Alwi to lobby UN over international tribunal on E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab left for New York Monday evening to convince United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and other Security Council members that an international tribunal on East Timor is not needed as Indonesia was earnestly resolving the matter through its own inquiry.

"I will hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Jan. 18 to show the UN that we have a credible national human rights inquiry and that we do not need an international war crimes tribunal," Alwi said here before departing.

The minister said he would present a progress report on the work of the government-sanction Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in East Timor to convince the world that Indonesia was capable of resolving the matter internally.

Jakarta is facing international pressure to bring to justice those parties guilty of human rights violations during the violence which erupted in East Timor following the self- determination referendum there.

United States Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke last week indicated that the UN Security Council would prefer the matter be resolved internally by Indonesia, provided there was no interference from the military.

Alwi said that if Indonesia could not prevent an international tribunal it would seek a joint investigation with Indonesian experts taking the lead.

Separately, visiting British deputy foreign minister John Battle suggested Indonesia study the findings of the international human rights inquiry led by Sonia Picado before outrightly rejecting an international tribunal.

"We want the report to be given to the Indonesian side first to reflect upon it and give a response," Battle said on Monday.

While in the United States, Alwi will also meet with senior State Department officials and Holbrooke.

From the U.S., Alwi will travel to Oman to attend the Indian Ocean Conference for two days, after which he will visit Abu Dhabi.

During his visit to the Middle East, Alwi will request concrete support from countries in the region.

"I just heard good news that Saudi Arabia sent two planes full of donations for Aceh and Kuwait will follow suit," he said. (04)