forces and they are ready to fight, but
before that they will first put forward a peace packet to split E. Timor -
Dili, Ermera, Ainaro, Kovalima, Liquisa, Bobonaro, Manatuto and Ailiu will
be pro-autonomy, the rest pro-independence. If this packet is rejected it
means they really want to go to war with PPI.
ATAMBUA - According to Tavares, PPI leader, PPI troops along the border
began to consolidate their strength on Tuesday to attack Interfet -
Falintil, because Interfet has already sided with pro-independence. General
Tavares, accompanied by a number of PPI commanders (Eurico Guteres, Joanico
Cesario, Olivio Moruk) spoke before thousands of PPI gathered in a city on
the border. Aitarak leader, Guteres says that after receiving instructions
from battalion commanders and consolidating their forces, all PPI members
in NTT and other areas outside E. Timor will immediately open guerilla
bases in various E. Timor regions. He also said that PPI members had a
responsibility to attract the sympathy of society to support the struggle
to defend integration. If a PPI member is discovered to intimidate people,
he will be dealt with severely. He also threatened infiltrators saying they
would be handed over to security personnel.
KUPANG - As many as 1549 of 2549 IDPs in the Kelapa Lima, Oesapa, and Pasir
Panjang areas of Kupang as of Tues., 28 Sept., had not received rice and
money for food supplements. Delays in aid distribution are felt to reflect
a lack of coordination between agencies at the provincial level with
workers in the field.
KUPANG - 5 residents of Oesao suffered serious injuries as the result of an
attack on Sunday, 26 Sept., by men who completely destroyed two houses.
Luther Lalang, still unconscious at the Kupang General Hospital, received 8
stitches on his head. 4 others have received care at the Health Clinic in
Oesao. The perpetrators were seeking revenge for a friend who had been hit
by Junaedi Teti. But Junaedi had disappeared. About 23.00 Sun., using 2
Hino trucks, the perpetrators were headed to Oesao looking for Junaedi.
When they saw several youth sitting (having just returned home from vocal
group practice) they attacked them. "Even more sadistically, they were hit
by rifle butts and chains carried by the perpetrators," said one of the
youth who escaped.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM LOCAL NTT NEWSPAPERS, 29 SEPT 1999

More from SURYA TIMOR, 29 Sept. 1999
KEFA - North Central Timor (TTU) Social Dept. has received 268,185 million
rupiah from the Minister of Social Affairs. This is not enough to serve all
of the 30,800 IDPs now in TTU, but other aid is to follow according to
Raimundus Ralo, head of TTU Social Dept.
KEFA - Drought, which results in a lack of clean water, is beginning to
threaten thousands of IDPs in TTU, especially in difficult to reach areas -
Wini, Aplal, Haumene Ana, Napan, and Sainoni. International NGOs that have
offered to help make available clean water are Care International, Medicins
Sans Frontiers, and German Agro Action. The Association of Medical Doctors
of Asia (Japan) is another NGO helping in TTU. It provides free medicine to
IDPs and performs large operations, such as operating on those with bullet
wounds.
ATAMBUA - When Belu police tried to apprehend a husband who hit his wife
during a quarrel, the man, who had locked himself in a room, told them to
leave or he would call Aitarak. He issued the same threat to the owner of
the house where he, his wife and their 2 week old child have been staying
so that the home owner and his family left.
ATAMBUA - 151 IDPs from Liquisa staying at a grade school in Fatukmetan,
Tasifeto sub-district have received neither rice or money for food
supplements for almost 1 months (since 1 Sept.); what they've received are
tarps and cooking utensils. To survive they have been begging for bananas
and cassava from local residents. Petrus Muti, Head of Kenebibi Village,
says these IDPs arrived only 2 weeks ago and that those who arrived prior
to 1 Sept. have been receiving food aid. "If they say they arrived a month
ago, they're just lying in an effort to accelerate the aid to them."
