Alatas says E. Timor dialog 'non-political'

Alatas says E. Timor dialog 'non-political'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas warned
yesterday that any attempt to discuss a political solution to the
East Timor problem at the reconciliation dialog opening this
weekend in Austria would fail.

"They can try but it won't succeed because it is a non-
political meeting," Alatas said yesterday in response to
questions that certain participants may bring up the issue of
integration.

A five-day All-Inclusive Intra-East Timor Dialog (AETD)
between pro- and anti-integration East Timorese is being held in
the small town of Stadtschlaining, 100 kilometers from Vienna,
Austria.

According to reports from Austria, the dialog, originally
scheduled to begin yesterday, was postponed a day because a
number of delegates arrived late.

The dialog is a follow up to a Jan. 9 meeting in Geneva
between Alatas and his Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao
Barosso. They agreed that a reconciliatory dialog between East
Timorese on both sides of the integration debate should be held.

However it was established that the dialog would avoid
discussing the political situation of the former Portuguese
colony and thus not become a second track to find an
internationally recognized solution to the issue of East Timor.

East Timor became Indonesia's 27th province in 1976. The
United Nations, however, still considers Lisbon the island's
administrative head.

"I will not be surprised if they try to do it in this
meeting," said Alatas on the prospect of political issues being
brought-up by anti-integrationists. "They can shout and scream
all they want, but it will not work."

According to Alatas, the ground rules of the dialog have
already been made clear. "Don't be influenced by their propaganda
that they can use or alter it into something which profits them."

"Our people also know the rules," he said referring to the 16
East Timorese on the Indonesia side.

The Indonesian delegation, which includes Bishop Carlos Filipe
Ximenes Belo and governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, is being
coordinated by senior Timorese politician Lopez da Cruz.

Fourteen exiled East Timorese, including Joao Viegas
Carrascalao, Manuel Tilman, Abilio Araujo and Fretilin leader
Ramos Horta, are taking part. They are from various separatist
groups.

Meanwhile, Portuguese television reported that Horta was
skeptical about the outcome of the dialog, saying that it was
"practically condemned to failure".

He stated that by restricting talks on non-political issues,
the dialog could not "address the fundamental question which is
self-determination."

"We don't have many illusions about the success or not of the
meeting," he remarked.

Earlier this week, Indonesia called 18 East Timorese boat
people landing in Darwin, Australia claiming to be victims of
torture an attempt to embarrass Jakarta ahead of the dialog.

A foreign ministry official said every time an important event
for Indonesia is about to take place, something is staged to
attract international attention and embarrass Indonesia.

Lopez expressed hope in a written statement released here
yesterday that the dialog could contribute to the on-going talks
between the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers.

"AETD is an historical event for East Timor because it brings
together East Timorese brothers from two-opposing sides," he
said.

He explained that although the political status of East Timor
will not be discussed, exiled East Timorese's participation in
the social development of the province could be brought up.(mds)