[Poster's note: Repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed.]

UNMIT

(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)

Pinto announces delay of F-FDTL recruitment- Timor Post

The State Secretary of Defence Julio Tomas Pinto confirmed today that the recruitment process for F- FDTL scheduled for 15 July 2008 was postponed as there had been no finally decision yet. Mr Pinto said that he was discussing the mechanism of recruitment with the F-FDTL and would determine the new schedule of recruitment consultations with the Council of Ministers.

ISF to support F-FDTL- Timor-Post

ISF Commander Brigadier James Baker has said that the International Stabilisation Forces would cooperate with the F-FDTL to help build houses for the ISF members. Mr Baker said that the houses would be finished in the next two months.

On CTF's report – The Jakarta Post, 21 July

President Yudhoyono is right for acknowledging Indonesia's stance and not apologizing for the murders, tortures and other crimes, because there aren't any.

The fate of Timor Leste is completely in Timor Leste's hands. It has played its cards as always being the poor side, always accusing Indonesia for its suffering.

Indonesia had the backing of the United States, Australia and Europe when it invaded Timor Leste. Well, it was not invasion. It was like India taking over Goa in the 50's, China taking over Tibet around the same time or the U.S. taking over Texas, Arizona and California from Mexico. Or say, Israel taking over Palestine. That's just geopolitics. Historically, Timor Leste was always part of the Indonesian Archipelago, but divided by the two colonizers (the Dutch and the Portuguese).

Timor Leste was returning to the "Mother Land". But as ungrateful as East Timorese are, so is the support of America and Australia, which always varies according to their political and economical needs. Indonesia needed to be tamed, and East Timor was the perfect excuse to do so.

Given the geopolitical and economical situation, Timor Leste was the one to loose. Until now we have no idea how many people really died in Timor Leste during the Indonesian invasion back in 1975. The right number is around 20,000, but Ramos Horta has added to the number and it has now become 200,000.

It was well used to tarnish Indonesia's figure during the 80s and 90s, while he was living on the help some nations provided to Timor Leste.

The militias created by the Indonesian authorities (please don't just say TNI) were within their right to burn what they couldn't take with them to their country, Indonesia.

I have spoken to many other citizens that have built their lives in Timor Leste and who had to seek refuge forever in West Timor. Burn their own houses and businesses too, rather than let it fall into the hands of the ungrateful pro-Independence Timorese.

Oh, one more thing. Wasn't the self act of determination rigged by the UN, under pressure from the U.S.?

Come on, everywhere. Now Timor Leste, a mere nation of less than one million people, smaller than South Jakarta, wants to intimidate the great Indonesia Raya of 230 million? Come on, it's like 1:230. Politically, socially, economically Indonesia has the right. Want to look for the culprits of 1999?

MOHAMMAD ALI, Jakarta

Finally, the report and institutional reconciliation. I hope so. Yet, not so long ago President Horta put the blame on Indonesia for the attempt against his life. Did he find otherwise? If so, he should be clear about it. Once and for all this type of accusations must stop.

And now for the report. Nine years have past and we still cannot see the truth about Timor Leste. It's sad to see the TNI and its then chief are still seen as bearing the greatest responsibility for the 1999 events.

Was General Wiranto the president? Was he the coordinating minister for security? Was he the foreign affairs minister? No. So, was there a military dictatorship in the shadows? Did he disobey the president? Or were there a few generals who did what they wanted to? No, again. The Indonesian government as a whole is responsible for the terror policy implemented. The civilian officials did all they could to put the blame on the TNI afterwards. Is that fair? Was that what really happened?

And yet the media and the human rights activists are going for Wiranto's head again. Can he win elections in this situation? I doubt it. This is not democratic, as his rights are being violated every time someone calls him a murderer.

I believe what he said and wrote is not enough. Indeed, his story is the story we all need to know all over the world. The one about Timor Leste I would like to write myself. Unless he comes clean publicly, in this next year of elections we'll hear nothing more than the repeated accusations against him and calls to take him to court, as, for instance, Hendardi did.

We also hear militia men and other integrationists claiming the UN cheated. Others even blame Portugal for it, as if my country could do anything else than to let the people choose. And here I come to my point.

I believe they accepted Timor Leste as independent. They blame everyone else but themselves and Indonesian policies during the occupation. That's no good at all. The institutions are trying to mend things, but the people aren't.

I'm not saying that the pro-independence people are saints. They laid a lot during the 24 years and also did terrible things. Therefore, only an International Tribunal can bring justice. Nobody wants it. Even the United States and Australia would be implicated, because they supported Indonesia's occupation fully and truly.

So, let it rest. Put a full stop to this question and move ahead. Change policies and behavior and work for the living. That's the best way to honor the dead on both sides.

UNMIT MEDIA MONITORING <http://www.unmit.org> 

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