Z
timor: dynamic inaction
forces are potted lo in-
tervene in Portuguese Timor, bul President Suharto has not authorized an invasion. He rs awaiting the outcome of negotiations byspecial envoy Almeida Santos toultinationalAustralia. Malaysia, Indonesia, andrestore Older In Timor. For domestic political reasons, Lisbon does not believe it can publicly sanction unilateral Indonesian intervention Portuguese President Costa Comes evidently fears thai Jakarta will be loo heavy-handed in dealing with Timorese dinidents and increase rather than end the bloodshed.
During discussions in lakarta last week.and the Indonesians workedroposalour-party peacekeeping effort Indonesia under the general guidance of the others would send in forces to restore order. Ihe four powers would then jointly supervise the peace and guide the decolonization process in accord with the arrangements worked out in Maiao last June. Usbon's initial reaction to ihe proposal was negaiivc, President Costa Gomes probably wants firmer guarantees that Jakarta will not deal too roughly with ihe Timorese.
Over the weekend. Santos visited Canberra to sound out Prime Minister Whitlam on Australian participation in the proposed jointWhitlam is unlikely to agree to direct Australian participationilitary intervention but government spokesmen left open the possibility that Canberra might participate in a
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supervisory body. Whitiam has been criticized recently by members ol his own party and by the opposition lor his allegedly indifferent attitude about the (ate of the Timorese. From Canberra, Santos flew to Timor lor consultations with the governor, currently headquarteredmall Island off the Timor coast. At the end of the weak he is scheduled to return to lakarta.
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The possibility that some sort ol multinational peacekeeping effort may be forthcoming has strengthened Suharto's hand against his top military advisers, who believe that immediateaction is necessary. Soriano is furtherto go slow by evidence that Indonesia's clandestine political activities inside Timor may be bearing fruit. Leaders of the largest Timorese political taction, the Democratic Union Party, have been meeting with Indonesian intelligence oflkials. They are negotiating lor Indonesianagainst the leftist political party, Fretilin, which has been making signiticant gains during ihe recent armed clashes and now reportedly controls most ot Dili. Timor's capital. Democratic Union people say that they would considerwith Indonesia in return for Indonesian assistance now.
destroyer-escorts, an amphibious assault ship, andubmarine, was olf the Timor coast. This week Jakarta augmented the invasion force, which now includesnfantry troops and marines. Major ground and airborne units in lava have been placed on alert, and supplies,and aviation fuel are being stockpiled at nearby airfields.
According to present plans, an invasion wouldhree-pronged attack on the island:
bulk ol the invading lorce would land on Indonesian Timor and drive north into the Portuguese half of the island.
Anothero land on the coastal strip between Dili and Tutuala on the eastern tip of the island.
other battalions are toombined assault against Dili itself.
Although the Indonesian military expect some resistance, thev are confident of success. Once they have established control, most of the regular forces would be withdrawn leavingunits and ethnic Timorese to coniend with any guerrl'li unilt that may mil hpiig.
Original document.
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