Mandela's call for special autonomy not viable: Abilio<\/p>\n
DILI (JP): Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares brushed off
\nSouth African President Nelson Mandela's suggestion of special
\nautonomy status for East Timor, questioning whether the province
\nwas ready for such distinction.<\/p>\n
\"I ask you... are we ready for that?\" quipped the governor
\nwho was only reelected last week as East Timor governor for a
\nsecond five-year term.<\/p>\n
\"Autonomy means that everything comes from us. Ninety-nine
\npercent of the budget East Timor uses comes from the central
\ngovernment,\" he told The Jakarta Post here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Abilio said he agreed with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
\nAlatas who said Thursday that the government did not agree with
\nMandela's suggestion.<\/p>\n
Mandela on Tuesday said East Timor should be given special
\nautonomy. The South African president has made frequent
\nstatements and suggestions on East Timor following a visit to
\nIndonesia in July.<\/p>\n
Mandela had also sent a letter to President Soeharto urging
\nfor the release of jailed East Timor separatist leader Jose
\nAlexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao who is currently serving a 20-year jail
\nsentence.<\/p>\n
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as
\nIndonesia's 27th province in 1976, but the United Nations still
\nregards Lisbon as the administrative authority of the province.<\/p>\n
In rather indignant fashion, Abilio asserted that Indonesia
\ndid not need to be told what was best for the welfare and
\nprosperity of East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"Personally I don't agree (with the special autonomy
\nsuggestion). This is our internal affair... we don't need to
\nlisten to outsiders,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
East Timor Legislative Council Speaker Armindo Soares Mariano
\nsaid the central government, through Alatas, had already given
\nits answer and thus the issue was therefore closed.<\/p>\n
\"That's the full jurisdiction of the central government,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I don't accept it (the proposal). It's impossible for me as a
\nrepresentative of the people to accept it if the central
\ngovernment doesn't accept it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, the foreign ministry's director of
\nforeign information reiterated yesterday the government's
\nrejection.<\/p>\n
\"We can't contemplate on giving special autonomy to East
\nTimor,\" said Gaffar Fadyl. (33\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mandelas-call-for-special-autonomy-not-viable-abilio-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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