US delegation to meet (almost) 'everyone'

Wednesday, September 8, 1993 - 10:00

US delegation to meet (almost) 'everyone'

By Jana D.K.

JAKARTA — The Indonesian armed forces (ABRI) have announced that a visiting delegation of 12 US congressional aides will be allowed to meet with East Timorese fighters during a five-day visit which began on September 1.

Major General Theo Syafai, commander of the Udayana military command, whose jurisdiction includes East Timor, told reporters that the delegation will be able to meet with everyone, that is, almost everyone.

As it transpires, however, the "separatist rebels" which the delegation will be "free" to meet are two prisoners, Mauhunu Josa da Costa and Antonio Gomez da Costa, who are described by the military as being aides of the recently captured Fretilin leader Xanana Gusmao.

The Antara news agency quoted Theo as saying, "The observance of human rights in East Timor is 'good enough' as far as we are concerned".

He also said that he believed the November 12, 1991, Dili "incident" occurred because of a psychology of confrontation and that "it was waiting to happen".

From GLW issue 114