Team to work out parting of ways with East Timor
Team to work out parting of ways with East Timor
JAKARTA (JP): A presidential decree issued on Tuesday laid the
foundation for the establishment of a national team to iron out
details of the transition of East Timor to an independent state.
"The team will be under the coordination of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to negotiate many issues with the United Nations
Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)," Interim
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Surjadi
Soedirdja said after leading a monthly coordination meeting.
"The team will negotiate issues such as former civil servants,
refugees and cross border agreements as preparations are made for
East Timor independence."
Decree No.47/2000 stipulates that the team will comprise
officials from several ministries.
Since Indonesia officially revoked a decree integrating East
Timor as part of Indonesia, the United Nations has been charged
with administering the territory until its independence.
Negotiations are expected to focus on 13 fields, which include
borders, exclusive economic zones, area boundaries, refugees and
the status of former civil servants who choose to go home to East
Timor.
Also due for discussion is the status of Indonesian national
assets in East Timor.
Surjadi also said the UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR)
had asked Indonesia to extend the time for settlement of refugees
by another 12 months.
"However, the government will push for a quicker settlement
than the proposal," he added.
The government has set a March 31 dateline for the remaining
100,000 refugees from East Timor in East Nusa Tenggara province
to choose their nationality.
The government will also stop humanitarian aid to the
displaced people on that date.
"We would like to settle the remaining issues as soon as
possible," Surjadi said.
Separately, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said that his
office in coordination with military headquarters would provide
opportunities for members of East Timor militias to serve as
civil servants or join transmigration programs.
"The only way is to propose a socioeconomic package for them
so they will not a be a problem in the neighboring area or along
the border," Juwono said after the meeting.
Juwono said Army battalions 744 and 755 comprised troops from
East Timor.
"I will transfer these soldiers and I am coordinating this
also with the military headquarters," he added. (dja)