Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 19:32:50 -0700 From: Sam Pawlett <rsp at uniserve.com>
ASIET News Updates - July 21, 1999 ==================================
* Top generals laugh off report of deal with Megawati * Indonesia is preparing for massive post-ballot slaughter * Indonesia expects Timor poll loss, plans evacuations * Martial law may be called in Aceh, Irian: Minister
-------------------------------------------------------------
Top generals laugh off report of deal with Megawati ===================================================
Straits Times - July 20 1999
Susan Sim, Jakarta -- Indonesia's top generals are laughing off a report in an international magazine which alleged that they had cut a deal to support opposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri for the presidency.
Business Week, a New York-based magazine, had reported in its latest issue that at a "commanders call" early this month, military chief General Wiranto had obtained the support of certain top generals to put together a coalition government that would be led by Ms Megawati as President and himself as "the truly powerful Vice-President".
Of the incumbent's fate under this deal, the magazine said: "He's out at the end of his term. Wiranto, according to the sources, even secured the blessing of ex-President Suharto."
Asked about the report, TNI spokesman Brigadier-General Sudrajat told The Straits Times: "It is false ... misleading, baseless. We haven't discussed it internally, but at coffee this morning, everybody was just laughing at it."
The facts, he said, were wrong. The only "commanders call" -- which involves all regional commanders and chiefs of the various departments and units -- held recently was in early June, when Gen Wiranto reviewed security preparations for the election and issued reminders to his subordinates to remain politically neutral but stay alert to any sign of trouble.
The military chief, he said, did chair weekly routine meetings involving many of his generals, but the presidential contest had never been on the agenda.
"In fact, he's told us several times that if any of us were ever asked by whoever what his stand was regarding his nomination by certain groups to be President, we were to say that he was not paying any attention to it, but concentrating on his job of promoting peace and stability," he said, adding:
"That doesn't mean he has no interest in the presidency, only that he is not paying any attention to it now because the publicity will destroy his concentration on security matters."
Two sources in regular contact with Gen Wiranto said that whatever his inclinations, a key consideration would be President Habibie's reaction.
"He has to be very careful in dealing with Habibie, because Habibie can sack him," said one source. "If he has decided to back Megawati, you can be sure the Islamic groups would have heard of it by now and ... pressing for his removal."
Indonesia is preparing for massive post-ballot slaughter ========================================================
CNRT press release - July 20, 1999
Sydney -- Indonesia is preparing for a massive post-ballot slaughter in East Timor -- exacting retribution in blood on East Timorese for refusing to bow to the reign of terror and vote for the integration of their country into Indonesia.
The Head of CNRT (National Council for Timorese Resistance) in Australia, Joco Carrascalco, said today this is the real meaning of leaked Indonesian plans for the hurried evacuation of its public servants and "transmigrasi" from East Timor when East Timorese vote against integration in the UN-supervised ballot.
"We had news of this about two months ago. We distributed it at the time, but apart from the media in Portugal, the world took no notice.
"The important thing is that our people have seen both halves of the plan. The evacuation is the first half. The second half is that having cleared Indonesian civilians out of the way, the Indonesian army and its militia thugs plan to go on the rampage.
"They are planning a massacre of such magnitude that the killings of the past few months -- in which they have killed hundreds, perhaps thousands of East Timorese -- will look, like a mere beginning.
"We have warned before and will warn again now -- Indonesia has cached huge stocks of weapons within East Timor. Their reinforced army will be on full combat alert within minutes of the border.
They have put hundreds of Kopassus and army officers and men into East Timor posing as civilians and police. They have taken direct control of the militias on the ground. They are actively training their few supporters to kill and preparing them to bring out their hidden arms and start shooting immediately Indonesia gives the order after the ballot."
Mr Carrascalco said the Indonesian claim that they were concerned about East Timorese revenge against Indonesian nationals was "complete rubbish; the usual Indonesian disinformation".
"They massacre independence supporters and try to blame the pro- independence groups for that. They plan a massacre, so they point the finger at the peaceful East Timorese again. It is the Indonesian way."
Indonesia expects Timor poll loss, plans evacuations ====================================================
Australian Associated Presse - July 19, 1999
Dili -- A confidential Indonesian government report predicts social chaos in East Timor as Indonesians flee following an expected vote in favour of independence in August.
The report called for the immediate drawing up of a contingency plan to evacuate Indonesian public servants and migrants to a neighbouring province before the result of the United Nations- organised ballot was announced. It recommended that vital facilities should be destroyed as Indonesians quit East Timor.
East Timorese are due to vote on August 21 or 22 for either independence or limited self-rule under Jakarta. The leadup to the ballot has been marred by violence by anti-independence militia.
The confidential document leaked in Dili, dated July 3 and signed by a senior government internal affairs official, appeared to concede that East Timorese would reject autonomy under continued rule by Jakarta and vote for full independence.
