East Timorese urged to remain in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie urged East Timorese on Sunday to stay part of Indonesia and to vote with their conscience.

"I call on all East Timorese to remain with their Indonesian brothers and sisters and together we will build a more prosperous future," Habibie said in a televised speech on the eve of Monday's landmark ballot which will determine the future of East Timor.

Habibie reminded East Timorese of the Balibo Declaration of Nov. 30, 1976, when East Timorese decided to integrate with Indonesia, a decision that was welcomed by the Indonesian people and government.

In January, responding to increasing international pressure, Habibie first aired his readiness to let go of East Timor if its people rejected the government's offer of wide-ranging autonomy.

According to Habibie, the government had done its best to help develop the province since it became part of Indonesia. Citing an example, he said 93 percent of East Timor's development fund came from the central government, the rest from its own revenues.

"Despite the government's serious intention to help them, there are East Timorese who are still rejecting Indonesia's sincere help. The good intention of the majority of East Timorese is lost to efforts that have jeopardized the interests of the people of East Timor," said Habibie.

"Pass the message on to your children, relatives and those who are against (integration) to not waste this opportunity, to vote for a wide-range autonomy," said Habibie.

Some 450,000 East Timorese are eligible to vote on Monday to choose whether to accept or reject the autonomy offer. Indonesia has said it might give East Timor independence if the autonomy offer is rejected.

Habibie said Indonesia would uphold its obligations under a May agreement signed at the UN. "The government of the Republic of Indonesia, in line with the New York agreement, is ready to bear the responsibility of maintaining peace, security and law and order necessary for the popular consultation in East Timor," he said.

The May agreement signed with East Timor's former colonial power Portugal paved the way for Monday's ballot, but left security for the vote in the hands of Indonesian security forces.

In his speech, Habibie also dismissed accusations that Indonesia annexed the territory. Following Portugal's hasty withdrawal after a revolution in Lisbon, East Timor had been left disunited and fell prey to civil war.

Indonesia merely "assisted the process of decolonization by taking part in guaranteeing the wishes of the majority of the people in East Timor."

"I wish to reiterate the fundamental position of the Indonesian government, that it has never had the intention, ambition, or the policy to occupy any other territory outside of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.

Calling Monday's ballot "historic", the president said whatever choice East Timorese make "will carry an impact long into the future." (edt/lem)