ATAMBUA - The Party Struggling for Indonesian Democracy (PDIP) has given
537.3 tons of aid (rice, cooking stoves, cooking oil, and dried noodles)
especially for IDPs in Atambua. The aid has arrived at Atapupu harbor and
will be distributed via PDIP Belu. Concerning a shortage of transport for
aid distribution, Head of Belu PDIP says they hope to use vehicles owned by
IDPs. Head of the Belu coordinating body for handling IDPs, Izak Ratu
Radja, hopes that the PDIP officials will coordinate with the main
coordinating body in distributing this aid so that the govt. will know and
can keep track of what aid has already been received by IDPs.
BAJAWA - The people of Ngada District (Flores) reject the plan to move
KOREM 164 Wiradharma Dili to Ngada District capital, Mbay. This was
apparent in an effort to popularize the plan in a meeting on Tues., 28
Sept. at which the Bupati, Head of Kodim, Head of Ngada Police, temporary
heads of legislative body (DPRD Ngada), religious, social, and govt.
leaders, social political organizations and NGOs. The overwhelming
sentiment was that Flores is already secure and that a top-down forced
presence of the armed forces will make the people nervous (TNI presence in
Mbay has been linked to beatings and rapes). The presence of KOREM is
rejected unless it comes as an IDP. The people pressed the DPRD to issue a
statement rejecting the move. Head of Kodim, Lt. Col. Ali Riyadi, said,
"Don't associate the move of Korem to Mbay with the behavior of particular
members of the armed forces. That's not fair."
BAJAWA - Members of DPRD II in Ngada consider the plan to move Korem 164
Wiradharma Dili to Mbay a great insult because institutionally they should
have been officially informed. They were not told or informed of the plan
ahead of time. They made their protest to Kodim Head, Lt. Col. Inf. Ali
Riyadi at the public meeting to discuss the plan on Tuesday, 28 Sept. They
also feel sidestepped because Korem already carried out a survey for a
location without the knowledge of DPRD II. Riyadi denied the armed forces
had insulted the DPRD, saying the site that had been surveyed by TNI
personnel was for an army transmigration site, not a site for Korem.
KUPANG - Wisnu Suhardono, Head of the Business and Industry Association
(KADIN), warned the NTT govt. not to make reckless decisions on its own
with international business because it could lead to an even more difficult
economic situation. Sec. General Sutjipto Umar says there are currently
three big economic problems being faced right now: IMF's postponement of
aid, the negative impact of the E. Timor conflict on foreign investment,
and the devaluation of the rupiah. Kadin (central office) was in Kupang to
give 100 million rupiah of aid for IDPs to the regional govt.

POS KUPANG, Thursday, 30 Sept. 1999
Front Page photo shows the back of a small pick-up full of human bones and
skulls with an Australian soldier taking video footage of it with a
camcorder. The caption reads: Human skulls - Two E. Timorese on Wed. (29
Sept.) discovered an open truck filled with at least 10 human skulls in
Tasitolu, W. Dili. The skulls are thought to be victims of harsh violence
after the announcement of the referendum results last 4 September. An
Australian member of the Interfet forces preserves the discovery with a
video camera.
OEKUSI - Conditions in Oekusi, the capital of Ambeno [E. Timor enclave in
W. Timor], are cause for concern. Since it was razed on 19 Sept. there is
no one living there. Reporters and a man from Ambeno visited the city on
Wed., 29 Sept. and discovered only three members of the mobile brigade
(brimob) police. Two weeks ago some residents were still there, although
the situation was chaotic. Last week they began to leave in great numbers.
Only about 2-3 buildings remain in good condition - the bupati's office,
the Oekusi church and a Catholic sisters' complex. A portion of the
military command post has been broken off. Pos Kupang did not see any
Interfet troops there. The house of Carlos Pareira, security coordinator
for the pro-integration forces (PPI), which was rented by UNAMET when it
was in Oekusi to facilitate the referendum, had been left by the UNAMET
officers. However, in one room were hundreds of photocopies of Rp. 10.000,-
and Rp. 50.000,- The strong hunch is that local UNAMET staff divided the
photocopied money among local residents during the referendum.
