Timor attack report 'untrue’

Press, 2 September 1977, Page 6

Timor attack report 'untrue’

NZPA-Reuter Jakarta An Indonesian military spokesman has denied an Australian member of Parliament’s claim that Indonesia is about to launch a major military operation against Fretilin independence forces in East Timor. The spokesman said: “That must be sheer fabrication. It is not true.” He refused to make any further comment.

Mr Michael Hodgman, a Liberal member said on Wednesday that he had learned from Australian intelligence sources that Indonesia was planning to use 10,000 troops against Fretilin guerrillas in the former Portuguese colony, which was incorporated into Indonesia last year.

He said if the new invasion reports were true it made absolute nonsense of the official explanation given to a delegation in Canberra last week by the Indonesians that they could not visit East Timor “until normalisation of the economic situation occurs there” and because of “poor facilities.” I Observers in the In- j donesian capital said it was] unlikely that an offensive l would be launched as President Suharto had only two weeks ago offered an amnesty to Fretilin members who surrendered to the Government. The amnesty is to remain in force until the end of the year. According to all available information from both In- ] donesian and independent ! sources, some 500 to 800 ill- ! equipped Fretilin men are ] still hiding in isolated mourn ] tain areas, but the fighting I has almost completely died lout.