--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Sat, 06 Nov 1999 22:45:19 -0100
From: peter nugter <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: the Motaain (EAST TIMOR) shooting incident
Sender: peter nugter <[log in to unmask]>



Dear MAPS-L users (especially the Australian ones),

There are some unsolved problems about the Motaain shooting incident. A
copy of this text + a detailled map is on the index page of MAPSWAP. Who
knows (a lot) more about it?

Sincerely yours, Peter Nugter.

The "Motaain" shooting incident.
About October 10, 1999 an exchange of fire took place between Australian
soldiers of INTERFET and an Indonesian border patrol near the village of
Motaain. One Indonesian policeman is said to be killed and two others
wounded. There are no reports on Australian casualties.
Commander Mark Kelly claimed his troops were attacked without reason while
approaching the village of Motaain and they had no other choice then firing
back. The commander claimed his right to visit Motaain by stating that this
village should be part of East Timor (Timor Timur). In his opinion the
Indonesians used wrong maps based on old Dutch colonial maps. On these maps
Motaain should have been situated at the west side of the border. And - as
commander Mark Kelly stated - Motaain in fact lies on the eastern site.
But is this true? A few remarks;
* On the 1993 issued sheet 2406-533 Motaain is situated east of the River
Mota Talau. This river in fact marks the frontier between the Indonesian
provinces of Timor Timur (East Timor) and Nusa Tenggara Timur (a large
province including great parts of the East Indonesia archipelago and West
Timor). To be clear; the small area on the map example at the North West
corner (with the altitude spot "228") belongs to East Timor.
* Although parts of this river may be dry during the dry season this
frontier mark could hardly have been overlooked by INTERFET troops when
approaching Motaain from the North West. If they approached Motaain from
another direction they were already on Nusa Tenggara (=Indonesian) territory.
* There are no old Dutch maps representing a different border between the
Dutch East Indies and the Portuguese colony.
* Could the mystery be solved when suggesting the following hypothesis?;
INTERFET troops patrolled from Kabupaten Bobonaro (Kabupaten = regency) on
East Timor eastwards thinking (or not thinking at all) they stay inside
East Timor but in fact forgetting the frontier makes a strange twist in
such a way that one travelling eastwards in fact enters West Timor!
I am neutral in this question but it seems to me 1 - 0 for the Indonesians
and half-time in sight.
If I am wrong, please let me know!


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