East Timor talks set to conclude in April

East Timor talks set to conclude in April

JAKARTA (JP): Talks between Indonesia and Portugal on defining
the special status for East Timor may be completed by April,
opening the way for the decisive phase of negotiations on a final
solution to the two-decades-old issue.

Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas said during a fast-
breaking gathering with journalists here on Thursday that
officials were working on the "clarification" of the special
status proposal so that a more concrete picture could emerge.

"We hope this process can be concluded in the next few
months... hopefully by April," Alatas said.

The government of President B.J. Habibie mid-way through 1998
said it would offer a special status with wide ranging autonomy
to Indonesia's youngest province. East Timor was integrated into
Indonesia in 1976.

While details of the proposal are still being worked out, the
former Portuguese colony would be generally in charge of most
internal matters except for defense and foreign affairs, along
with financial policy.

Alatas noted that following this first phase of negotiations,
there would be a second "even more important" phase because there
remains strong differences between the positions of Indonesia and
Portugal.

Indonesia considers the special status offer as part of the
final solution.

"In other words there would be nothing more after that. There
would be no referendum," Alatas asserted.

The United Nations, which continues to regard Lisbon as the
administrative authority in East Timor, has been sponsoring
tripartite talks between Indonesia and Portugal.

Lisbon, along with East Timorese opposed to integration,
demand that a referendum be held.

Alatas contended that Indonesia's proposal is the most viable
as it does not side with either party in the integration debate.
It does not open up old wounds which could incite a civil war in
East Timor, Alatas said.

When pressed by journalists on the self-determination issue,
Alatas responded by launching a fierce attack against Portugal.

"Tell me which former Portuguese colonies have had the right
of self-determination? None.

"Why should we accept the arrogance of an ex-colonial power
who says that such a thing is necessary for East Timor while in
other places (colonies) their dismal record is there for everyone
to see.

"Self-determination, even though it isn't perfect, has taken
place in East Timor. At least more than in Mozambique, more than
in Angola," he said in an emotional outburst.

Alatas lamented that people had forgotten the colonial history
and that now Indonesia was being painted as the villain while
Portugal, "which has the worst colonial record in history", is
portrayed as a champion of democracy.

"Can you accept that? I can't. You will have to find another
foreign minister to accept that," he remarked.

"I'm too sensitive towards the historical struggle of our
nation to know what we are worth and what they are worth.

"Who are they? Who is (East Timorese separatist) Ramos Horta?
He calls himself a freedom fighter but he has never fought for
his freedom...What kind of freedom fighter is someone who is
getting paid by the colonial power?" Alatas said in a piercing
accusation.

Tansil

When asked about the progress of tracking down escaped tycoon-
convict Eddy Tansil, Alatas said that embassy officials in
Beijing met with Chinese officials on Tuesday.

"The government actually forwarded a letter on Dec. 31, but
due to various holidays it was not until Jan. 4 that a meeting
was held," Alatas explained.

"We are still waiting for an official response from the
Chinese government," he added.

The Movement of Concerned Citizens on State Assets (Gempita),
an independent corruption watchdog, claimed in December that
Tansil had fled to Putian, in China's Fujian province, and was
running a brewery there.

Tansil, 42, was serving the second year of a 17-year sentence
for corruption and violation of bank contracts when he escaped in
1996.

He was convicted of taking more than US$430 million in a
credit scam from the state-owned Bapindo bank between 1989 and
1991 for the construction of several chemical factories under his
Golden Key Group.

Despite the absence of an extradition treaty between the two
countries, Alatas said the initial reaction from Beijing "gave us
encouragement" that they were willing to work together.

"The Chinese government has shown tremendous attention to the
Indonesian government's call and said they would be willing to
track Eddy Tansil's whereabouts if he is in China," Alatas
said. (mds)