---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, September 18, 1999 E Timor: Multinational Troops Advised To Stay away From Pro- Integration Bases Dili, E Timor, Sept 17 (ANTARA)-UN Multinational Force troops in East Timor should set up their posts far removed from the bases of pro-integration fighters to prevent clashes, the chief of Indonesia's Military Emergency Command, Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, said here. In view of the possibility of such clashes happening, the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) would "guide" the multinational forces in their movements and choice of locations for their posts or headquarters, Kiki said. Speaking to reporters here Thursday on the imminent arrival of UN peace-enforcing troops in East Timor, Kiki said the TNI would help them find strategic locations for their posts or camps so they can perform their duties with a minimum of trouble. After the UN forces had begun coming in, the TNI would withdraw all its personnel from East Timor in stages, he said. In one week's time after the UN force had reached its peak strength, all TNI personnel would be pulled out from the territory, he added. On the TNI's involvement in the multinational force, Kiki said Indonesian military would only serve as liaison officers between the TNI and the UN troops. There were now 12 batallions of TNI across East Timor and they would all be withdrawn in one week's time in stages. Asked about the likehood that after the arrival of the UN troops, pro-independence armed Falintil groups would move from their guerilla positions in the wild into the towns and villages, Kiki said he was hoping this would not happen soon because, otherwise, they would no doubt clash with their pro-integration rivals. On accusations that the TNI had helped the pro-integration militia, Kiki said the charges were not true. What had happened was that the outcome of the August 30 popular consultation favoring independence over wide-ranging autonomy had caused deep discontent and resentment on the part of the pro-integration militias, Kiki said. It was thus plausible that the militias then had sought to vent their grievance, Kiki said. (T.PE03/PUS-03/ND-07/NN-04/17:59/INT-AJM-22:10/NN01/22:52/TB02) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 23 Sep 1999 jam 11:59:18 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
