E. Timor talks relaxed but inconclusive Austria
E. Timor talks relaxed but inconclusive Austria
By Aboeprijadi Santoso
STADT-SCHLAINING, Austria (JP): The second round of talks
between groups of East Timorese on opposite sides of the
integration issue concluded today at Schlaining castle, some 200
kilometers from Vienna.
The first day of the All Inclusive Intra East Timor Dialog,
held under the auspices of the United Nations, was marked by a
relaxed atmosphere.
Controversial questions of cultural and religious identity as
well as the economy were raised, but the contentious issue of
East Timor's political status was not discussed.
The 14 Timorese from Indonesia and 14 from abroad arrived here
for a tightly scheduled round of talks, which began on Tuesday.
The first round was held at the same venue in June last year.
The atmosphere was "positive", said UN officer Tamrat Samuel.
"A good meeting," commented Indonesia's roving ambassador Lopes
da Cruz, who coordinated the East Timorese participants from
Indonesia.
The decision to hold the talks was made at the fifth meeting
between Indonesia's and Portugal's foreign ministers under the
auspices of the UN Secretary-General in Geneva in January 1995.
The first round marked the first gathering of East Timor's
political protagonists since the civil war in the region, which
ended in 1976 with East Timor's integration into Indonesia.
In a message written in Portuguese and read by his personal
envoy, Mgr. Antonio da Costa, influential Dili Bishop Mgr. Carlos
Felipe Ximenes Belo drew attention to what he called the problem
of survival facing the East Timorese people. The Bishop, who was
a prominent participant last year, was unable to attend because
of "pressing pastoral obligations" in East Timor.
He underlined that the church was not taking a position, but
taking part in order to improve the dialog. "After reconciliation
(in the first round) last year, now we have to improve the
spirit".
Steps need to be taken to preserve the cultural, religious and
historical identities of the East Timorese. "This is the message
from the Pope and me," said Belo.
Belo added that the East Timorese should agree to push the
governments of Indonesia and Portugal "to fulfill their
obligations toward the people of East Timor. If not, we will die
as a people and as a nation," he said.
Some controversy arose from the absence of Guilherme Maria
Gonzales, a liurai (king) of the East Timorese Atsabe tribe, who,
during the first round, rescinded his support of a 1975 document
which provided the formal basis for the region's 1976 integration
into Indonesia.
Some participants said Gonzales received the UN's invitation
only three days before the convention date, limiting his time to
get a visa, while the others received their invitations a month
earlier. The uncertainty created suspicion among some
participants, especially the East Timorese from abroad.
Jose Ramos Horta, a representative of the Fretilin anti-
integration movement, said he would raise the matter with the UN.
"We came here as individual East Timorese. I don't know why he
hasn't come," said Ambassador Lopes da Cruz.
It was also suggested that a forum of pro- and anti-
integration representatives be created to represent East Timor at
upcoming UN events.
"We haven't decided anything yet," said Ambassador Lopes da
Cruz. "I'm afraid we don't agree with it because we are already
being represented by Indonesia in the talks with Portugal".
Also emphasizing the importance of the current round of talks
was Abilio de Araujo, a former Fretilin hardliner who reconciled
with Indonesia and met with President Soeharto last December.