| Subject: KMP: Indon to take back national assets if
E Timor becomes independent Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 09:12:07 -0500 From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org> Received from Joyo: BBC Summary of World Broadcasts March 20, 1999, Saturday Source: 'Kompas', Jakarta, in Indonesian 19 Mar 99 Indonesia to take back national assets if East Timor becomes independent Dili: If the July 1999 poll finds that the community of East Timor wants separation from Indonesia, then national assets would have to be taken back. It was another matter altogether if the Indonesian government wanted to make a gift of them to the new East Timorese government. "To date no instructions have been received from the central government concerning Indonesian assets in the region, such as official cars, banks, post offices, telecommunications and power facilities. But according to logic and existing guidelines, all government-owned investments must be withdrawn. If, later on, the Indonesian government thinks it wants to help the East Timorese community, then OK," said the East Timor provincial secretary, Radjakarina Brahmana, at his offices in Dili on Wednesday (17th March). But, he added, this must all accord with international procedure. The extent of Indonesian assets in East Timor would be calculated and forwarded to the United Nations for deliberation. On the issue of transmigrant housing, should the political status of East Timor change to that of an independent nation, the transmigrant owners would retain ownership of the houses. This general stipulation prevented certain elements of the community from suddenly occupying houses and claiming them as their own. For that reason, to protect the assets of the owners, every home owner was required to submit a certificate of title. At a given time the certificate could be used as proof of ownership if the owner wished to return to East Timor. On another issue, the regional secretary denied claims of famine in East Timor. Bureau of Logistics rice stocks still totalled 8,000 tons. Traders and retailers, most of whom were transmigrants, had fled East Timor, but there was sufficient rice. Even so, any provision of aid would be appreciated. The Portuguese government envoy, Ana Gomes, raised the issue of famine with the press. A two-member Canadian embassy visit to East Timor is under way to determine the veracity of the claims. The commander of 164 Military Provincial Command, Col Tono Suratman, said that he would deal with the shadow government formed by a group opposed to the government in East Timor. The group was in violation of tripartite agreements and had forced the community to accede to their wishes. Villages in Dili have been intimidated and terrorized by a certain group to force villagers to join the group's political struggle, said Suratman after a provincial government leaders' meeting in Dili. Back to March Menu |