Pos Kupang has obtained information indicating that both pro-independence
and pro-integration supporters have fled to NTT and a portion have hidden
in the forests of Ambeno. Kutet Hill that was thought to hide about 1000
pro-independence militia, the majority of whom were young boys, was burned
on Wed. (29 Sept.). According to PPI security coordinator Pareira,
pro-integration militia will defend Ambeno as a part of Indonesia, because
90% of Ambeno residents chose autonomy in the 30 Aug. referendum. "We will
lobby Interfet...but if they hold on, Interfet will have to face
pro-integration." He also strongly denied rumors that the militia have TNI
backing.
Armed Forces Major General Adam Damiri, accompanied by Kupang Korem
Commander, Kol. Art Jurefar, on a trip to Kefa, called for IDPs to return
to their home in E. Timor.
KUPANG - On Wed., 29 Sept., in a visit to the temporary housing for members
of Military Command Resort (Korem) 164/Wira Dharma and its troops in Kompi
A Yonif 743/Psy Naibonat and Tuapukan Village (E. Kupang sub-district),
Armed Forces Major General Adam Damiri called on TNI forces not to behave
strangely / in such a way as to make the people of NTT restless. He asked
soldiers to create a situation of peace and calm as an expression of thanks
to the people of NTT who, with patience and family enthusiasm, have
received the soldiers and their families. Mrs. Damiri gave humanitarian aid
in the form of 7000 packets of basic needs that will be prioritized for
members of Korem 164 who are in IDP locations. She also expressed her
concern for the soldiers and their families and asked them to remain
resolute in this time of trial.
Several IDPs approached during the past few days have expressed different
desires - some want to return home to E. Timor, some want to remain in
Indonesia by joining the transmigration program. Several people at the
Oepoi site expressed the desire to return to their homeland; even if there
is nothing there they want to return to their kebuns. Miko (47), a man
staying in Naibonat says he is still experiencing trauma and can't yet make
a decision about whether to accept or reject the transmigration offer,
"Concerning the transmigration program, for us it is also good, only the
feeling of love for E. Timor still sticks so that whatever else if the
situation improves and is safe, my family will return to build our life
that has already been ruined," he said. He doesn't expect Indonesia to help
with the rebuilding of facilities in E. Timor, only other countries.
Concerning the possibility of E. Timor being divided into two sections,
Miko thinks it will muddy the situation and that it is best if the
pro-independence and pro-integration sides can sit together to try and seek
a solution. Others said they are ready to follow the transmigration
program, some with the condition that the transmigration be within NTT.
Others don't accept independence at all and can only cry for the land and
belongings that were left.
KUPANG - NTT Dept. of Public Works has budgeted about 90 billion rupiah
this year to build several facilities in four new locations for
transmigrants in NTT. The locations will be settled by E. Timor IDPs and
NTT residents, primarily farming and fishing families, in the areas around
the new locations. The sites include 3,600 households in Sulamu (Kupang
District), 4000 households in Belu District, 6000 households in TTU and 800
in TTS. When asked about the source of funding for these sites, head of NTT
Public Works, RTS Harjono, confessed that he didn't yet know, but that it
clearly came from the central govt. The funds are for plotting new rice
fields, building access roads, improving existing roads, building of
bridges and general facilities and to make available clean water. A survey
team is being sent to the four sites with building to beginning at the
beginning of Oct. and to be finished by the end of Nov. 1999. The
proportion of IDPs to locals will be the responsibility of district govts.
in each location. The same goes for compensation for land that is used. The
transmigration program has no funds budgeted for such compensation; so land
matters must also be handled by the district govts. in each spot.
