Nelson Mandela calls for Xanana's release

PRETORIA, South Africa (Agencies): South African President Nelson Mandela called on Indonesia to free jailed East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao.

After holding talks on East Timor with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, Mandela told reporters yesterday he had recommended Xanana's release in a letter to President Soeharto.

"We can never normalize the situation in East Timor unless all political leaders, including Mr. Gusmao, are free," Mandela said. "They are the ones who must bring about a solution."

Mandela met with Xanana, who is serving a 20-year jail term for leading an armed rebellion, at Jakarta's state guesthouse on July 15.

Mandela said the discussions he had in Jakarta with Soeharto were very fruitful and constructive.

"I had the impression he gave a sympathetic view."

His statement came hours after a senior Indonesian official denied an earlier Portuguese press report that Mandela had asked for Xanana's release during the meeting with Soeharto in Jakarta.

"Mandela has never asked, directly or indirectly, for Xanana's release during his visit here," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono told reporters in Jakarta yesterday.

Officials were unavailable last night to confirm whether Mandela's letter had been received or to comment on the report.

But Fransisco Xavier Lopez da Cruz, a senior East Timorese politician and a staunch supporter of integration with Indonesia, had earlier underscored the fact that Xanana was convicted under the criminal law.

A call for his release, Lopez pointed out, was tantamount to calling for the release of all criminals.

Mandela's talks with Sampaio yesterday were the latest in his initiative, which began this month, to help find a solution to the East Timor question.

During his visit to Jakarta two weeks ago, Mandela met with Soeharto, Xanana and Lopez. Last week, he met with Jose Ramos Horta, the self-exiled spokesman of the East Timor armed separatist movement, in Pretoria.

Mandela has also said that he was inviting Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo to Pretoria.

Belo has not said whether he would go or not but told Antara yesterday that he had not received an invitation.

Moerdiono said yesterday that President Soeharto deeply respected Mandela's statesmanship and believed that his contribution to efforts at an international settlement would be very helpful.

Moerdiono recalled that Soeharto immediately agreed to Mandela's request to meet with Xanana in Jakarta.

"President Soeharto interpreted Mandela's request as an offer to assist in finding a solution to East Timor's international status," Moerdiono said at Merdeka Palace.

Separately yesterday, Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs said Mandela was acting in his private capacity as a great statesman in launching his East Timor initiative.

Mandela fully informed Soeharto of every step he was taking regarding East Timor, Alatas said.

"I just want to assist the process of negotiation ... and I do not intend to take over the process," Alatas quoted Mandela as telling Soeharto in their meeting.

Mandela has repeatedly said that his intention was to help, not undermine, the ongoing dialog between Indonesia and Portugal held under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, to settle the East Timor question.

East Timor integrated into Indonesia in 1976, a move which has not been recognized by the world body. The United Nations still regards Portugal as the administrating power.

In the ninth round of the UN-sponsored dialog in New York last month, the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Portugal agreed to initiate a lower-level official meeting to discuss specific details on bridging their differences.

The first meeting is slated for August. (06/10/emb)

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