East Timor autonomy plan akin to HK system: Dewi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government's offer on East Timor's autonomy
\nbears similarities to the deal worked out by Britain and China
\nfor Hong Kong, a senior palace official said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Dewi Fortuna Anwar, President B.J. Habibie's advisor on
\nforeign affairs, said the latest draft provided East Timor with
\nits own political parties and legislative council, while its
\nadministration would be led by a governor in the capacity of a
\nchief executive.<\/p>\n
\"Its system will be similar to Hong Kong's style,\" Dewi said
\nin an interview with The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
When the British government returned Hong Kong to China in
\n1997 after 156 years of colonial rule, Beijing granted special
\nadministrative status to the territory, now led by chief
\nexecutive Tung Chee-hwa.<\/p>\n
In line with China's pledge to have \"one country, two
\nsystems\", Hong Kong is allowed to continue its own system of law
\nand its own currency separate from the yuan.<\/p>\n
She said East Timor's administration would be called the
\nAdministrative Council of the Special Autonomous Region (Dewan
\nPemerintahan Daerah Otonomi Khusus). The central government would
\nbe in charge of foreign affairs, defense and security, the
\njudiciary and currency systems.<\/p>\n
Freedom<\/p>\n
The province will have its own police force and the freedom to
\nmanage its own natural resources, Dewi said.<\/p>\n
\"The central government will subsidize its budget until it is
\nable to finance its own budget,\" she said.<\/p>\n
People will be permitted to establish their own political
\nparties. A separate general election will be held in the area to
\nelect members of the legislative council.<\/p>\n
Dewi said East Timor would enjoy much greater autonomy
\ncompared to the other 26 provinces, which also would gain greater
\nautonomy under the regional autonomy plan.<\/p>\n
\"The special autonomy for East Timor is in line with
\ninternational understanding on autonomy,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Dewi said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas would present
\nthe government's final autonomy proposal during his two-day
\nmeeting with Portuguese counterpart Jaime Gama in New York. The
\nmeeting, under the auspices of United Nations Secretary-General
\nKofi Annan, is scheduled on April 21.<\/p>\n
She denied reports Indonesia requested delaying the
\nministerial meeting, but said the country only suggested a
\npostponement or cancellation of the senior officials meeting of
\nthe two countries prior to the ministerial meeting.<\/p>\n
Draft<\/p>\n
\"As we are still finalizing the revision of the autonomy
\ndraft, therefore we want to delay the senior officials meeting
\nand directly go to the ministerial meeting,\" Dewi said.<\/p>\n
If Portugal agrees to the Indonesian proposal, the UN will
\nlead a two-month familiarization its content with the East
\nTimorese. It will be followed by a direct ballot on the proposal
\nin July.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also hopes the UN will lead the direct ballot. The
\ngovernment has insisted it would agree to the presence of
\ninternational observers, but not military observers, to supervise
\nthe balloting process.<\/p>\n
Habibie has repeatedly stated that Indonesia will allow East
\nTimor to become an independent state if the people vote to reject
\nthe proposal.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the UN special representative for East Timor,
\nJamsheed Marker, warned on Friday that the ballot would only be
\nheld if there was a security assurance from all sides in the
\narea.<\/p>\n
\"Clearly it is not possible to hold these consultations in an
\natmosphere charged with fighting, that has to stop. And that's a
\nprerequisite,\" Marker was quoted as saying by AFP.<\/p>\n
Portugal has started campaigning for the presence of a UN
\npeacekeeping force in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Foreign minister Jaime Gama said in Luxembourg the Indonesian
\nmilitary was not able to restore security.<\/p>\n
\"East Timor needs world attention and the presence of a UN
\npeacekeeping force,\" Gama said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-autonomy-plan-akin-to-hk-system-dewi-1447893297",
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