Prointegration leader backs referendum

JAKARTA (JP): A Portugal-based East Timorese leader who supports the territory's integration into Indonesia believes Jakarta should have nothing to fear from a referendum in the former Portuguese colony.

Abilio Araujo, who has taken up Portuguese citizenship, also urged Indonesia to release separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao as part of the effort to find a lasting solution to the question of East Timor.

In an interview here Saturday, Abilio said Lisbon had no intention of repossessing its former colony.

"If the result of the referendum says that East Timorese want to join Indonesia, the Portuguese government will have nothing to say other than accept it."

The native of Aileu regency in East Timor said Portugal only wanted to understand that the East Timorese's choice to join Indonesia was purely their own.

"Portugal neither recognizes the unilateral declaration of independence by Fretilin in November 1975, nor the declaration of independence by the coalition of parties opposing Fretilin in December of the same year," he said in referring to the outlawed East Timor independence movement.

Abilio was accompanied by Judith J. Dipodiputro, assistant to chairwoman of the Indonesian-Portugal Friendship Association (PPIP) Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, during the interview. Hardijanti is the eldest daughter of former president Soeharto.

Groups of East Timorese have come out publicly in recent weeks to demand a referendum in the territory, including thousands of students who converged in Jakarta early this month.

The government and many prointegration leaders in East Timor have rejected the referendum plan, saying that it would only further antagonize divisions and reignite civil war.

As a compromise, President B.J. Habibie's government has instead offered greater autonomy for the province.

East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said in Dili yesterday that he would hold a dialog with the community leaders in the province about the latest proposal.

"If the we get approval, a 'green light' from the central government then we will meet to draft a concept with all socio- political forces in the province," he said. "But the framework still has to be with the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia".

"This will not only be useful domestically but also from an international standpoint because the United Nations can then also look to see whether its any good," he added.

He further maintained that calls for a referendum would not be worthwhile for the East Timor because it would be resolve the problem.

"Please not that anywhere in the world, that dialog, not a referendum, is what resolves conflicts," he remarked.

Separately, rebel leader Xanana Gusmao flatly rejected Habibie's proposal.

The gesture would not solve the problem in East Timor, Xanana told friends who visited him at his Cipinang penitentiary here to celebrate his 52nd birthday.

"There won't be a solution to the East Timor issue without a referendum. This is something the Indonesian government must understand. Only a referendum will guarantee a solution that is just as well as a stable and lasting peace," Xanana said as quoted by Reuters.

"I think the problem of autonomy is not a relevant problem because autonomy is just a consequence of the integration and it is not an alternative solution," he said in an interview.

Divide

While agreeing to the idea of a referendum, Abilio said the poll should not simply focus on whether to remain part of Indonesia.

"The referendum is not supposed to provide 'yes or no' options over East Timor's integration into Indonesia as it will divide East Timorese into two groups," he said, "One group wants to integrate with Indonesia, while the other one is against it."

"There should not be any civil war in East Timor anymore."

He recommended that the two camps meet first to discuss what exactly the referendum would ask East Timorese to choose.

Abilio hailed Habibie's offer of a special status for East Timor. "It will help break the stalemate in the prolonged Indonesia-Portugal negotiations."

He also argued that Xanana's release would facilitate efforts for reconciliation. (imn)