第3世界のリーダーたちコミュのMain enemy: The General has accused Australia of provoking the crisis to improve access to oil resources.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1670775.htm

Last Update: Saturday, June 24, 2006. 6:22am (AEST)

Main enemy: The General has accused Australia of provoking the crisis to improve access to oil resources. [File photo] (Reuters)

East Timor's main enemy Aust: General
A retired Portuguese general who once commanded a United Nations force in East Timor claims Australia has provoked the crisis there in order to take control of the fledgling country.

"What interests the Australians most is oil and gas," Alfredo Assuncao said in an interview with the Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias.

"So what better way to control these enormously rich resources than to be physically present and control the country's political system?"

More than 2,200 troops and police from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal are currently in the former Portuguese colony.

They are struggling to restore order after an explosion of violence triggered by East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri's decision in March to sack 600 soldiers.

Dr Alkatiri is locked in a power struggle with President Xanana Gusmao.

'Main enemy'

General Assuncao, who was chief of staff of a UN peacekeeping force in East Timor in 2000-01, describes Australia as "the main enemy of the country".

General Assuncao says Australian has always wanted to "control everything and everyone" in East Timor.

He says it has been frustrated in this only because Mr Gusmao and Dr Alkatiri have previously shown a united front.

"But the breakup of this union is opening the way for them to take control of the country," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

He says Australia is trying to get rid of Dr Alkatiri "and anyone else putting East Timor interests above the ambitions of its neighbours".

Separately, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Fernando Neves said: "Australia should not get involved in the domestic affairs of East Timor. Neither Australia, nor Portugal.

"Institutional questions in East Timor must be settled by the East Timorese."

'Occupation force'

Australia and Portugal have disagreed previously over their presence in East Timor.

Earlier this month Portugal initially refused to put members of its National Republican Guard under the command of Australian forces in the country until an agreement was reached.

The Portuguese Communist Party has accused Australia of being an "occupation force" in East Timor.

After the departure of the Portuguese, East Timor was occupied by Indonesia between 1975 and 1999, then came under direct UN administration until independence in 2002.

Though the poorest country of south-east Asia, it has vast reserves of oil and gas beneath the Timor Sea.

Last January, East Timor and Australia signed a deal to share development of these fields following years of negotiation.

- AFP

In other developments:
East Timor's former interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, has directly implicated Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri in allegations that they recruited a civilian militia group. (Full Story)
East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao appears to have withdrawn a threat to resign over a dispute with Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. (Full Story)
East Timor's Foreign Minister has told diplomats that embattled Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri will resign, Portuguese news agency Lusa reports. (Full Story)
Related Links:
Timeline: Unrest in East Timor
Key dates in East Timor's journey to independence and subsequent unrest.