Clinton, RI opposed on E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): United States President Bill Clinton may prove to be another obstacle blocking Indonesia's plan to shunt the issue of East Timor off the United Nations' agenda, says a senior researcher.

Dewi Fortuna Anwar of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences told The Jakarta Post yesterday that during the Cold War, the U.S. government did not put full pressure on Indonesia over East Timor because of Jakarta's anti-communist stance.

Today, the anti-communist safety net is no longer applicable, Dewi said. "Indonesia and United States are without doubt standing on different sides over East Timor," she said.

"President Clinton has promised to fight the 'undemocratic' conduct of other countries. East Timor is considered to be an 'undemocratic' problem of Indonesia, and now Clinton can't use the anti-communist apology anymore," she said.

She said the new UN secretary-general's plan to review the format of talks on East Timor and placing the issue on the world body's agenda may spell trouble for Indonesia.

"I am worried about Kofi Annan's plan to review the East Timor discussions in the UN," she said, on Indonesia's efforts to prevent the East Timor question from getting onto the UN agenda.

Ghanian Kofi Annan was elected UN chief late last year replacing Egyptian Boutros Boutros-Ghali after the U.S. gave him their full support. The UN does not recognize Indonesia's rule of East Timor and still considers Lisbon the administering power in the former Portuguese colony.

"We've been trying to push the East Timor question out of the spotlight," Dewi said. "Our diplomats always insist the issue is 'not negotiable' because the government says so. The problem is the rest of the world does not share this view and the government can't shut its mouth," she said.

Another researcher, Irman G. Lanti said diplomats should not be blamed. "Even the best salesman cannot sell damaged merchandise," he said. "Apart from (separatist leader) Jose Ramos Horta, we're the ones who have been making the East Timor question difficult to settle." (35)