It listed problems facing the pro-autonomy camp, blaming both pro-independence East Timorese staff employed by the UN and the slowness of Indonesia's response to the needs of poor Timorese as contributing to the expected rejection of "special autonomy".
"Our former enthusiastic optimism has turned to doubt," stated the report, signed by H.R. Ganardi, the special assistant to the Indonesian government's coordinating minister of internal political affairs. "It would not be wrong to predict the worst- case scenario -- that special autonomy will be rejected."
The report predicted a period of social chaos in East Timor as the economy was paralysed because Indonesian business people had fled to neighbouring West Timor.
Pro-independence supporters had already listed the assets they were going to seize when the Indonesians left but were "currently not yet capable of running a society or even keeping a hospital running", the five-page document said.
Australia, the UN Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), and the Catholic church would control East Timorese society after the flight of Indonesian public servants and business people.
"At the best, aspects of society will be controlled by the church, while UNAMET and Australia and their volunteers will control the rest," the report said.
Recommendations passed on to Indonesian Interior Minister Feisal Tanjung included that an immediate plan be made to evacuate all Indonesian public servants and migrants to West Timor before the announcement of the ballot result.
The report recommended Indonesian armed forces be put on alert and prepared for action near the evacuation areas, and that West Timor be made ready to receive huge numbers of refugees.
It also called for the planning and securing of evacuation routes and the destruction of facilities and other vital objects as the Indonesians pulled out.
The report claimed pro-independence forces have in the past month received airdrops of weapons which were not likely to be surrendered. It said the likelihood was high that pro- independence guerrillas would fight on after the ballot as they tried to secure their interests.
At the same time as planning a withdrawal from East Timor, the document recommended that full support of pro-Indonesian forces must continue. "The government's commitment must be confirmed through empowering the pro-integration forces," it stated.
It added that these elements placed great hope in an injection of strength from the Indonesian government to conduct an "Operation of Sympathy" -- a term most observers here interpret as a renewed campaign of the violence by pro-Jakarta militia that has plagued the colony since last November.
The UNAMET mission in East Timor is understood to be in possession of the leaked document and is currently analysing its contents.
Martial law may be called in Aceh, Irian: Minister ==================================================
Jakarta Post - July 20, 1999
Jakarta -- Separatist movements which have simmered in Aceh and Irian Jaya for years could force the government to declare martial law in the two provinces, a minister said on Monday.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung, speaking for Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Wiranto, who is in Singapore to receive a medal, told a plenary session of the House of Representatives that martial law could be enacted in the two provinces if rebel groups intensified their activities in the areas.
"There have been a series of killings, abductions, shootings at security personnel and civilians and attacks on schools and government buildings committed by the Free Aceh Movement and the Free Papua Organization.
"A state under such a situation is unsafe and could even be endangered," Feisal told the House as he submitted bills on internal security and the paramilitary.
The internal security bill would allow the president to enforce martial law in parts of the country hit by rebellions and attempts to break away from the republic.
The natural-resource rich provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya have seen a rise in violence over the past year. Aceh appears the more volatile of the two, with over 100 security personnel and civilians killed between May and early July.
Apart from the two provinces, Indonesia has battled separatist rebels and coup attempts across the nation since it declared independence in 1945.
The bill would also allow the president to declare a state of emergency in areas hit by communal clashes sparked by religious, racial or ethnic conflicts.
Ethnic and religious riots have rocked the country over the past two years, claiming more than 500 lives. Attempts to restore order following sporadic religious clashes in Maluku are still underway.
The internal security and paramilitary bills were submitted to the House to replace the 1959 state of emergency law and the 1960 government regulation on procedures for requesting military assistance, Feisal said.
According to the internal security bill, the president must consult the National Defense and Security Council and the newly established Council for the Enactment of Security and Law to declare a state of emergency. The president chairs both institutions.
In times of peace, the president can enact the internal security law if the National Police and other security forces are considered unable to cope with situations which cause local government, business and social institutions to malfunction, according to the bills.
The bill also states that if the country is at war, the government can declare martial law if faced with separatist movements which adversely affect public order and security. A state of war and siege will be declared during a war with a foreign nation in order to maintain the state's sovereignty and national unity.
Discussing the paramilitary bill, Feisal said the civilian militia had proven a reliable force in defending the republic's sovereignty and maintaining national security.
Article 30 of the 1945 Constitution says that each citizen has the right and responsibility to defend the state. Feisal said a trained civilian militia could serve as reinforcement for the Indonesian Military and National Police.
Only citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 are eligible to join the militia. Recruitment of the civilian militia would be conducted by the Ministry of Defense and Security in cooperation with state institutions where the recruits are employed.
********************************************************** Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) PO Box 458, Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Phone: 61-(0)2-96901230 Fax : 61-(0)2-96901381 Email: asiet at peg.apc.org WWW : http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet/ Free Xanana Gusmao and Budiman Sujatmiko! Free all political prisoners in Indonesia and East Timor! **********************************************************