Habibie calls on the nation to accept E. Timor results<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie urged the nation on
\nSaturday to accept the result of the ballot in East Timor with
\nsincerity and perseverance.<\/p>\n
In a conciliatory address televised to the nation, Habibie
\nsaid he understood those who may feel bitter with the fact that
\nthe majority of East Timorese rejected Indonesia's offer for
\nwide-ranging autonomy.<\/p>\n
But he pleaded with all the leaders and people of Indonesia
\nand East Timor to work together and create an atmosphere of
\npeaceful coexistence.<\/p>\n
Habibie reasserted the government's commitment to honor the
\nresult.<\/p>\n
\"I call on all the East Timorese to remain calm, create order
\nand ensure security to create a peaceful atmosphere so the next
\nprocess and steps related with the direct ballot can be
\nimplemented in an orderly and peaceful manner,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In his capacity as the Indonesian Military (TNI) supreme
\ncommander, the President ordered TNI chief Gen. Wiranto and
\nNational Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi to ensure that law and
\norder were upheld.<\/p>\n
Habibie also pointed out that he had instructed Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Ali Alatas to continue negotiations with UN
\nSecretary-General Kofi Annan as required by the agreement made in
\nNew York on May 5.<\/p>\n
\"In the meantime, the Indonesian government will continue to
\ncarry out its task in general administration and public services
\nbefore transferring its authority of East Timor to the UN,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
In the afternoon, Habibie met with British Ambassador Robin
\nChristopher, U.S. Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy, New Zealand
\nAmbassador Michael Green and Japan Ambassador Takao Kawakami to
\nbrief them on the latest development.<\/p>\n
On Sunday morning, several ministers, including Gen. Wiranto,
\nAlatas, Minister of Justice\/State Secretary Muladi and Gen.
\nRoesmanhadi will fly to Dili to meet with military and local
\ncommunity leaders.<\/p>\n
Cockroach<\/p>\n
While most national figures said they would respect the
\nresults of the ballot, there was an air of despondency in their
\ncomments as they lamented what looks now to be the inevitable
\nseparation of Indonesia's 27th province.<\/p>\n
Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairperson of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and leading
\npresidential candidate, expressed sorrow that the East Timorese
\nopted to reject autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very sad at the result of this ballot,\" she said in
\nYogyakarta on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"I always hoped East Timor would remain part of the Republic
\nof Indonesia,\" said Megawati, whose party received over 116,000
\nvotes from East Timor in the June 7 general election, and was
\nsecond only to the Golkar Party in the province.<\/p>\n
She remarked her concern now was for the repercussions of the
\nballot, and feared a wave of terror could prompt a wave of
\nrefugees out of the province.<\/p>\n
She said she had contacted party leaders in four branches --
\nEast Java, Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara -- to assist a
\npossible influx of refugees.<\/p>\n
Megawati was full of recrimination for Habibie, whom she said
\nshould be held responsible for initiating a ballot which could
\nhave such severe consequences.<\/p>\n
It was Habibie who reversed Indonesia's long-standing policy
\non East Timor in January and decided to hold a ballot.<\/p>\n
Separately, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X
\nalso expressed disappointment.<\/p>\n
\"Personally, I'm disappointed because my hope was that no
\nterritory would ever separate from this republic. Alas, if this
\nis what the government decides, then we must remain loyal,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Abdurrahman
\nWahid, better known as Gus Dur, was unhappy with the process as a
\nwhole and said Indonesia had an international commitment to
\nrespect its agreements.<\/p>\n
However, he had strong words about future relations with an
\nindependent East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"If we have to have diplomatic ties, make it a very cold
\nrelationship, and if necessary, set it up at the lowest level
\nwithout having an embassy there,\" Abdurrahman told The Jakarta
\nPost via telephone from Singapore on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"We are not a cecere (cockroach) nation,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Indonesian Association of Muslim
\nIntellectuals (ICMI) Adi Sasono seemed almost relieved East Timor
\nwould no longer be a part of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Adi, who is also the minister of cooperatives, pointed out
\nthat for 23 years Indonesia's foreign policy was held \"hostage\"
\nby East Timor with its population of just 700,000.<\/p>\n
\"During that time, our nation was insulted because we were
\naccused of violating human rights, yet each year we had to fork
\nout US$100 million (for the East Timor provincial budget),\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"All we got in return was enmity, rejection and hate,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Legislator Usamah Hisyam of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nsaid he would urge the House of Representatives Commission I for
\nsecurity and defense, which oversees the foreign policy, to
\nsummon Alatas and Gen. Wiranto.<\/p>\n
Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung also expressed
\ndisappointment at the results, but affirmed that he would uphold
\nthe party's commitment to respect the outcome.<\/p>\n
Veterans<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, veterans, many of them physically handicapped and
\nwidows of the Seroja Military operation in East Timor, told SCTV
\nthey were disappointed with the result of the ballot.<\/p>\n
\"We should not have let East Timor go ... thousands have
\ndied ... of my husband, only his name remains,\" a widow said.<\/p>\n
\"What do our medals mean if East Timor is independent?\" one
\nveteran said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military itself officially congratulated the
\nEast Timorese on the results of the ballot and urged all to
\nsincerely accept the outcome.<\/p>\n
\"That's what army personnel are also commanded to do:
\nsincerely accept and honor the ballot result,\" spokesman Brig.
\nGen. Sudrajat said on Saturday on behalf of TNI chief Gen.
\nWiranto.<\/p>\n
\"We will still hold the responsibility over security until
\nlate November and we'll work with other related institutions
\nduring the authority transition,\" he quickly added.
\n(swa\/23\/emf\/anr\/mds\/prb)<\/p>",
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