EU urges RI to free jailed E. Timorese leader
EU urges RI to free jailed E. Timorese leader
BRUSSELS (Agencies): The European Union on Wednesday added its
voice to calls for Indonesia to free jailed East Timorese
guerrilla leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao and urged the
country to further reduce its military presence in the province.
Reuters reported that the Austrian EU presidency issued a
statement welcoming last week's accord between Portugal and
Indonesia to pursue talks on a proposal for autonomy for East
Timor.
"The European Union takes note of recent reductions in troop
numbers and encourages the Indonesian government to further
reduce its military presence in East Timor," it said.
"It calls upon the Indonesian government to expedite the
release of East Timorese political prisoners including Xanana
Gusmao".
On Monday United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged
Indonesia to free Gusmao "sooner rather than later" to let him
play a full role in the debate on the territory's future.
East Timor was abandoned by Portugal in 1974 and in 1976
integrated by Indonesia, a move which the United Nations has
never recognized.
The agreement in New York to pursue the Indonesian proposal
for sweeping autonomy broke a deadlock stretching back to 1983
when Portugal and Indonesia first met to discuss the future of
the troubled province.
Annan said Indonesian President B.J. Habibie had promised him
that more political prisoners would soon be released, although it
was unlikely that Xanana would be among them.
Annan said it was important that Indonesia had recognized that
Xanana, jailed for 20 years in 1992, had to be freed before
negotiations on Timor could be completed.
Meanwhile in Geneva, DPA reported yesterday that Indonesia has
pledged to work with United Nations human rights observers and
will allow them access to East Timor.
Agreement came in a document signed in the city by Human
Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson and a representative of the
Indonesian government.
The document remains valid for two years and envisages UN
backing for a new Indonesian plan of action on protecting human
rights.