E. Timor welcomes Megawati's Independence Day remarks
E. Timor welcomes Megawati's Independence Day remarks
DILI, East Timor (AP): Political leaders and UN administrators
Friday hailed Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
acknowledgment of East Timor's independence and said they were
encouraged by her commitment to human rights.
On Thursday, Megawati said for the first time that she
respected East Timor's right to secede from Indonesia in her
state of the nation speech in Jakarta.
During her 21-month tenure as vice president, the staunch
nationalist who had opposed East Timor's independence pointedly
avoided meeting political leaders from the half-island territory
or officials of its UN administration.
East Timorese Nobel laureate Jose Ramos Horta praised Megawati
for saying the territory had the right to self-determination.
Horta said he was also encouraged by Megawati's promise to
bring to trial anyone proven guilty of human rights abuses.
"I am pleased with all the statements she has made in regard
to the human rights tribunal to be set up in Indonesia," he said.
UN administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello described Megawati's
statement as courageous.
"I applaud her wisdom and this shows she is a stateswoman,
which is what Indonesia and East Timor need," he told reporters
in the capital Dili.
Human rights activists have expressed concern that Megawati's
close ties with members of the military accused of human rights
abuses in East Timor could hamper a human rights tribunal.
Meanwhile, preparations for the territory's first democratic
election on Aug. 30 continue with only a few cases of voter
intimidation.
Three hundred East Timorese soldiers and over 800 local police
have joined UN police and military to boost security during the
vote, said de Mello.
Meanwhile in Canberra, Australia will send a nine member team
to East Timor to act as official observers to a historic ballot
this month, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Friday.
The delegation will include former deputy prime minister Tim
Fischer, politicians and nongovernment representatives, Downer
said.
East Timor goes to the polls on Aug. 30 to elect an 88-member
constituent assembly which will draft a constitution and steer
the nascent nation to full independence.
Downer said Australia had also provided financial support for
the upcoming elections, including help for the National Council
and support for civic education and electoral capacity-building.