Marker describes meeting with Gen. Wiranto helpful

JAKARTA (JP): Visiting United Nations (UN) special envoy Jamsheed Marker said he was pleased with his meeting with Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto here Monday which can be useful for future dialogs on the East Timor issue.

"I had a good and very intensive meeting with Gen. Wiranto... I'm very confident that this will help push forward the process of dialog," Marker told journalists after the meeting.

"The general relayed to me his appreciation, and gave indications of what the Indonesian government can also be doing," he said, adding that he hoped to have a meeting of senior officials in New York in January.

He said he discussed with Wiranto all aspects of the East Timor situation.

The United Nations has been sponsoring tripartite talks between Jakarta and Lisbon to find an internationally acceptable solution to the question of the former Portuguese colony which was integrated as Indonesia's 27th province in 1976.

Marker, the UN Secretary General special envoy for East Timor, has been in Indonesia since Tuesday, and arrived back in Jakarta Sunday after a two-day visit to Dili.

There he met with Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo along with leading pro-integration and pro-referendum figures.

The result of his discussions will be reported to the UN Secretary General and used as input when Indonesian and Portuguese officials resume their dialog.

Before leaving here Wednesday Marker is also scheduled to meet with President B.J. Habibie and Foreign Minister Ali Alatas.

Since Habibie took over the presidency in May, Indonesia has come out with a new approach to the East Timor issue saying it is willing to give the youngest province a special status with wide ranging autonomy.

However Jakarta remains adamantly against a referendum.

When asked by journalists about the referendum question, Marker said he was not surprised at Indonesia's position.

"That has always been the position of the Indonesian government. And the dialog we are continuing in New York is based on that position. I am not either surprised or disappointed," he said.

Protesters

When asked about the much reported protests, which saw pro- referendum protesters occupy the Dili airport runway at the end of his two-day visit in the province, Marker said there was no problem at all.

"I was not occupied at Dili airport. I left the city very happily," he asserted.

Some 500 East Timorese protesters led by Forces Armadas Libertacao National da Timor Leste (Falintil) group stormed Komoro airport in Dili Sunday.

They broke the security cordon and forced their way on to the runway.

Marker was airlifted by a military helicopter to the neighboring East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang.

The protesters reportedly intended taking Marker as hostage until their demands for a referendum were met.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Alatas here on Monday regretted Sunday's incident.

"The incident has proved to our guest that the group, who committed such an irrational act, is not tolerant towards other people," Alatas told reporters after a monthly coordinating meeting on political and security affairs.

He, however, was confident that the incident would not influence Marker's judgment on the East Timorese issue.

"I believe this incident will not create a negative impact on Indonesia's image as Marker has visited East Timor several times," he said.

East Timor Governor, Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, also expressed regret over the incident.

Abilio called on all East Timorese to express their opinions through legal channels as rallies often disturb daily life in the province.

Resign

In a related development, rumors were rife in Dili Monday that Governor Abilio Soares had resigned.

Abilio himself however denied the rumors saying he was merely taking a month's leave.

"It's been some time since I took my leave. So from Dec. 22 through Jan. 22 I won't be in Dili to celebrate Christmas. I'll just wish people a merry Christmas and a happy new year," Abilio said.

In Jakarta, Director General for Regional Autonomy and Public Administration Ryaas Rasyid of the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed Abilio was only taking a brief sabbatical.

"No, he's not resigning, he is just taking leave," Ryaas told The Jakarta Post by phone on Monday.

When asked about Abilio's deputy, Johannes Suryo Prabowo, who has submitted a letter of resignation, Ryaas said he has received the request.

"It will rest on President Habibie whether to grant the request... If rejected he would have to continue in service as a vice governor," Ryaas remarked. (imn/33/aan)