Two matters concerning E. Timor

Two matters concerning E. Timor

From Rakyat Merdeka

The 1999 Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) should divide the East Timor problem into two. First, the initial policy of President B.J. Habibie and second, the result of that policy, the Aug. 30, 1999 referendum.

First, President Habibie's policy on East Timor is an internal matter which should have been rejected because:

* He made an agreement with a foreign body without allowing it to be ratified first. This is an insult to the House of Representatives (DPR).

* He failed to anticipate the effects of the referendum which has resulted in large-scale evacuations. These have caused misery and suffering to the people in East Timor and NTT.

* It has caused financial losses to the state above the state budget already agreed by the DPR. An action that inflicts a loss to the state should be penalized.

Second, the referendum is an external matter involving the international community. The MPR's Special Session should consider and decide on the following:

* Respect the wishes of the United Nations by relinquishing de facto the East Timor territory and formally hand it over to the United Nations.

Second, protect those East Timorese people who have declared themselves Indonesian nationals. The Special Session should not revoke the MPR decision that established East Timor's as Indonesia's 27th province until the establishment of a new East Timorese state that will guarantee their status.

I hope the above will be taken into consideration by the MPR members when discussing the East Timor problem.

SUHARTO SURODIPRODJO

Jakarta