Metro TV journalist interviewed Timorese rebel soldiers

Bravo for Metro TV’s Desi Fitriani! I know her and talked to her on one occasion. I praised her for her TV coverage on Aceh and other conflict areas. I think she’s a very down to earth person and very courageous. Yesterday, I saw a footage of her trekking the jungle and mountains of Timor Leste and met with a a group of soldiers who were under Major Reinado’s command. She interviewed them in Bahasa Indonesia and together they ate instant noodle (most likely Indonesian-made Indomie). In the interview, the soldiers dismissed the the elite government’s claim that they are the rebel soldiers. “They are the rebels against the people. The government does not represent most people of Timor Leste nor pay attention to their aspirations. They don’t have good intentions. They are trying to make us like the aborigines in Australia,” a first lieutenant said. The interview was in Bahasa Indonesia. Thumbs up for Desi Fitriani. She is far more capable in locating people. She can also have friendly dialogue with them compared to the 1,100 strong Australian and New Zealand soldiers and 1,600 UN police who were unable to maintain security in a small nation of 1 million people. I knew Ramos Horta since the days when he was in exile. I symphatize with what happened to him recently. I hope he recuperates soon. During my time reporting for RCTI in Geneva as well as Burg Schlaining, Austria, I often met with Ramos but he didn’t want to be interviewed by me as I was holding a microphone with the RCTI emblem on it. He only pointed at the mike and said: “Soeharto, Soeharto!” referring RCTI as owned by Soeharto family. When East Timor gained independence, he was hungry for publicity. But then my friends turned him down.