E. Timorese leaders divided over solution

E. Timorese leaders divided over solution

KRUMBACH, Austria (JP): East Timorese leaders remain divided
over finding an acceptable solution for their tiny territory
while representatives at a forum here even differ on issues
allowed to be discussed.

Sunday's second day of sessions of the fourth All Inclusive
East Timorese Dialog (AIETD) at Krumbach Castle ended in anger
and disappointment among participants supporting proposals for a
referendum to determine the province's status. The four days of
dialog sponsored by the United Nations end on Tuesday.

East Timorese led by Jose Tavarez, a diplomat at the
Indonesian Embassy in Brussels, said an earlier agreement not to
discuss political matters related to the province's future should
be respected.

But another group which included Nobel Prize co-winner Jose
Ramos Manuel Horta tended to push for a discussion on a
referendum. Meanwhile, the envoy of UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan, Jamsheed Marker, said the dialog should contribute
initiative and help prepare for self-rule even if the political
and legal framework of autonomy was still under discussion.

A member of the National Commission on Human Rights,
Clementino do Reis Amaral, said he agreed to self-rule "if it
could be scientifically proven that is it economically viable for
East Timor to have self-rule".

Horta said if the slow pace of negotiations continued, the
East Timorese would not wait until the tripartite meetings
scheduled for later this month or December. "East Timor's fate
will be decided... from the streets in East Timor," he said.

He had insisted on Saturday that he only agreed with
transitional autonomy for the province, while his opponents
argued that autonomy was a final solution.

At the opening Horta had told the 41 participants to focus the
discussion on his proposal for a referendum scheme.

"Instead of plenary sessions without concrete results, as in
the past, we wish to be clear and concrete. We call on the AIETD
participants to freely support and sign our document," Horta
said. According to Horta's proposition, the transition would take
from two years to five years, after which an internationally
monitored referendum should be held in East Timor.

A member of East Timor's legislative council, Florentino
Sarmento, said the Indonesian government's plan for special
autonomy would be the best alternative because the province might
face anarchy and civil war.

In Dili, Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said jailed
Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao should be included in any peace
efforts.

"Without the participation of Xanana, the problem of East
Timor will drag on indefinitely," said Belo, who jointly won the
1996 Nobel Peace Prize with Horta. AFP quoted him as expressing
hopes that the Austria talks "can talk openly about political
problems and the economic capability of East Timor," Belo said.

President B.J. Habibie assured Belo in June that he would
withdraw Armed Forces (ABRI) troops from the territory and grant
it special autonomy.

ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto denied on Friday reports that the
number of soldiers had increased up to 17,834 in the province.

According to official government figures, soldiers there
numbered not more than 10,500, mostly for territorial works.

AFP reported Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama as saying
that he would meet a UN official in Austria on Tuesday to discuss
reports on the alleged military buildup. (Aboeprijadi
Santoso/prb)