News briefs

Wednesday, May 24, 1995 - 10:00

JAKARTA sources have revealed that Lt Gen Herman Mantiri, recently retired chief of the general staff, may be appointed Indonesian ambassador to Australia. Six months after the Dili massacre, he said in an interview: "We don't regret anything. What happened was quite proper. They were opposing us, demonstrating, even yelling things against the government. To me that is identical with rebellion, so that is why we took firm action."

In Perth, Rob South from Friends of East Timor (WA) has called on the Australian government to refuse Mantiri entry into Australia. This sentiment was echoed by Max Lane, national coordinator of Aksi (Indonesia Solidarity Action), in a statement for the 21st anniversary celebrations of the foundation of Fretilin, attended by approximately 900 East Timorese and many Australian supporters in Sydney on May 20.

From GLW issue 188