---------------------------------------------------------- FREE Subscribe/UNsubscribe Indonesia Daily News Online go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Free Email @KotakPos.com visit: http://my.kotakpos.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------- The Indonesian Observer, 20th April 2000 Government Deplores Espionage by Australian Spy JAKARTA (IO) - The Foreign Affairs Ministry has condemned an act of espionage in which an Australian soldier paid A$20 (US$12) to an East Timorese man to collect information about suspected militia bases near the border between East and West Timor, in breach of UN guidelines. A press release from the ministry yesterday said the East Timorese man, Paul Tallo Alberto, was arrested by Indonesian security forces on April 6. During interrogation, he admitted he was recruited by the Australian national, believed to hold the rank of sergeant in the UN peacekeeping force based in Maliana, East Timor. "The Indonesian government deeply deplores the recurrence of the espionage activities involving Australian nationals, which only serves to impede the normalization of relations between Australia and Indonesia," said the release. UN officials have apologized to the Indonesian government, while head of the UN Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET), Lieutenant General Jaime de los Santos, has asked that the soldier be sent back to Australia. The Australian Defense Department yesterday an inquiry would be held into the incident to determine if the soldier would be punished on his return. The soldier's initiative would have been allowed under the UN rules governing the initial multi-national force led by Australia, but not under UNTAET's mandate. "We are accepting that activity was misguided and reflected an error of judgment on the part of the ADF [Australian Defence Force] member involved," a spokesman for the force said. He said steps were being taken to improve transparency and accountability throughout the chain of command in East Timor to ensure there is no possibility of such an unauthorized incident occurring again. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 24 Apr 2000 jam 10:49:25 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
