Manila goes ahead with Timor conference<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The conference on East Timor being held in
\nManila, the subject of heated dispute both here and in the
\nPhilippine capital, went ahead as planned yesterday after the
\nSupreme Court overruled a lower court order for a temporary
\npostponement.<\/p>\n
This news was received calmly in Jakarta, in contrast to the
\nemotional tones earlier when officials here expressed their
\ndispleasure with the Philippine government's refusal to bar the
\nconference.<\/p>\n
\"We understand that Manila has made major efforts to prevent
\nthe conference from taking place, and we appreciate this,\" Irawan
\nAbidin, the Director of Information of the Ministry of Foreign
\nAffairs, told The Jakarta Post yesterday. \"But it is entirely
\ntheir business whether or not to let it proceed.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia will monitor the conference, Irawan said, adding
\nthat \"all we can do now is wait for the result of the meeting.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia had objected to the conference taking place,
\nclaiming that it was providing those who oppose East Timor's
\nintegration with a platform from which to attack Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court ruling was seen as a victory for the
\nconference's organizers, which include organizations that opposed
\nthe integration of East Timor with Indonesia. The conference
\nproceeded, however, despite the absence of a number of
\nforeigners, including East Timorese in exile, who were barred by
\nthe Philippine government.<\/p>\n
Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, a senior East Timor politician,
\nsaid on a separate occasion that the conference in Manila would
\nnot have any impact on East Timor's integration with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"They can have their conference. The people of East Timor will
\nnot be affected,\" Clementino was quoted by the Antara news agency
\nas saying. \"The integration is no longer subject to debate.\"<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that the conference is aiding the campaigns of
\nopponents of the integration by attracting international
\npublicity.<\/p>\n
Clementino, a member of the National Commission on Human
\nRights, said the pro-integration East Timorese too can be vocal
\nif they so choose. \"And we make up the majority,\" he reminded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, news agencies reported that the row over the
\nconference degenerated into physical clashes yesterday in Kuala
\nLumpur between Malaysians and Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Sixteen Malaysians who were demonstrating outside the
\nIndonesian embassy against Indonesia's handling of East Timor
\nwere beaten up by several people, believed to be Indonesians who
\ntook offense at their shouting Indonesian pembunuh (Indonesian
\nmurderers), witnesses said.<\/p>\n
The crowd chased and pummeled the protesters, but was stopped
\nby Indonesian embassy officials who allowed the Malaysians to
\nenter the compound for protection.<\/p>\n
A witness said a segment of the crowd chased the protesters
\ninto the compound before being turned back.<\/p>\n
One of the attackers was quoted as saying that he was offended
\nby the generalization that all Indonesians were murderers. \"It
\nwould have been all right if they had blamed a particular person,
\nbut they said all Indonesians are murderers. That I can't take,\"
\nsaid the man, identified only as Jono.<\/p>\n
Police said the demonstrators could be charged under an
\nemergency law imposed during race riots 25 years ago that bars
\ngroups of over five people from assembling in public.
\n(pwn\/emb\/lnt)<\/p>",
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