Transmigration Minister, Hendro Priyono, says that about 58% of the
230.000, E. Timorese IDPs in NTT and the surrounding area say they want to
transmigrate in Indoensia. The rest will return to E. Timor once it is safe
to do so. Speaking in Jakarta prior to a limited cabinet meeting on Wed.,
29 Sept., he said the figure of 58% comes from a survey and brief
interviews with IDPs concerning the plan to build shelters for IDPs in NTT.
Although IDPs may change their mind, the survey results will form the model
for preparing the transmigration field for E. Timorese IDPs. According to
Hendro, it is not enough for Indoensia to only prepare NTT to resettle
IDPs, other regions of Indoensia also need to be prepared. The
transmigration program for E. Timorese IDPs has been opened on almost every
island in NTT - W. Timor, Sumba, Flores, and Alor as well as islands in
Maluku.
ENDE - In a letter addressed to the DPRD Heads in Ngada, Ende, and Sikka,
dated 27 Sept. 1999, the Section on Justice and Peace of the Ende
Archdiocese said that the presence of Korem in Flores in general and in the
Districts of Ngada, Ende and Sikka in particular, in the near future
without deep and broad research is unwise and is not yet needed. The
practice of violence, intimidation, and forcing one's will, wrote Father
Vincent Sensi and Father Rofinus Neto Wuli, really only reflects distrust
of one with another, confusion and fear. All of it gives rise to
unproductive tension that hinders the process of the nation's development
and increase in the quality of life. Therefore, the Section on Justice and
Peace is of the opinion that:
1) security and order are in the hands of the people, supported by the
govt. (TNI);
2) as it is certain that TNI is from, by and for the people, they need and
affirm each other; the one can't ignore the other. The two are in a
diagonal relationship who continually work as colleagues in the same struggle;
3) for the sake of mutual trust, working together and feelings of
brotherhood between the people and TNI, thus the move of Korem Dili to
Flores must be discussed first with various parties, most importantly with
the people of Flores. Dialogue together will be very beneficial for both
sides to distance prejudice and suspicion and give birth to mutual
understanding and respect;
4) security and order are multidimensional and deal with social, cultural,
economic, political and religious aspects. To stress just one aspect while
ignoring other aspects will give birth to narrow fanaticism and arrogance.
Therefore, sensitivity to the people's ideals concerning security need to
be conscientiously observed.
Differences in opinion about the plan to move Korem require time to talk
through in order to avoid a top down approach.
Prior to this letter, 74 priests of the Larantuka, E. Flores diocese also
rejected the plan to move the Dili Korem to Flores.
ATAMBUA - An article on how increase in electricity demands are being met.
SO'E (cf. ST article from yesterday, 29 Sept.) - As a result of lobbying by
TTS Bupati Willem Nope and the Head of Regional Development Planning Board,
Sonny Tjung who visited Germany last month, the German government is giving
40 million rupiah to the TTS government for the development of clean water.
 Nope hopes the money will be used for its stated purpose and that
practices of collusion, corruption and nepotism (KKN) will be avoided. He
said the German govt. has the impression that the central govt.
irresponsible when it comes to projects receiving foreign aid, and labels
the central govt. as "corruption king." So the aid is being given directly
to regional govt. and not via the national development planning body as has
been the practice until now. The German govt. is sending a team in March
2000 to see what physical preparations have been made for this project.
LABUANBAJO - IDPs in transit in Labuanbaju, usually for about 10 days, who
are headed for NTB, Bali, Java and Sumatera feel neglected by the regional
govt. of Manggarai because they do not receive help with accomodations or
food. They also complain of the tariff they must pay when leaving Kupang by
sea - Rp. 220.000,-/vehicle - even if they have a letter saying they are
IDPs. There is no coordinating body for relief aid in Labuanbajo, and IDPs
must sleep in hotels or homes of residents. IDPs leaving by ferry do not
need to pay.

