E. Timor welcomes Megawati's Independence Day remarks<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (AP): Political leaders and UN administrators
\nFriday hailed Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\nacknowledgment of East Timor's independence and said they were
\nencouraged by her commitment to human rights.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Megawati said for the first time that she
\nrespected East Timor's right to secede from Indonesia in her
\nstate of the nation speech in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
During her 21-month tenure as vice president, the staunch
\nnationalist who had opposed East Timor's independence pointedly
\navoided meeting political leaders from the half-island territory
\nor officials of its UN administration.<\/p>\n
East Timorese Nobel laureate Jose Ramos Horta praised Megawati
\nfor saying the territory had the right to self-determination.<\/p>\n
Horta said he was also encouraged by Megawati's promise to
\nbring to trial anyone proven guilty of human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
\"I am pleased with all the statements she has made in regard
\nto the human rights tribunal to be set up in Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
UN administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello described Megawati's
\nstatement as courageous.<\/p>\n
\"I applaud her wisdom and this shows she is a stateswoman,
\nwhich is what Indonesia and East Timor need,\" he told reporters
\nin the capital Dili.<\/p>\n
Human rights activists have expressed concern that Megawati's
\nclose ties with members of the military accused of human rights
\nabuses in East Timor could hamper a human rights tribunal.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, preparations for the territory's first democratic
\nelection on Aug. 30 continue with only a few cases of voter
\nintimidation.<\/p>\n
Three hundred East Timorese soldiers and over 800 local police
\nhave joined UN police and military to boost security during the
\nvote, said de Mello.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Canberra, Australia will send a nine member team
\nto East Timor to act as official observers to a historic ballot
\nthis month, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Friday.<\/p>\n
The delegation will include former deputy prime minister Tim
\nFischer, politicians and nongovernment representatives, Downer
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
East Timor goes to the polls on Aug. 30 to elect an 88-member
\nconstituent assembly which will draft a constitution and steer
\nthe nascent nation to full independence.<\/p>\n
Downer said Australia had also provided financial support for
\nthe upcoming elections, including help for the National Council
\nand support for civic education and electoral capacity-building.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timor-welcomes-megawatis-independence-day-remarks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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