Mandela sincere but knows less: Lopes

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia believes South African President Nelson Mandela is sincere in his efforts on East Timor, but feels he lacks thorough knowledge on the issue, a government official said yesterday.

"Like someone who arrives late to a movie and watches the film when it is almost over, he does not know the whole story," ambassador-at-large for East Timor affairs F.X. Lopes da Cruz said after meeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.

Since returning from a state visit here in July, Mandela has made three proposals on East Timor. All have been rejected by Jakarta.

In a letter to President Soeharto, Mandela urged the release of East Timor separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao who is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence.

Soeharto replied by saying Xanana could not be released because he is jailed for committing criminal offenses.

Mandela offered to host a meeting between opposing sides of the East Timor integration debate. Indonesia responded by saying it preferred to continue holding the meetings in Austria, venue of two earlier meetings.

Mandela's latest proposal to give East Timor special autonomy has also been rejected.

"Mandela must know that as a Unitarian state it is impossible for us to accept special autonomy for East Timor," Lopes said.

Despite disagreeing with Mandela's proposals, Lopes still held the South African president in high regard.

"He is a great statesman from a great country, but he hasn't had enough time to look at the details of the East Timor problem," he said. (prb)