South Africa's Nzo pays visit on Xanana in prison<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Visiting South African Foreign Minister Alfred
\nNzo met with jailed East Timorese rebel Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\"
\nGusmao yesterday after being given permission by President
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by Indonesian protocol officers and South African
\nAmbassador Bafana S. Kubheka, Nzo arrived at Cipinang State
\nPenitentiary, in East Jakarta, at 1:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
He left an hour later refusing to comment or answer questions
\nfrom journalists, who were not allowed to enter the compound.<\/p>\n
There was no information as to whether Nzo was accompanied by
\nan Indonesian official during the meeting with Xanana or whether
\nSouth African President Nelson Mandela sent him a letter.<\/p>\n
Nzo, who arrived here Monday, met with President Soeharto at
\nhis private residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The South African minister delivered a personal letter from
\nSouth African President Nelson Mandela requesting that Nzo be
\nallowed to meet with the jailed Timorese leader.<\/p>\n
\"In his letter President Nelson Mandela asked (Soeharto) to
\nallow Foreign Minister Nzo to meet with Xanana Gusmao, and we
\nagreed,\" Alatas told journalists after accompanying Nzo to meet
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
Nzo himself seemed satisfied after meeting with Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"We got a very helpful briefing from the President about how
\nfar that issue (of East Timor) is proceeding,\" Nzo said as he
\nleft Soeharto's residence.<\/p>\n
Soeharto and Nzo also discussed the forthcoming Non-Aligned
\nMovement (NAM) summit in Durban, South Africa, in August.<\/p>\n
Nzo's afternoon visit is the second time Xanana has met a high
\nranking South African official.<\/p>\n
During his state-visit to Jakarta in July, President Mandela
\nmet with Xanana at the State Guesthouse after receiving approval
\nfrom President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Xanana is serving a reduced 20-year jail term for leading an
\narmed rebellion.<\/p>\n
East Timor was integrated into Indonesia as the country's 27th
\nprovince in 1976, a move which has never been recognized by the
\nUnited Nations, which still regards Portugal as the
\nadministrating power.<\/p>\n
Mandela has shown strong interest in attempting to help find
\nan international solution to the East Timor issue.<\/p>\n
Soeharto and Mandela have agreed to use quiet diplomacy and to
\navoid publicity in their joint efforts to settle the East Timor
\nquestion.<\/p>\n
Separately, Alatas said Monday that Indonesia would refuse
\nPortuguese aid for Indonesian non-governmental organizations and
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
\"I want to state that it is better (for the Portuguese prime
\nminister) to look after his own country's economy, which is not
\none of the advanced economies of Europe,\" Alatas said in response
\nto Prime Minister Antonio Guterres's recent offer. (prb\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/south-africas-nzo-pays-visit-on-xanana-in-prison-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}