| Subject: The Australian: Disgraced
TNI troops quit Timor The
Australian 31 October 99
Disgraced TNI troops quit Timor
By SIMON PRISTEL in Dili
THEY left the same way they arrived in disgrace. The
Indonesian army tried to sneak out of Dili yesterday, refusing to face the East Timorese
whose lives they have done their best to destroy since invading 24 years ago.
Openly looting their barracks and homes they had taken by
force, the final remnants of the TNI force which once numbered 30,000 troops boarded
planes and ships.
Red and white Indonesian flags were lowered throughout the
capital as crowds gathered to send them off.
While the Indonesians requested the Australian-led Interfet
forces protect them from rock-throwing locals the Indonesian officer snubbed Interfet's
frequent requests for information on their withdrawal.
The final few hundred troops were expected to pull out
either late last night or early today.
A planned farewell ceremony to mark the momentous moment
was also in doubt, with TNI refusing to guarantee they would turn up.
"We are still waiting," said an obviously
frustrated Australian Army colonel Mark Kelly.
Despite claims by Interfet commanders that Indonesians were
becoming more cooperative, their games indicated nothing but disdain for the Australians.
Local East Timorese were not shocked by the Indonesian
behaviour.
"They are cowards," said a student watching on
the docks. "They are good at oppression, but now they are on the run. That is how we
will remember them." With looks of resignation on their faces, truckloads of
Indonesian soldiers were driven past row upon row of houses and businesses ransacked
during the militia and TNI rampage of almost two months ago.
Some Indonesian troops hid inside covered trucks, refusing
to take even a parting look at the destroyed city.
While there was some jeering from the East Timorese, the
crowd of several thousand were kept away from the Indonesians by Australian armoured
personnel carriers which blocked off the centre of Dili to ensure there was no final
clash.
One woman in the crowd sobbed quietly.
Total security for East Timor was handed over to Interfet
Friday night, with some Indonesians leaving their barracks in the dead of night. They were
quickly replaced by Australian troops.
The final several hundred Indonesian troops spent yesterday
morning packing and looting their barracks and homes they had taken over.
At the port, furniture, antiques and bags of food meant for
refugees could be seen being loaded on to a rusting navy ship.
Some Indonesian officers posed for photos with
international warships in the background before lowering their red and white flag for the
last time on East Timorese soil.
Just metres away, about 1500 East Timorese were returning
to Dili by ship after being forced by Indonesian soldiers to flee to refugee camps in West
Timor.
Back to October Menu
World Leaders Contact List
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu
Note: For those who would like to fax "the
powers that be" - CallCenter V3.5.8, is a Native 32-bit Voice Telephony software
application integrated with fax and data communications... and it's free of charge!
Download from http://www.v3inc.com/ |
