A campaign of vilification

When Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta returned to Dili, he accused Indonesian “elements” of alleged involvement in the assassination attempt on his life. And the latest, he alleged a TV station’s journalist in Jakarta, with the help of authorities in West Timor, organized documents for Maj. Alfredo Reinado to travel to Indonesia for a May 23, 2007 interview. Why did Horta make such allegations? He had phoned Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asking for help. Yudhoyono was surprised as he had ordered top Indonesian authorities to help investigate. He even dispatched two senior police officers to Dili and talk with Timor Leste’s attorney general. On the night of April 17, 2008, the reputed special detachment of the Indonesian police, Densus 88 arrested three members of the Timor Leste military who illegally crossed the border into Indonesia (Indonesian police are more professional). Viewing Horta’s allegations as serious, Yudhoyono called on Horta against issuing statements which could lead to misinterpretations and hurt friendly relations between the two states. The question is, who’s behind all this? Maj. Reinado himself was killed before the assassination attempt on the president took place in Dili on February 11, 2008. Why can’t the 1,100 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and police check the border? Why can’t they secure the president of such a tiny state with only one million people? Why is the refugee issue not addressed? Another attempt to make Indonesia the scapegoat? (as always). In Timor Leste, the common people speak the Indonesian language and in everyday life they rely on Indonesian-made products (the sarongs, the instant noodle) which they have to pay in dollars. At the same time, they resented the luxury lifestyle of the Timor Leste leaders while people lead difficult life. The military meanwhile has been discriminated. The presence of too many Australian soldiers also add to the anti-foreign sentiment. Once again, Australia is launching a campaign of vilification against Indonesia in the Australian and foreign media in favor of Australia’s interests (Horta is Australia’s man in Timor Leste).