Downer against referendum in E. Timor in near future<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
\nsaid yesterday that he was against a referendum in East Timor in
\nthe near future, arguing that the proposal seemed to have been
\nput together in a hurried fashion and had the potential to
\ntrigger a civil war.<\/p>\n
Downer pointed out any efforts toward reconciliation in the
\nprovince should be conducted carefully through a process of
\nintensive dialog involving all elements of the political
\nspectrum, including parties regarded as the opposition.<\/p>\n
\"What I mean is that if we go there in a hurry (for a
\nreferendum), we will create the risk of a civil war breaking out
\nin East Timor,\" said in an interview with Antara in Canberra.<\/p>\n
\"It would be irresponsible on our part to state our agreement
\nto a referendum just to please certain non-governmental
\norganizations while in our heart we are convinced it will trigger
\na civil war,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Downer on Wednesday urged Indonesia, in Australia's first
\nexplicit call, to release jailed East Timorese rebel leader Jose
\nAlexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao to help solve the impasse on the
\ndisputed Indonesian territory.<\/p>\n
\"We would favor the release of Xanana Gusmao in the context of
\na process of reconciliation and settlement in East Timor,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Shadow<\/p>\n
Meanwhile here in Jakarta yesterday, Laurie Brereton of the
\nAustralian opposition Labor Party said only the East Timorese
\npeople had the right to determine their own future.<\/p>\n
Brereton, who is the Australian shadow foreign minister,
\ncalled on the Indonesian government to discuss the issue directly
\nwith the East Timorese people to find the best way to fulfill
\ntheir aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"We believe it (any settlement) must be negotiated,\" Brereton
\nsaid after meeting with President B.J. Habibie along with shadow
\ndefense minister Arch Bevis at the Bina Graha presidential
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Brereton praised the withdrawal of combat troops and Habibie's
\nplan to give wide-ranging autonomy to the country's youngest
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Sydney Morning Herald daily reported yesterday
\nthat Peter Cockcroft, the chief representative in Jakarta of
\nAustralian company BHP Petroleum, held a secret meeting with
\nXanana last week in Cipinang prison, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted the newspaper as reporting that Xanana had
\nassured Cockcroft that the operations of BHP and other oil
\ncompanies currently conducting exploration in the Timor Gap would
\nnot be affected by the current situation in the province.<\/p>\n
Separately, a United Nations official, Francesc Vendrell, also
\nvisited Xanana yesterday.<\/p>\n
No immediate information was available on the results of their
\nmeeting. (prb)<\/p>",
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