Support voiced for E. Timor reconciliation dialog

Support voiced for E. Timor reconciliation dialog

JAKARTA (JP): East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares
expressed support on Monday for a reconciliation dialog planned
by Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and Baucau Bishop
Basilio do Nascimento for Sept. 10 and Sept. 11.

Abilio, as quoted by Antara in Dili on Monday, however
apologized that he would not be able to attend the dialog,
planned to help unify East Timorese, because he was scheduled to
attend meetings in Jakarta and Bali. The dialog is scheduled to
take place in Dare, some 10 kilometers south of Dili.

While receiving Belo and the chairman of the dialog's
organizing committee, Fransisco Kalbuadi, Abilio said he expected
participants to sit side by side "without shouting at one
another".

Belo told the governor the church would not take sides, adding
that the final statement to be made after the dialog would not
contain any suggestions for a political solution to the East
Timor question.

Contacted from Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, Belo told The
Jakarta Post that he hoped for the support of the military
to reduce tension in the area. "We're giving all parties a chance
to hold an open dialog to seek better steps (to peace)," he said.

A special representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was quoted in Dili on Monday as saying that he was visiting the
territory to seek input for an autonomy concept being drafted by
the international body. Antara quoted Francesc Vendrell as saying
that he was meeting with various parties to ensure that the
concept would be in accordance with the people's wishes here.

The news agency also quoted on Monday the chief of the local
military resort in Dili, Col. Tono Suratmat, as saying: "All
Armed Forces personnel, including the police,fully support the
dialog so long as it is held for the good of the East Timorese."

Belo said the dialog would be attended by only 50 invited
participants living in East Timor, representing various political
and educational backgrounds.

Those living outside East Timor, in Jakarta for example, and
the territory's separatists would not be invited, he said.

Belo stressed all parties would be represented, even members
of the National Committee of Indonesian Youth, known to be close
to the ruling Golkar party.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, the Armed Forces denied it had deployed
more troops to East Timor, saying that any new personnel there
were routine replacements.

Armed Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif made the
statement on Monday in response to reported plans by a non-
governmental organization to announce the addition of additional
troops in the province.

Antara quoted activist Bonar Tigor Naipospos, chairman of
Solidamor, as saying he had information and photographs of the
arrival of the new troops after a recent trip to the province.
(yac/anr)