---------------------------------------------------------- Live and work in the USA legally: Register for the GREEN CARD LOTTERY! Visit http://www.us-immigration.org -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Indonesia Daily News Online http://www.indo-news.com/ Free Email @KotakPos.com visit: http://my.kotakpos.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------- Antara, 25 September 2000 RI TO ASK FOR US CLARIFICATION ON ITS MARINES IN E TIMOR Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, Sept 25 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will immediately ask US President Bill Clinton to clarify the sending of American marines to the border area shared by East Timor and Indonesia`s East Nusa Tenggara province (NTT). "We need the US government`s sincerity to report the sending of marines mission to minimize the doubts and recklessness of the people living near the border," Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the press here on Sunday. He said that the presence of around 600 US marines has caused dismay on the part of Indonesians living in the border area, as the US had never informed Indonesia transparently of the task of the marines in the border area. "I have asked about this matter to Sergio Vieira de Mello, Chief of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and CNRT leader Xanana Gusmao, but the two also said that the marines only carry out a humanitarian mission," he said. Bambang also called on the Indonesian people not to worry about the presence of the US marines in the border area, as there was no official notification from the US government on their presence. "Therefore, we deem it necessary to ask for US clarification on the sending of the mission in an attempt to minimize the local people`s worry" he said. In the meantime, Udayana Regional Military Commander Maj Gen Kiki Syahnakri also felt that the US marines brought at least a special mission which should be suspected. Because it`s not necessary to send armed marines in such a big number if they are there for merely humanitarian purposes. The presence of US marines followed that country`s threat to impose an economic embargo on Indonesia as expressed by US Defence Secretary William Cohen sometime ago in Jakarta if Indonesia failed to comply with UN resolution No 1319. The resolution requires Indonesia to disband and disarm pro- integration East Timorese militia allegedly blamed for the killing of three UN relief workers. (U. KPG03/KPG01/RSI-03/22:15/B/ING/00:02/NN01) 2509000026 NNNN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 26 Sep 2000 jam 07:23:36 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
