RI criticizes Portugal's role in Timor asylym issue
RI criticizes Portugal's role in Timor asylym issue
OSAKA, Japan (JP): Foreign Minister Ali Alatas indirectly
accused Portugal yesterday of encouraging East Timor youths to
seek asylum at foreign embassies in Jakarta.
The minister, who is attending the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation here, also lashed out at exiled East Timor rebel
leader Ramos Horta for the latest incident at the French embassy
in Jakarta along with previous incidents involving other
embassies.
He criticized Portugal's inaction and said the country was
sending Timorese students to embassies for asylum.
Alatas said that Indonesia so far has been the only country
committed to helping the UN secretary-general find a solution to
the East Timor problem.
While the UN has sponsored talks between Indonesia and
Portugal to resolve the status of East Timor, Alatas said,
"The Portuguese don't appear to be ready for it. But it could
change, perhaps with their new government."
"But again, as I have said, we need two hands to clap and so
far we've been clapping with one. The other hand is almost
motionless, except for sending students to embassies."
Indonesia, he said, is waiting to continue discussions with
the new government in Portugal.
Accusing Horta of being behind the asylum seekers, Alatas
described the asylum seekers as youths seeking a "free ticket" to
Portugal.
"It's a game and it's getting a little bit boring. Nobody is
persecuting them, everybody knows that, and one by one, every
embassy has rejected their (request for) asylum," Alatas told
reporters when asked for his comment.
As another five East Timorese asylum seekers left the French
embassy for Portugal yesterday, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
in Dili yesterday urged the government to examine the causes
behind the recent wave of Timorese fleeing the country.
The influential local leader said that the government should
talk with the East Timorese, assume more responsibility and
determine the reasons behind the departures. He said the
government cannot just turn a blind eye.
This shows the government is not responsible for its own
people, said the outspoken Catholic Bishop. The government should
try to find out the reason why so many youths are running away.
During the recent incidence of East Timorese seeking asylum at
foreign embassies in Jakarta, the government has invariably taken
a dispassionate stance, saying they are free to leave if they
want.
The International Red Cross representative in Jakarta, Henry
Fournier, said the group previously holed up at the French
embassy would be flying to the Netherlands on board KLM flight
832 to Portugal via Amsterdam.
The five youths have been identified as Rainaldo Da Silva, 25,
Martinho Maria Goncalves, 25, Carmo M. Soares, 19, Domingos De.
C. Matos, 26, Casimiro Goncalves, 25.
Their departure marks the sixth occurrence in two years of
Timorese seeking passage to Portugal. Another 21 Timorese left
for Lisbon last week after seeking refuge at the Japanese
Embassy.
Prior to the latest departure, a group of 11 young pro-
integration Timorese staged a protest in front of the French
embassy.
They hung banners reading "East Timorese seeking asylum are
traitors" and "East Timor is a legitimate part of Indonesia. The
question of integration is done, don't interfere in Indonesia's
domestic affairs."
One of the 11 demonstrators, Mariano da Costa, who met with an
embassy official, said "embassy officials asked us not to prevent
the departure of the five East Timorese since they have asked to
be sent to Portugal and not to France." (emb/yac/01/mds)