East Timor's independence endorsed

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) approved on Tuesday to relinquish East Timor after 23 years under the Republic of Indonesia.

Assembly commission B completed their deliberations of a draft decree repealing the 1978 decree which incorporated East Timor as Indonesia's 27th province. All factions agreed in their overview to accept the result of the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot in the former Portuguese colony.

More than 78 percent of voters in East Timor rejected Indonesia's wide-ranging autonomy offer in the United Nations- sponsored ballot.

Endorsement of the decree clears the way for a transitional UN administration prior to full independence for East Timor, for which preparations are already under way.

The Assembly factions, including the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction, agreed to scrap the old decree. However, the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle Party (PDI Perjuangan) did not make an explicit statement and reiterated its attack on President B.J. Habibie, who made the autonomy offer.

"East Timor is an example of a victim of the logic and calculation which sparked a decision based only on pragmatic reasons and not empathy," faction spokesman Laksamana Sukardi said.

The TNI/National Police faction said the Assembly had no choice but to repeal the 1978 decree because the international community had recognized the independence vote, despite many complaints over alleged irregularities during the ballot process.

"As a part of the international community we have to accept it," the faction said in its statement.

The Golkar Party of Reform faction said Indonesia must honor its commitment to the UN and international community to let East Timor separate from Indonesia because the majority of people had voted for independence.

The Assembly's endorsement was marked by an emotional statement by an East Timor-born legislator who regretted President B.J. Habibie's decision to let go of the territory without taking into account the fate of prointegration people or those who had sacrificed their lives for the integration.

"We lost our children, we lost everything and we do not know where to go, because the government just abandoned us like this," said tearful Golkar representative Natercia Osorio Soares.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais allowed Natercia to finish her statement. Presidential front-runner Megawati Soekarnoputri was also unable to hide her emotion and burst into tears. Probably for the first time during the General Session, a speaker received a standing ovation reception from the Assembly members.

Hand over

Speaking to reporters before the official endorsement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas indicated that Indonesia would likely hand over East Timor to the UN by the end of the year if the Assembly approved the ballot returns.

"The time is not definite, but it will be done by the United Nations in the short term, this year. It will be discussed together with the United Nations," Alatas said.

Meanwhile, East Timorese prointegration leader Basilio Araujo said he would accept the decision taken by the Assembly.

"We believe the 700 members of MPR have seriously pondered all the good and bad consequences of any decision they are going to take," Basilio told The Jakarta Post.

He said he did not feel sad if the Assembly decided to acknowledge the independence of East Timor and revoke the decree on the integration of the area into Indonesia.

"We feel very happy. Because we are free now from the burden of the military party ... we can now show to the world the genuineness of our struggle," Basilio said.

Basilio said the East Timor prointegration group would not make plans for their future until the new Cabinet revealed its policy on East Timor.

"After the policy is clear to us -- which we expect to happen about two weeks after the formation of the Cabinet -- we shall hold a national congress in Kupang to make choices for our future," Basilio said.

He said at the congress, prointegrationists would choose whether to continue the struggle or accept the offer of Indonesian citizenship.

"If we choose Indonesian citizenship, we have also to decide whether we shall live in East Timor or Indonesia. For the moment, it's not safe for us to remain in East Timor because Interfet keep chasing after us and want to kill us," he said, referring to the Australian-led multinational force assigned to restore order in East Timor.

Abilio said if the pro-Jakarta group chose to wage a struggle against an independent East Timor "we shall combine a physical struggle with diplomacy". (rei/jsk/byg/rms/prb)