Alatas leaves for New York for East Timor talks
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)