Jakarta's threat to block aid to East Timor

INDONESIA threatened to block Australian aid to an impoverished East Timor, accusing Canberra of being "noisy and sanctimonious" in its dealings with Jakarta.

INDONESIA threatened to block Australian aid to an impoverished East Timor, accusing Canberra of being "noisy and sanctimonious" in its dealings with Jakarta.

Just four years after Indonesia's brutal annexation of East Timor, with the tiny province beset by violence and famine, cabinet documents reveal the difficulties the Fraser government faced in helping the East Timorese without causing offence in Jakarta.

Go to our 1979 Cabinet papers special section.

A cabinet submission penned by Michael MacKellar, who at the time was acting foreign minister, recounts a fiery conversation between the Indonesian foreign minister, Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, and the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

During a phone call, Dr -Mochtar blasted the Australian press for its reporting of East Timor issues.

The remarks, which came just four years after Indonesian troops killed six Australian newsman covering Jakarta's brutal 1975 invasion, were followed by a broadside at Canberra.

"Mochtar accused Australian (sic) of being noisy and sanctimonious: other people gave aid without making such a fuss," Mr MacKellar wrote.

"He was seriously considering whether Indonesia could do without Australian aid."

Mr MacKellar said that the foreign minister's views would be shared by others in the Indonesian government, but added: "Mochtar is a volatile man and may have been letting off steam."

Nevertheless, Mr MacKellar did recommend that Canberra boost its aid budget to East Timor by $2 million, to be spent supporting relief efforts by the International Committee for the Red Cross and their local affiliate, the Indonesian Red Cross.

He also recommended tax concessions should be allowed for any Red Cross appeal but said arrangements should not be made public until they had been accepted privately by Jakarta.