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.