Alatas leaves for New York for East Timor talks

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas left for New York yesterday to discuss Indonesia's proposal for wide- ranging autonomy for East Timor with his Portuguese counterpart Jaime Gama under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan.

Alatas expressed hope Saturday that Portugal would show flexibility during the two-day negotiations opening today by accepting the proposal or at least showing greater willingness to discuss its details with Indonesia.

"It is time now for Portugal to do something because if not it will be very difficult to reach a solution," Alatas said after meeting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Cohen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said Indonesia was ready to discuss several models of autonomy, including that of the Mindanao autonomous region in the southern Philippines. Alatas mediated the negotiations to settle the Mindanao question several years ago.

Alatas hinted the autonomy scheme would be a final, not intermediate, solution to the East Timor question.

"We will discuss the elements of the autonomy in New York. From that we can conclude that this is not a unilateral autonomy but a wide-ranging autonomy which is in line with international models of autonomy."

President B.J. Habibie sent Alatas in June to convey his special autonomy proposal to Annan.

Habibie pledged to withdraw Armed Forces (ABRI) troops from the country's youngest province. A group of 398 combat soldiers left Dili last Tuesday in the first phase of the plan.

East Timor Military chief Col. Tono Suratman said the number of ABRI personnel would be decreased from the current 12,000 to 11,000.

East Timorese activists charge the number is still too high compared to the province's 800,000 population.

Under Habibie's plan, the province will also be allowed to handle its own affairs except for security and defense, foreign and financial affairs.

In response to Habibie's proposal, Annan sent back his special envoy on East Timor, Jamsheed Marker, to Jakarta and East Timor last month to discuss the details with various parties.

East Timor was integrated as Indonesia's 27th province in 1976. The UN, however, still regards Portugal as the administrative power in the territory.

Alatas dismissed the statement of jailed East Timor separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao who said Thursday that a referendum should be held in the province.

"This (autonomy) is far more practical and realistic and far more peaceful than through referendum," Alatas said.

Meanwhile, AP reported from Lisbon that Portugal would support East Timor's right to self-determination during the meeting.

"The general principle for a solution of the East Timor problem is international law and the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly. Naturally, self-determination is an essential aspect in that context," Gama said.

Gama was speaking after a meeting of the Council of State, a body of handpicked advisors to President Jorge Sampaio.

The council was summoned to discuss the East Timor issue prior to Gama's talks with Alatas. (prb)