Clinton, RI opposed on E. Timor

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Today, the anti-communist safety net is no longer applicable,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)