Manila goes ahead with Timor conference

JAKARTA (JP): The conference on East Timor being held in Manila, the subject of heated dispute both here and in the Philippine capital, went ahead as planned yesterday after the Supreme Court overruled a lower court order for a temporary postponement.

This news was received calmly in Jakarta, in contrast to the emotional tones earlier when officials here expressed their displeasure with the Philippine government's refusal to bar the conference.

"We understand that Manila has made major efforts to prevent the conference from taking place, and we appreciate this," Irawan Abidin, the Director of Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The Jakarta Post yesterday. "But it is entirely their business whether or not to let it proceed."

Indonesia will monitor the conference, Irawan said, adding that "all we can do now is wait for the result of the meeting."

Indonesia had objected to the conference taking place, claiming that it was providing those who oppose East Timor's integration with a platform from which to attack Indonesia.

The Supreme Court ruling was seen as a victory for the conference's organizers, which include organizations that opposed the integration of East Timor with Indonesia. The conference proceeded, however, despite the absence of a number of foreigners, including East Timorese in exile, who were barred by the Philippine government.

Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, a senior East Timor politician, said on a separate occasion that the conference in Manila would not have any impact on East Timor's integration with Indonesia.

"They can have their conference. The people of East Timor will not be affected," Clementino was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying. "The integration is no longer subject to debate."

He acknowledged that the conference is aiding the campaigns of opponents of the integration by attracting international publicity.

Clementino, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights, said the pro-integration East Timorese too can be vocal if they so choose. "And we make up the majority," he reminded.

Meanwhile, news agencies reported that the row over the conference degenerated into physical clashes yesterday in Kuala Lumpur between Malaysians and Indonesians.

Sixteen Malaysians who were demonstrating outside the Indonesian embassy against Indonesia's handling of East Timor were beaten up by several people, believed to be Indonesians who took offense at their shouting Indonesian pembunuh (Indonesian murderers), witnesses said.

The crowd chased and pummeled the protesters, but was stopped by Indonesian embassy officials who allowed the Malaysians to enter the compound for protection.

A witness said a segment of the crowd chased the protesters into the compound before being turned back.

One of the attackers was quoted as saying that he was offended by the generalization that all Indonesians were murderers. "It would have been all right if they had blamed a particular person, but they said all Indonesians are murderers. That I can't take," said the man, identified only as Jono.

Police said the demonstrators could be charged under an emergency law imposed during race riots 25 years ago that bars groups of over five people from assembling in public. (pwn/emb/lnt)