E TIMOR VIOLATES NORMS OF LIFE WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRY, MILY OFFICER SAYS

April 26, 2005 9:04pm Asia Intelligence Wire

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, April 26 (ANTARA) - Wirasakti District Military Chief Col Amir Hamka Manan said East Timor has violated norms of life with neighbors following the shooting of an Indonesian military officer by East Timorese Police on April 21, 2005.

"The shooting has been well-planned as the shooting was to protect the smugglers who were operating in the Indonesian territory," he told the press on Tuesday after leading a reenactment of the indident.

He added there were five points where the shooting came from, therefore there might have been five policemen who fired the shots to save the two smugglers.

A military liaison officer in the border area, he added, has reported the five East Timorese Policemen and they had been suspended.

While of the nine smugglers, four had been arrested, he said.

"We hope the legal process would proceed transparenly as such incident has occurred twice with the East Timor side remaining silent about the incident," he added.

He also called on East Timorese Prime Minister Marie Alkatiri to announce the names of the suspects and ask for an apology.

First Lt Teddy Setyawan is now being treated at the Udayana Military Hospital in Bali.

Copyright © 2005 Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency