Indonesian warships cast shadow over Timor

The Indonesian warship which had caused consternation among locals and officials for docking in Dili harbor, began moving out to sea Saturday

DILI, East Timor (CNN) -- The deployment in and around East Timor of a heavy Indonesian security presence to guard Sunday's visit by President Megawati Sukarnoputri is casting a shadow over the territory's independence celebrations.

On Friday the Indonesian military announced that it would be deploying some 2,000 military personnel and six naval vessels -- most of them to the Indonesian side of the border with East Timor -- to secure Megawati's attendance at the territory's independence ceremony.

The move was described as "nothing out of the ordinary" and "routine in securing a presidential visit."

However, the arrival later that day of six Indonesian warships in East Timorese territorial waters sparked protests from the government in Dili.

Speaking to reporters in Dili Saturday, East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta said a request was made to the Indonesian authorities to remove the vessels, and most had since departed to international waters.

IN-DEPTH East Timor: Birth of a Nation    WEB MOVIE Flash intro: Birth of a Nation    RESOURCES Photo gallery: Voices of Timor  Photo gallery: Countdown to nationhood    PROFILES • Xanana Gusmao  • Jose Ramos-Horta  • Bishop Belo    CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Atika Shubert reports on how observers are rating the performance of the United Nations as it prepares to hand over administrative duties to a newly independent East Timor. Play video • East Timor video archive    EAST TIMOR • Timeline: Road to nationhood  • Country profile

The medical vessel which had caused consternation among locals and officials for docking in Dili harbor armed with two large front-facing cannons and carrying a helicopter left its mooring Saturday, headed for international waters.

The ship, which was flying both the United Nations flag and a smaller Indonesian naval flag, drew large crowds of onlookers to the harbor -- although their presence appeared largely out of curiosity rather than anger towards the Indonesians.

Ramos Horta said the conclusion of several separate security surveys, conducted by the United Nations, as well as the British, American and Australian intelligence services was that the risk to visiting delegations during the independence celebrations was "extremely low".

As a result, he said, "we did not feel that an advance team comprising six warships was needed to provide security to a head of state."

He said the upcoming visit by the Indonesian president, which he reiterated would still go ahead, had been the subject of intense negotiations but it was possible that communications with the Foreign Ministry had not reached the correct people in the Indonesian military.

Indonesian assurances

He added that he viewed an increased deployment of Indonesian troops along their side of the border not as a negative sign, but rather as part of Indonesian efforts to prevent any "rogue elements" from seeking to cross into East Timor.

Ramos Horta said he had received several assurances from the Indonesian military that it was taking precautions to ensure no remnants of the militias, blamed for destroying much of the territory in 1999, could cross into East Timor.

"If that is the case I view it as a positive gesture to secure their border against any infiltration," he said, denying suggestions that the move represented bullying tactics by East Timor's massively more powerful neighbor.

Bitter memories

The presence of such a large military vessel in Dili harbor cannot have helped but evoke memories of Indonesia's bloody invasion of East Timor in 1975.

In the subsequent 24 years Jakarta ruled the territory with an iron fist, fighting a bitter struggle against resistance forces in which some 200,000 East Timorese -- about a quarter of the 1975 population -- are thought to have died.

Crowds watch the Indonesian warship cautiously

With little more than 36 hours to go ahead of Sunday night's independence ceremonies, Ramos Horta said negotiations with the Indonesian authorities were still ongoing over the number of security personnel allowed to accompany Megawati during her brief stay in East Timor and the type of arms they would be allowed to carry.

On top of that he said permission had been given for the Indonesians to carry out test flights with helicopters in case of the need for an emergency medical evacuation.

In preparation for the president's arrivial, several armored vehicles and an ambulance have already been unloaded in Dili harbor by an advance party of Indonesian security.

"We want this visit of President Megawati to be as comfortable as possible," Ramos Horta said, praising the Indonesian leader for the "considerable courage and statesmanship since she came to office."

"She has made every effort to set the relationship between Indonesia and East Timor on the right course," he said, "and she will be very warmly applauded when she arrives."

Leaders gather

Security for every delegation has been the "absolute number one priority" since preparations began for the independence celebrations, he added -- whether it is for a former president of the United States or the President of Nauru.

Representatives of some 90 nations are attending Sunday's independence ceremony, presided over by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Most are expected to spend just one night in the territory, before leaving Monday morning following the transfer of power to the new East Timorese government.

However, it is the visit of the Indonesian delegation, as the former ruling power, headed by President Megawati that is arousing most interest.

In all Megawati will spend just a few hours in East Timor, arriving in the territory well after sunset Saturday, attending the independence handover itself, and flying out immediately afterwards in the small hours of Sunday morning.

During her visit she is expected to lay a wreath at the Indonesian military cemetery outside Dili, accompanied by East Timor's president-elect Xanana Gusmao.

Until 1992, when he was captured by Indonesian forces, Gusmao commanded the Falintil guerilla resistance against whom many of the Indonesian soldiers died fighting.