Marker describes meeting with Gen. Wiranto helpful<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Visiting United Nations (UN) special envoy
\nJamsheed Marker said he was pleased with his meeting with Armed
\nForces Commander Gen. Wiranto here Monday which can be useful for
\nfuture dialogs on the East Timor issue.<\/p>\n
\"I had a good and very intensive meeting with Gen. Wiranto...
\nI'm very confident that this will help push forward the process
\nof dialog,\" Marker told journalists after the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"The general relayed to me his appreciation, and gave
\nindications of what the Indonesian government can also be doing,\"
\nhe said, adding that he hoped to have a meeting of senior
\nofficials in New York in January.<\/p>\n
He said he discussed with Wiranto all aspects of the East
\nTimor situation.<\/p>\n
The United Nations has been sponsoring tripartite talks
\nbetween Jakarta and Lisbon to find an internationally acceptable
\nsolution to the question of the former Portuguese colony which
\nwas integrated as Indonesia's 27th province in 1976.<\/p>\n
Marker, the UN Secretary General special envoy for East Timor,
\nhas been in Indonesia since Tuesday, and arrived back in Jakarta
\nSunday after a two-day visit to Dili.<\/p>\n
There he met with Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo along
\nwith leading pro-integration and pro-referendum figures.<\/p>\n
The result of his discussions will be reported to the UN
\nSecretary General and used as input when Indonesian and
\nPortuguese officials resume their dialog.<\/p>\n
Before leaving here Wednesday Marker is also scheduled to meet
\nwith President B.J. Habibie and Foreign Minister Ali Alatas.<\/p>\n
Since Habibie took over the presidency in May, Indonesia has
\ncome out with a new approach to the East Timor issue saying it is
\nwilling to give the youngest province a special status with wide
\nranging autonomy.<\/p>\n
However Jakarta remains adamantly against a referendum.<\/p>\n
When asked by journalists about the referendum question,
\nMarker said he was not surprised at Indonesia's position.<\/p>\n
\"That has always been the position of the Indonesian
\ngovernment. And the dialog we are continuing in New York is based
\non that position. I am not either surprised or disappointed,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Protesters<\/p>\n
When asked about the much reported protests, which saw pro-
\nreferendum protesters occupy the Dili airport runway at the end
\nof his two-day visit in the province, Marker said there was no
\nproblem at all.<\/p>\n
\"I was not occupied at Dili airport. I left the city very
\nhappily,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
Some 500 East Timorese protesters led by Forces Armadas
\nLibertacao National da Timor Leste (Falintil) group stormed
\nKomoro airport in Dili Sunday.<\/p>\n
They broke the security cordon and forced their way on to the
\nrunway.<\/p>\n
Marker was airlifted by a military helicopter to the
\nneighboring East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang.<\/p>\n
The protesters reportedly intended taking Marker as hostage
\nuntil their demands for a referendum were met.<\/p>\n
Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Alatas here on Monday regretted
\nSunday's incident.<\/p>\n
\"The incident has proved to our guest that the group, who
\ncommitted such an irrational act, is not tolerant towards other
\npeople,\" Alatas told reporters after a monthly coordinating
\nmeeting on political and security affairs.<\/p>\n
He, however, was confident that the incident would not
\ninfluence Marker's judgment on the East Timorese issue.<\/p>\n
\"I believe this incident will not create a negative impact on
\nIndonesia's image as Marker has visited East Timor several
\ntimes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
East Timor Governor, Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, also expressed
\nregret over the incident.<\/p>\n
Abilio called on all East Timorese to express their opinions
\nthrough legal channels as rallies often disturb daily life in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Resign<\/p>\n
In a related development, rumors were rife in Dili Monday that
\nGovernor Abilio Soares had resigned.<\/p>\n
Abilio himself however denied the rumors saying he was merely
\ntaking a month's leave.<\/p>\n
\"It's been some time since I took my leave. So from Dec. 22
\nthrough Jan. 22 I won't be in Dili to celebrate Christmas. I'll
\njust wish people a merry Christmas and a happy new year,\" Abilio
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Director General for Regional Autonomy and Public
\nAdministration Ryaas Rasyid of the Ministry of Home Affairs
\nconfirmed Abilio was only taking a brief sabbatical.<\/p>\n
\"No, he's not resigning, he is just taking leave,\" Ryaas told
\nThe Jakarta Post by phone on Monday.<\/p>\n
When asked about Abilio's deputy, Johannes Suryo Prabowo, who
\nhas submitted a letter of resignation, Ryaas said he has received
\nthe request.<\/p>\n
\"It will rest on President Habibie whether to grant the
\nrequest... If rejected he would have to continue in service as a
\nvice governor,\" Ryaas remarked. (imn\/33\/aan)<\/p>",
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