E. Timor students demand referendum<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): East Timorese students pressed for a referendum
\nyesterday to determine the future of the former Portuguese
\ncolony.<\/p>\n
Four students, representing East Timorese students in Java,
\nmet with members of the National Commission on Human Rights to
\ndiscuss their demand.<\/p>\n
They said many East Timorese thought a referendum was the best
\nsolution to the East Timor problem, but the Indonesian government
\nseemed rigidly against the idea.<\/p>\n
The students gave out a copy of a petition they had addressed
\nto House of Representatives Speaker Wahono.<\/p>\n
The petition called for an end to fighting between the
\nmilitary and pro-independence rebels, and a reconciliation of the
\ndifferent factions in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The East Timor Students Movement for Peace delegates were met
\nby commission member Clementino dos Reis Amaral, also from East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
The delegates, lead by Zeto Felix da Costa, also demanded the
\ngovernment implement the resolutions of the All Inclusive Inter
\nEast Timor Dialog that was held in Austria last year.<\/p>\n
East Timor integrated into Indonesia in 1976, but the UN still
\nrecognizes Portugal as its administrator.<\/p>\n
The East Timorese students filed their petition ahead of
\ntripartite talks on East Timor between the Indonesian and
\nPortuguese foreign ministers this week, under the auspices of the
\nUN secretary general in New York.<\/p>\n
In their petition the students said East Timor's problems were
\nchiefly political matters rather than economic or social ones.
\nTherefore a political solution was required, they said.<\/p>\n
They criticized both Indonesia and Portugal for being
\ninconsistent in seeking a political solution. They described
\nPortugal as lacking the capability to find a resolution, and
\nIndonesia as arrogant and unrealistic in settling the problem.<\/p>\n
Amaral said the commission would discuss the matter. (11)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timor-students-demand-referendum-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }