RI ready for UN debate on E. Timor: Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said that Indonesia is ready for an open debate on East Timor at the United Nations, should further talks with Portugal fail to produce substantial results.

Yesterday, at a hearing of the House of Representatives' Commission I on foreign policy and defense, Alatas said that the past seven meetings with Portugal had yielded nothing.

"So far no significant progress has been achieved, particularly because of the awkward and negative attitudes of the Portuguese," he said in a written response to questions from legislators.

Under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General's office, the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers have engaged in "tripartite talks" to find an internationally acceptable solution for East Timor.

The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976, but the UN still regards Portugal as its administrator.

The seventh tripartite meeting was held in London in January. Another meeting is scheduled for Geneva later this month.

Indonesia had accommodated the tripartite talks out of respect for the UN Secretary General, Alatas said.

"However, if the talks reach a point where they no longer provide an opportunity to find a solution, then of course we should find another policy," Alatas said. "As I have often stated, Indonesia has always been ready to return to a structure of open debate in the UN forum."

Meanwhile, some East Timorese are preparing to file a lawsuit against 400-years of Portuguese colonial repression. It will be filed at the permanent court of arbitration at The Hague.

Alatas said that although Jakarta perceives the East Timor question as primarily a political matter, "human rights issues have been used by anti-integration groups and certain countries to continually raise the East Timor issue."

Alatas said that it is important for Indonesia to keep improving its human rights' record. "Managing human rights' issues effectively will help our efforts to find a solution to the East Timor question," he said. (mds)