Military Developments
STAFF NOTES
Tpo-SeCfeT
SRC6 November6
INDONESIA-PORTUGUESE TIHOP: Situation Report
Indonesia, proceeding with plans to improve ita military operations in Portuguese Timor, plans to increase the number of combat aircraft there for use in anti-insurgency ooerations.
| Jakarta is
considering sending ov-TrjTr^ncosToDiTT, in Fast Timor. Indonesia received three Broncos from the US in September and recently completed testing the aircraft's weapons system.
Nearly two months ago Indonesia sent three armedelicopters to East Timor. The BO-lOSs and OV-lOs will augment the small contingent7 gunahips and Alouette helicopters and should substantially improve Indonesia's operations agalnat tho Fretilin.
In the past three months, the military situation in East Timor has not changed significantly. The Indonesian Ministry of Defense apparently believes that it has the military situation under control and has succeeded in destroying the Fretilinilitary force.
esult of its military successes, Indonesia has begun to rotate and to reduce the number of its troops on the island, even though Indonesian troops control only about half of the population and territory of the former Portuguese colony. Last month tho Indonesians withdrewroops, including those of theh Airborne Brigade. Even with this reduction,0 Indonebian troops remain on the island.
Indonesians troops continue, however, to follow the same battle plans. They have stepped up their efforts to secure communication and supply lines and root out the small bands of guerrilla; operating behind their lines.
After securing these areas, the Indonesians probably will launch new attacks against areas still occupied by the Fretilin.
The Fretilin continues to lose largemilitary hardware and take heavy casualties. Intwo months alone thalost some
en andieces of military equipment. In addition, the morale of the guerril'LB hasew low, and someguerrillarecently surrendered. The Fretilin is now able to carry out only small, unorganized, attacks against the Indonesians.
Original document.
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