---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- The Straits Times, 12 Oct 1999 U.N. Timor Force Accused of Seeking War JAKARTA, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Anti-independence East Timorese on Tuesday accused a U.N.-mandated multinational force in the wrecked territory of seeking a war with Indonesian forces. Basilio Araujo, a spokesman for pro-Jakarta groups from East Timor, told Reuters Television that the Australian-led INTERFET force had found there was no war in East Timor and was disappointed. "Now what we are witnessing on ground is that they're trying to fight a real war, and that's why now they're trying to create a new war by provoking the reaction of Indonesia," Araujo said in an interview. On Sunday INTERFET clashed with Jakarta's security forces near the border on the main road linking the two halves of Timor island. An Indonesian policeman was killed in the exchange and two more were wounded. Araujo said the exchange showed that INTERFET soldiers were unprofessional and "reckless". The clash was partly caused by confusion over the precise location of the border. The two sides were using different maps, which showed the border in different places. Jakarta has accused INTERFET of straying into West Timor, where Indonesian sovereignty is internationally recognised. The force insists its troops were still in East Timor, and has accused Indonesian forces of collaborating with anti-independence militia in the exchange. Major General Peter Cosgrove, its Australian commander, has also said the Indonesians acknowledged they themselves were in East Timor. The mandate of the U.N. force only extends to the border. "I think we leave it now to the Indonesian government, because the border that was crossed was part of Indonesian territory and now it is up to the Indonesian government to decide whether they're taking action or not," Araujo said. He added that East Timor did not only belong to East Timorese, but to all Indonesians and demanded they also be allowed to decide whether it should separate. Indonesia's top legislature is to vote on the issue in the next few weeks and a committee is working on a draft of the motion. Araujo was speaking at the parliament building, where anti- independence figures are lobbying lawmakers not to repeal the 1976 annexation of the former Portuguese colony. Araujo called for an Indonesia-wide referendum on whether to allow the territory to separate. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 14 Oct 1999 jam 10:11:34 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