SURYA TIMOR, 30 September 1999
ATAMBUA - According to Atambua Bishop Anton Pain Ratu, a delegate from the
Vatican, Mgr. Renzo Fratini, will visit IDPs in Atambua sometime in the
next few weeks. The planned visit has been communicated to NTT Gov. Tallo
who said this will give the vatican an opportunity to see directly the
plight of IDPs in NTT.
KUPANG - An IDP staying at the GOR/Oepoi site in Kupang, whose wife says is
a vegetable farmer and goat herder, was kidnapped by unknown parties using
two police vehicles with DF (Dili) license plates (one was DF 1617 L), on
Tuesday, 28 Sept. According to the man's younger brother, two unknown men
took the victim outside, but it wasn't until they reached the gate that the
younger brother sensed something might be amiss. He ran to catch them, but
they had already disappeared in a car. It is suspected that the kidnappers
are pro-integration E. Timorese and, according to a police official, have
been caught and the victim is being safely held by a responsible party.
There is a security problem at the Oepoi that is guarded by only 15 E.
Timorese youth and 3 soldiers from the military command resort (korem); no
police help protect IDPs. Some complain they don't feel safe.
OEKUSI - On Tuesday, 28 Sept., Sakunar militia, led by operational
commander, Lorentino Soarez, were forced to take a shortcut, attacking CNRT
headquarters in Kuatet Village, about 28 km. east of Oekusi, Ambenu. On 24
Sept. Sakunar met with CNRT leaders, Jhon Ote and J. Tabes on top of Kuatet
mountain and asked they come off the mountain and surrender, but they
refused saying they would only come down once Interfet troops arrived. When
Sakunar attacked about 350 homes of pro-independence residents were burned,
their inhabitants (women and children) having long since fled. About 1,300
CNRT members hid with Pastor Dasbak (from the US) on Mt. Kuatet, but the
pastor finally fled to Manamas TTU. Concerning CNRT remaining on the
mountain, a pro-integration fighter has said they will be pressured to
surrender and leave the mountain so that all who remain are those faithful
to Red White. Rumors have it that CNRT militia are ready to oppose the
attack with thousands of homemade fire arms.
On Wed., 29 Sept. during a visit to Kefa, Major General Adam Damiri asks
PPI fighters not to repeat actions that will make the people restless.
Damiri denied any relation between Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and
pro-integration fighters (PPI). Damiri also denied there was a strategy to
make TTU the basis in NTT for PPI opposition. Whether they be militia or
PPI, if they are in NTT they are refugees and must behave as such.
KUPANG - On Wed., 29 Sept., Head of NTT police, Col. Sudrajat, stressed
that he had already placed personnel at each IDP site. When asked about the
recent kidnapping at Oepoi he said, "If so, I will check."
DILI - Agus Muliawan, a Balinese correspondent with Asia Press, Japan, and
eight others were killed on 19 Sept. when the car he and a pastor, 2
assistants to the pastor, 2 sisters, and 3 others, were taking from Baucau
to Lospalos was peppered with gunfire. According to eye witness Falintil
fighters, the shooting came from TNI members. After the last group of
journalists left Baucau on 11 Sept., Agus was the only journalist still in
E. Timor. On 13 Sept. he contacted Rosa Damayanti in Jakarta by satellite
phone saying he was well and was still in Uaimori. He was planning to leave
the mountains to cover the situation of IDPs. Agus' parents are asking that
his body be returned home to Bali.
DILI - Again, a pastor, two nuns, and four cathecists (Catholic religion
teachers) were murdered in a Dili church on Sunday, 25 Sept., prior to the
withdrawal of TNI forces. According to an official report to the Catholic
church in Jakarta, at least 50 priests and nuns have been killed in E.
Timor. Last week, as reported by Portuguese radio television, 5 pastors
were killed by unknown killers. Also 6 corpses in two different graves have
been found by UN troops. According to David Wimhurst, A UNAMET spokesperson