Transcript ABC: Indonesia Will Not Attack ANZACs

Sunday, 19 September 1999, 12:57 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Saturday 18 September, 1999 (5:46pm AEST)

TRANSCRIPT BEGINS

Indonesian military blasts attack claims

A senior Indonesian military figure has lashed out at claims that the Australian-led peacekeeping mission to East Timor could come under attack from Indonesian troops.

Army spokesman Major-General Suradjat has even suggested the claims may be a form of provocation from Australia's Prime Minister.

Maj-Gen Suradjat claims it is absurd and unethical to suggest Indonesian soldiers might attack the multinational force.

He says it is a form of provocation, apparently referring to Prime Minister Howard's warning that any attack on the peacekeepers would bring swift retaliation.

Indonesia has announced a staged withdrawal of its troops from East Timor.

Two locally-raised battalions have already been reassigned to nearby Flores Island, and another 8,000 troops are expected to leave before the peacekeepers arrive, most likely on Monday.

A reduced Indonesian force expects to play an advisory role.

TRANSCRIPT ENDS

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

Mobile - 021707044
Twitter - @althecat
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