U.S. supports 'free and fair RI elections'

U.S. supports 'free and fair RI elections'

JAKARTA (JP): Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright said on Thursday that her country fully supports a fair
and peaceful election in Indonesia, and hinted it would not
support a specific candidate.

The state secretary said together with the international
community the U.S. was ready to provide assistance to help
Indonesia as it works to ensure the elections are credible and
honest.

"The United States does not support any particular candidates
but we do support the process that we hope will be peaceful, free
and fair during and after the election, in which of course the
people's voice is heard, and the popular mandate for political
and economic reform is recognized," Albright said during a joint
media conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas at
the latter's office.

She pointed out that her country was also ready to assist
Indonesia during this critical time as it tries to achieve
economic recovery.

Albright said her discussions with the country's leaders would
be mainly focused on the general election, the country's
political and economic reforms, and East Timor.

"This is a critical moment in the history of one of the
world's great nations," she insisted.

Albright and her entourage arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma
Airport on a special flight at about 5.35 p.m for a two-day
visit. According to Antara, this visit also caused traffic
congestion as she was being escorted from the airport to Alatas'
office.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tightly guarded during her
talks with Alatas. Apart from U.S. security guards, several
police personnel were deployed inside the building.

On Friday, the state secretary is scheduled to meet with
President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace. This will be followed
by a meeting with Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces
(ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto.

Before leaving Indonesia, she also plans to meet with jailed
East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao,
chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais and
chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Albright praised Indonesia's new offer to grant either wide-
ranging autonomy or independence to East Timor. However, she also
expressed her great concern about continued violence and fighting
among the East Timorese and the adverse economic impact of this
during the transition period in the territory.

Alatas reiterated the government view that ABRI has never
armed any pro-integration groups in East Timor, as alleged by
their rivals. He argued that as the country is even offering
independence, the government has no interest in inciting violence
among groups there.

"Of course we do not deny that some of these groups, in their
fighting, apart from using machetes, or arrows ... turn out
to ...have ... firearms, but these are definitely not firearms
supplied by the Armed Forces," Alatas said. (prb)