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)