'If the TNI go down that path they will make an enormous mistake, and there are reports along those lines especially in relation to Acheh, but also in Irian Jaya.'

'Indonesia is going to make life very very difficult for itself, including with the international community if there are human rights violations by TNI in various provinces of Indonesia, particularly Acheh and Irian Jaya.'

"

HE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY will be outraged if there is a reversion to human rights abuses of the kind that were seen in East Timor in the past," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters.

"It is not going to be in Indonesia's national interest for TNI (the Indonesian army) to behave in that sort of way," he said.

Jakarta's army was responsible for a brutal military occupation of East Timor after Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975.

The oppression climaxed in an orgy of killing and violence by pro-Jakarta militias backed by police and army units after the East Timorese voted for independence in a 1999 United Nations-sponsored referendum.

Australia and other countries have warned Jakarta that a repeat of such abuses in Acheh and Irian Jaya would enrage the international community, Downer told reporters.

Human rights organizations say thousands of people - mostly innocent civilians - have been murdered by government forces in the long-running conflicts in Acheh and Irian Jaya, on the western and eastern ends of the Indonesian archipelago. Pro-independence groups in both regions are demanding
East Timor-style independence referendums.

Shot in the back.  A child hurt from military shootings, it is after Indonesia ended military operation (DOM) in Acheh; and after all, still fail to quell GAM activists.

Downer's comments could infuriate authorities in Jakarta and harm relations between Australia and Indonesia that have only recently been mended after the once-close relationship between the countries was badly damaged over East Timor.

In 1999, Australia led condemnation of militia violence in East Timor and spearheaded an international troop force sent to the half-island province to end the killing.

Downer was speaking at the release of a book written by his department on the policy challenges confronting Australia over East Timor through its recent tumultuous history from 1998-2000.

The book is an attempt by Downer and the Department of Foreign Affairs to stamp their interpretation on Australia's involvement in East Timor's transition to independence.

Downer said he was also concerned over reports coming out of restive provinces Acheh and Irian Jaya, that human rights were being violated and that pro-Indonesian militias were being formed along similar lines to East Timor.

"If the TNI go down that path they will make an enormous mistake, and there are reports along those lines especially in relation to Acheh, but also in Irian Jaya," he said.

Downer said that the government had emphasized to President Abdurrahman Wahid during his recent visit Canberra's strong support for Indonesia's territorial integrity.

"It is not in Australia's national interest to see the undermining of Indonesia's territorial integrity at all," Downer said. "On the other hand Indonesia is going to make life very very difficult for itself, including with the international community if there are human rights violations by TNI in various provinces of Indonesia, particularly Acheh and Irian Jaya."

The article is distributed by Tapol in London