Mixed reactions greet new stance on E. Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The bombshell announcement that Indonesia is
\nwilling to grant independence to East Timor in 2000 has drawn
\nreaction from both home and abroad, while fears of further unrest
\nin the province have escalated.<\/p>\n
Nugroho Wisnumurti, a senior official at the Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs, said in New York on Friday that the offer was a
\nscenario rather than a policy and described it as a \"second
\noption\".<\/p>\n
\"Greater autonomy for East Timor is the best choice at present
\nand we will push for a final solution involving this.<\/p>\n
\"However, if it is rejected, we must have a second option,\"
\nNugroho was quoted by Antara as saying after a meeting at the UN
\nheadquarters with his Portuguese counterparts and the UN special
\nenvoy for East Timor Jamsheed Marker.<\/p>\n
Despite the new developments, Marker said the UN-sponsored
\ntripartite talks on East Timor would continue to focus on special
\nautonomy for the province.<\/p>\n
\"What we are going to do is concentrate on the UN's proposal
\non broad autonomy for East Timor,\" Marker said.<\/p>\n
He said the Indonesian government had been discussing a
\npossible scenario and not announcing a categorical shift in
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has insisted that any solution involving greater
\nautonomy for the troubled province must be final, despite
\nwidespread support for a settlement involving autonomy and a
\nreferendum on the future of the province between five and 10
\nyears later.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has argued that a referendum would trigger a civil
\nwar in the province.<\/p>\n
Nugroho said the government had no intention of abandoning
\nEast Timor in the way Portugal abandoned 23 years ago, leaving
\nfactions of armed civilians fighting each another.<\/p>\n
Violence<\/p>\n
However, on Friday, a Catholic priest in Suai, 300 kilometers
\nsouth of Dili, told The Jakarta Post that there were signs of
\nimpending unrest in the province.<\/p>\n
Francisco Soares said that a paramilitary group who were
\ntrained and armed by the Indonesian Armed Forces have been
\nterrorizing villagers in Ainaro regency.<\/p>\n
Five thousand people have fled their homes and are currently
\nsheltering in a church.<\/p>\n
Francisco said that six people -- including a pregnant woman
\n-- had been shot dead by the paramilitary gang, who were using
\nweapons provided by the military.<\/p>\n
He said the deaths reportedly occurred in the subdistrict of
\nZumalai.<\/p>\n
The head of the East Timor Military Command, Col. Tono
\nSuratman, was not available to confirm the reports.<\/p>\n
Francisco said that officials from Covalima regency and
\nmembers of the Armed Forces -- including Col. Suratman himself --
\nhad been unable to ease the tension.<\/p>\n
In Dili, around 20 youths favoring a referendum goaded
\nparticipants at a seminar organized by pro-integration activists.
\nThe seminar, which was attended by Col. Suratman, passed without
\nfurther incident.<\/p>\n
Comments<\/p>\n
Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo called for local
\nleaders to travel to Jakarta to seek clarification of the latest
\ndevelopments and relay their findings to the people. That, he
\nsaid, would help to avoid the spread of panic.<\/p>\n
\"I must say that Indonesian politicians finally appear to
\nunderstand that there are problems in East Timor and they need a
\nsolution. But the solution must be arrived at through intensive
\nnegotiation and dialog,\" Antara quoted him as saying in Dili.<\/p>\n
Belo said that broad autonomy remained the best solution for
\nthe province, but added that the East Timorese should be given
\nthe final say on their status through a referendum held after 10
\nto 15 years of autonomy.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas has said that such an
\narrangement would be too costly for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The coordinator of the National Movement for Justice and Unity
\n(GKPB), Siswono Yudohusodo, and Gadjah Mada University sociology
\nprofessor Lukman Soetrisno separately criticized the government's
\nrecent announcement on East Timor and described it as unwise.<\/p>\n
\"The government's recent proposal has not come at the right
\ntime...East Timor is an integral part of the Republic of
\nIndonesia,\" Siswono said.<\/p>\n
The offer of broader autonomy should serve the same purpose,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
\"Morally, Indonesia is responsible for preventing the citizens
\nof an independent East Timor from fighting one another,\" Lukman
\nsaid, adding that broad autonomy followed by a referendum at a
\nlater date would be the best settlement for the province.
\n(01\/ivy\/aan\/33)<\/p>",
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