Tripartite talks aimed at East Timor peace, security

Tripartite talks aimed at East Timor peace, security

JAKARTA (JP): Senior officials of Indonesia, Portugal and the
United Nations (UN) began two-day talks on Thursday aimed at
ensuring peace and security in East Timor during the critical
period between the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot and
Indonesia's final say on vote results.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said the participants
were focusing their attention on how to maintain public order,
step up reconciliation and prevent armed conflicts during the
"Phase Two" period.

"Indonesia, the UN and all other parties have a common
interest that during the period after, peace and public order can
be maintained and no armed conflict will erupt whatever the
result of the ballot may be," Alatas told the media after meeting
with President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace.

The minister accompanied the President in receiving UN special
envoy Jamsheed Marker and the United Nations Mission in East
Timor (UNAMET) chief Ian Martin.

Alatas said during the transitional period, the UN presence
would be strengthened in the territory and efforts would be taken
to boost reconciliation and disarmament between the two
conflicting parties.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has proposed to increase the
number of the UN military liaison officers and civilian police
contingents to about 710 personnel, Alatas stated.

He confirmed the President had endorsed Annan's plan, but
hinted the basic functions of the blue beret officers would not
change at all, and the Indonesian Police would remain the only
responsible party in preserving security and public order in the
province.

"Yes, in principle, it was agreed by both parties," Alatas
replied when asked whether the President approved of the plan.

The minister described the critical stage as a period between
the balloting day to around November when the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) would convene and "confirm" the
results of the ballot.

Marker said at the same media briefing he was satisfied with
the ongoing process ahead of the ballot, and expressed his
confidence the tripartite talks between the UN, Portugal and
Indonesia would be fruitful.

"We are dealing with a complicated situation, but I am
confident that we will be on the right track," Marker noted.

Marker praised the Indonesian government for the tremendous
improvement in the security situation in East Timor. "And I am
sure it will continue," he added.

Carter

Also at the media briefing, Alatas dismissed the statement
from the Carter Center, led by former U.S. president Jimmy
Carter, that Indonesian Military and Police assisted
prointegration groups in attempting to win the ballot.

"I think foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) tend to
be pessimistic in their judgment, and they sometimes draw
disproportional conclusions, so it is not only the Carter Center
which has a pessimistic view," Alatas commented.

The tripartite talks were attended by the Director General for
Political Affairs Nugroho Wisnumurti, his Portuguese counterpart
Fernando Neves, Marker and Ian Martin.

"We are going to discuss the second phase of the ballot
process and the presence of the United Nations until the
implementation of either option, autonomy or independence," Neves
told journalists before the meeting.

Separately, Minister of Defense and Security/ Indonesian
Military chief Gen. Wiranto reiterated the military would respect
the result of the ballot and ensure security in the troubled
province even if proindependence was decided.

"We will respect the international agreement," the general
disclosed after addressing a seminar in Jakarta.

Wiranto also vowed to ensure security during the critical
period between voting day and the MPR's General Session.

Separately, in New York, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard confirmed
on Wednesday the death of two students in the town of Viqueque,
apparently when Indonesian troops and prointegration militia
fired on the National Timorese Resistance Council (CNRT) office.

"The attack took place against a gathering of students ... Two
students were killed. One was shot in the head and the other in
the chest," Eckhard announced, as quoted by Reuters.

East Timor Police spokesman Capt. Widodo said only one person
was killed when two groups of youths clashed in Viqueque on
Wednesday, following a motorcycle theft from a local,
Hermenegildo, at the local market.

Widodo identified the victim as Mario Sores, 21, who was shot
in the forehead. He indicated the alleged thief was a
proindependence youth. The victim's friends then retaliated by
attacking the local military office, and the thief's friends
attacked the local CNRT office.

Viqueque regent Martinho Fernandes gave another version.
According to him, the fatal incident occurred when a group of
students backed by the CNRT, attacked the house of one of his
senior aides.

"It is possible there are different versions about the
incident," Widodo commented. (prb)