Australia concerned by East Timor moves

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday an independent East Timor could be a financial burden to Australia and reiterated his view that autonomy within Indonesia was a better option.

Howard was quoted by Antara as saying he did not oppose independence for the disputed territory as proposed by President B.J. Habibie, but argued it would make East Timor more vulnerable and "more lonely".

He also said a hasty decision to secede would impose a heavy financial weight on Australia.

Australia would be "appropriately generous" if the East Timorese people opted for independence, Howard said, adding, "but I am concerned about the potential burden".

In comments to a Melbourne radio station, he reaffirmed that he would prefer to see a period of autonomy for the former Portuguese colony which was integrated into Indonesia in 1976 -- a move which the United Nations never recognized.

Habibie said on Thursday that by next year he wanted an independent East Timor in order to free Indonesia from the burden posed by the province.

His comment followed a surprise announcement by the government last month that it would propose independence for East Timor if the people there rejected an offer of wide-ranging autonomy.

Habibie's remarks came a day after the government transferred Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao from Cipinang Prison to a special detention house in Central Jakarta, in order to allow the rebel leader to participate in finding a solution to the East Timor problem.

"It was a fair statement (by Habibie) and it is about time to solve the East Timor problem," Xanana said after meeting Anna Gomes, the head of the Portuguese interest section in Indonesia.

Xanana also said that everybody should be consulted about East Timor's future.

"In order to reach a peaceful solution, it is important to involve all sides in the dialog in order to reduce the possibility of a civil war," he said, adding that he had repeated his demand for an independent East Timor to Gomes.

"She asked me if I prefer autonomy or independence. It is clear what I want, not what I prefer ... I want independence for East Timor," Xanana said.

It was Xanana's first official visit since being moved to the detention house on Wednesday, after serving five years in Jakarta's Cipinang Prison. Xanana, 53, was arrested in 1992 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for his pro-independence activities. The government, however, insists that he was convicted of criminal charges, including the illegal possession of firearms.

Gomes told reporters that "the wish of the East Timorese people is the crucial element" in the efforts to seek a comprehensive solution to the disputed province.

Meanwhile, Antara reported that Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer would visit Indonesia and hold intensive discussions on East Timor with Habibie on Feb. 25.

The news agency said that Downer would also meet prominent East Timorese leaders in the coming weeks, including Nobel Laureate Jose Ramos Horta and senior members of the Fretilin resistance group.

Noting that Habibie had indicated the possibility of Indonesia granting the East Timorese independence as early as the beginning of next year, Downer said the details on any transition process were still not clear. "Australia has a keen interest in seeing a peaceful and orderly process," he said.

In Lisbon, Horta on Thursday called Habibie courageous, adding that it was the first time he had ever praised an Indonesian leader.

The deputy leader of the National Council for the Timorese Resistance was asked by journalists to comment on Habibie's call for the issue of East Timor to be resolved by the end of the year.

"If that is what he said it reflects the courage of a true statesman," Horta was quoted as saying after meeting Portugal's President Jorge Sampaio.

Separately, Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soegiono said on Friday that the military would support an independent East Timor if it was in the best interest of the country.

ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto stated two weeks ago the military would support the people if they wanted East Timor to be separated from Indonesia.

However, Wiranto, who is also the minister of defense and security, asked the nation not to forget the sacrifices made by the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives defending the territory's integration into Indonesia.

The general said the military would carry out the mandate of the country's highest institution, the People's Consultative Assembly, should it decide to grant East Timor independence. (byg)