INDONESIA: THE INDONESIAN ARMY RECRUITS EAST TIMORESE TO TRAIN THEM AS A NEW CIVIL MILITIA AS NEGOTIATIONS ON AUTONOMY FOR EAST TIMOR GO ON

Record ID: 559171

  • Title: INDONESIA: THE INDONESIAN ARMY RECRUITS EAST TIMORESE TO TRAIN THEM AS A NEW CIVIL MILITIA AS NEGOTIATIONS ON AUTONOMY FOR EAST TIMOR GO ON
  • Date: 6th February 1999
  • Summary: DILI, EAST TIMOR (FEBRUARY 6, 1999) (REUTERS) 1. LV VOLUNTEERS LINED UP IN FRONT OF INDONESIAN MILITARY OFFICER 0.05 2. SV INDONESIAN MILITARY OFFICER GOING THROUGH LIST OF VOLUNTEERS 0.11 3. CU OF LIST 0.14 4. SLV/SV OF VOLUNTEERS MARCHING (4 SHOTS) 0.34 5. LV OF PARADE GROUND/ VOLUNTEERS LINED UP 0.39 6. SV OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF SELECTION PROCESS 0.44 7. SV/CU OFFICER ASKING QUESTIONS (4 SHOTS) 1.04 8. SV VOLUNTEERS BEING WEIGHED AND MEASURED 1.08 9. CU/SV OF SCALE/VOLUNTEER WEIGHTED 1.20 10. SV VOLUNTEERS SEATED ON GROUND, WAITING FOR THEIR TURN (2 SHOTS) 1.30 JAKARTA, INDONESIA (FEBRUARY 6, 1999)(REUTERS) 11. SLV EXTERIOR MILITARY HEADQUARTERS 1.35 12. LV/SV NEWS CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS) 1.44 13. SV/MCU INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF GENERAL WIRANTO SAYING: "Taking a stand on the government latest option. ABRI (the Armed Forces) thinks that if this is to be the best choice for Indonesia and the decision is reached through people's will, which is through MPR (People's Consultative Assembly), then it is clear that ABRI will defend the decision." (BAHASA) (2 SHOTS) 2.12 14. MCU JOURNALISTS LISTENING 2.17 15. MCU(Bahasa) WIRANTO SAYING: "The dynamic of an environment -- strategically, nationally or regionally -- always changes and that change must be responded to by Indonesia." 2.30 16. CU MEDIA/SV WIRANTO LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS) 2.42 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st February 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DILI, EAST TIMOR
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA9D080AP0T8DQ021P86GYFJYA5
  • Story Text: While top negotiators from Indonesia and Portugal are
    wrapping up talks on an autonomy package for troubled East
    Timor, the Indonesian army has recruited 1,000 East Timorese
    to train them as a new civil militia.The move comes amid
    fears of violence between groups loyal to Jakarta and those
    who want independence.

    And the head of Indonesia's powerful military has vowed to
    honour whatever decision is made on the future of East Timor.

    The Indonesian military said on Saturday (February 6)
    it would recruit 1,000 East Timorese and train them as a new
    civil militia, but said they would not be armed.

    They said this move was part of the policy by the
    central government to maintain security, not only for the
    general elections.

    Members of the militia will be paid about US$25 a month
    and are expected to start work in March.

    Deputy East Timor military commander Colonel Mudjiono
    said the new militia was part of Indonesia's plan to train
    40,000 people nationwide to help maintain peace in the lead-up
    to the June 7 national election.

    The military said the recruits will only be given clubs and handcuffs.

    Tensions in the former Portuguese colony heightened
    after Jakarta said last month that it may let the restive
    province go if East Timorese reject an offer of special
    autonomy giving them wide powers over their affairs.

    The move was an abrupt u-turn from Jakarta's firm
    refusal to even consider independence since it invaded the
    eastern half of Timor island 23 years ago in December, 1975.

    Human rights groups and aid workers say at least 50
    people have died in the past six months in clashes between
    anti-Jakarta groups and loyalists, Timorese who support
    Jakarta's rule.

    The rival groups have also accused each other of
    stockpiling arms, sparking fear of a return of civil war that
    followed Portugal's sudden withdrawal in 1975.

    A group of Indonesia loyalists are currently in Jakarta
    to ask government officials for guns to defend themselves from
    the pro-independence groups.

    East Timor's spiritual leader Bishop Carlos Belo on
    Thursday urged Indonesia to disarm loyalist paramilitary units
    and called for a time of healing for his bloodied homeland.

    The armed forces deny arming civilian loyalists, but say
    they have given guns to official paramilitary units helping
    the military.Such units include no pro-independence EastTimorese.

    Meanwhile, the head of Indonesia's powerful military has
    vowed to honour whatever decision is made on the future of
    troubled East Timor.

    General Wiranto told a news conference in Jakarta on
    Saturday that ABRI (the Armed Forces) will defend any decision
    by the People's Consultative Assembly on East Timor.
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