RI, Portugal to sign historic E. Timor pact

UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): Indonesia and Portugal were set to sign a historic agreement on Wednesday that could lead to independence for the territory of East Timor, the climax to 15 years of sporadic negotiations at the United Nations.

"I am ready to sign," Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan before his final talks with Portugal's Foreign Minister Jaime Gama.

At issue is a wide-ranging plan for autonomy within Indonesia for the 800,000 people of East Timor, a former Portuguese colony that was integrated into Indonesia in 1976.

Should this be rejected in a U.N.-organized vote on August 8, Indonesia has said it was willing to quit the territory.

Gama and Alatas are to sign accords on autonomy, on security arrangements and on voting procedures, the result of some 15 years of sporadic negotiations at the United Nations.

Once the ministers sign at about 19:45 GMT, the main issue would be security, with fears mounting that the pro-Jakarta militia will prevent a proper vote.

Gama told Reuters it would be up to Annan to ascertain whether security provided by the Indonesian military and police was adequate for a ballot.

"Without security there will be no freedom for a free ballot," he said, adding that the agreement laid down "strict rules" of conduct for the Indonesian forces.

A small group of U.N. staff, the first of some 600 civilian personnel, have arrived in East Timor's capital of Dili to prepare for the ballot, with another contingent heading to the territory next week. U.N. officials said the number of U.N. civilian police advisers is not set and could range anywhere from 50 to 250 in addition to the 600.

Gama said U.N. officials would determine how many police to send for the operation, which will cost between $30 million and $45 million. The Security Council plans to create a trust fund this week.

East Timor has been marked by bloodshed since the government of President B.J. Habibie offered independence in January, unleashing fighting mainly by militia who want the territory to remain part of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, jailed East Timorese leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao has called for a United Nations peacekeeping force to be sent as soon as possible to the territory.

Xanana said in a statement the Indonesian military (TNI) could not be considered a neutral force in East Timor.

"It is therefore of vital importance that immediately after the agreement is signed, the UN establishes a permanent presence in the territory to implement mechanisms which will guarantee the population a gradual return to a peaceful environment."

His lawyer Johnson Panjaitan from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association said his client "suggested peacekeeping forces because what is needed is not just police to maintain security".

The government has agreed to a UN police presence, scheduled to arrive in East Timor on May 10.

Xanana, who chairs the National Council for East Timor Resistance (CNRT), said pro-Jakarta militias in East Timor "continue to threaten the population and force them to sign their allegiance to integration".

He said there was immediate need for food assistance, or clothing and medicine donations. (33/byg/prb)