E. Timorese meet E. Timorese, part II in London
JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of 15 East Timorese left here for London last night for the second round of talks with fellow countrymen who oppose their homeland's integration with Indonesia and are now living in exile.
The pro-integration delegation is being led by F.X. Lopez da Cruz, who is President Soeharto's ambassador at large on East Timor affairs.
The meeting is the second to be held in the British capital as the two opposing camps seek to reconcile their differences.
The first meeting in December was seen as a major breakthrough because it marked the first time the opposing camps sat together since they went their separate ways in 1976.
Lending credence to that meeting was Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the daughter of President Soeharto and a highly successful businesswoman, who was subsequently appointed chairperson of the Indonesia-Portugal Friendship Association early this year.
The delegation consisted of government officials, legislators and informal leaders from East Timor. They will meet with the group led by Abilio Araujo, who is leading one of the anti- integration camps, from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. Araujo visited Indonesia and East Timor early this year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that the reconciliation talks will focus on ways East Timorese in exile could contribute to the development of their homeland.
"The community leaders will not discuss East Timor's political status but rather how the people in exile can make concrete contributions to all aspects of development in East Timor," the ministry's statement said.
The gathering is expected to take place in the "spirit of brotherhood and mutual respect" to plan socio-political programs.
UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the regular sponsor of Indonesia-Portugal talks on East Timor, will send an observer to the meeting.
Legislator Salvador Januario Ximenes Soares, a member of the Indonesian delegation, said the Araujo camp is one of four East Timorese groups in exile which opposes the territory's integration with Indonesia.
Sophisticated
The other groups led by Ramos Horta, Jose Guiterrez and Joao Carrascalao, are more sophisticated, causing world leaders and activists to listen to their anti-Indonesia propaganda, Salvador said.
"A comprehensive solution to the East Timorese question is possible with all of the four groups being approached," said the member of the House of Representatives (DPR) representing the ruling Golkar political organization.
The delegation heads will issue a joint declaration at the conclusion of the meeting.
The pro-integration delegates are also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Pope John Paul II in the Vatican on Oct. 5 and meet with Vatican Under Secretary of State Mgr. Claudio Caeli.
The political aspects, especially the question of sovereignty, is now being discussed between the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers under the auspices of Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
The two ministers are scheduled to meet next at the United Nations in January. (pan)