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Antara, 20 September 2000

US EMBARGO THREAT EXAGGERATED, SAYS AUSSIE SCHOLAR

Yogyakarta, Sept 20(ANTARA) - The US threat to impose an embargo
on Indonesia if the latter fails to settle the Atambua incident
in the way specified by US Defence Secretary William Cohen is
exaggerated, an Australian observer said here.

Prof Harold Crouch, a noted Indonesianist with the Australian
National University, said ,"The embargo threat is exaggerated.
If it applies only to military matters, it might be acceptable
but if it also encompasses food , it will ruin the Indonesian
economy in the long run," he said.

He said Washington seemed to be very upset by what had happened
in Atambua and might want to stop providing aid to Indonesia for
fear that the assistance would be used to support the militia.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of a political seminar
here Tuesday, Crouch said this condition reflected real
international political relationships.

About the US demand that Jakarta disarm the pro-integration
group, Crouch said it would be difficult for the Indonesian
government to carry out.

"I think this demand is also exaggerated because it is difficult
to disarm the militia. Both Indonesian military and police would
meet with difficulties if they wanted to do that," he said.

The difficulties, he noted, were among other things caused by
the fact that it was hard to pick out the militia and that they
were armed. When an armed clash occurred at a refugee camp,
there would be many victims, including among refugees who were
not involved.

"I think, it will not be easy for either Indonesian military or
police to just go into the camps to disarm and arrest the
militias," he said.

During a one-day visit in Jakarta last Monday, Cohen strongly
urged Indonesia to disarm pro-Jakarta militias and thoroughly
resolve the Atambua issue or risk losing further economic
assistance.

"Failure to do so will have consequences for Jakarta`s relations
with the international community and could joepardize continued
economic assistance to Indonesia," he said in a press conference
at Halim Perdanakusuma airport before leaving Indonesia.

The United States cut off military-to-military ties with
Indonesia last year following a campaign of violence and terror
unleashed by pro-Indonesian militia groups with the alleged
support and approval of the Indonesian military following a UN-
administered ballot. (U.YKT04/NN06/IAJM-00:10/B/ri2)

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Didistribusikan tgl. 21 Sep 2000 jam 06:43:24 GMT+1
oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://www.Indo-News.com/
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