Habibie plans another meeting with Bishop Belo, Yunus says

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie told his Cabinet ministers on Wednesday that he planned to have another meeting with Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo as part of his prosperity and cultural approach to the province.

Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus, whose wife Antonia Ricardo is an East Timor native, said that the President ordered his Cabinet ministers to review the progress made toward a solution to the question of East Timor during the last six months.

"After that the President (plans) to meet again with Bishop Belo," Yunus said after attending a six-hour Cabinet meeting on political affairs and security at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Just one month after replacing president Soeharto in May, Habibie invited Belo to Bina Graha for a meeting.

Habibie promised to grant wide-ranging autonomy for East Timor, which was integrated into Indonesia in 1976. The United Nations does not recognize Jakarta's rule and still regards Portugal as the administrative power of its former colony.

Habibie also promised to gradually withdraw the military from the tiny province of 800,000.

At that time, Belo told journalists that Habibie was shocked by his reports of the poor protection of human rights in the province, including the restriction on travel from one village to another.

"Even Rome or Jakarta was not built in one night. It needs time, patience and cooperation. What is important is strong goodwill," the 1996 Nobel Peace co-laureate said in praise of Habibie's strong will to settle the problems in East Timor after their last meeting.

People in East Timor, including pro-independence groups, acknowledged that the military had become less repressive in the last six months.

The President, however, consistently ruled out granting independence to the province, saying that East Timor actually needs Indonesia more than Indonesia needs East Timor.

The President assured visiting United Nations Special Envoy for East Timor Jamsheed Marker on Tuesday that he was sincere and serious in seeking an internationally accepted settlement for East Timor.

Marker left Jakarta on Wednesday after having a series of meetings with top ministers and jailed East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao. Marker urged the government to release Xanana as part of the comprehensive solution for the province.

Marker's visit to Dili last week was marred by noisy demonstrations and some student protesters who allegedly tried to take Marker hostage. (prb)