Xanana cautious over new deal

JAKARTA (JP): Jailed East Timorese leader Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao has responded cautiously to the agreement between Indonesia and Portugal on the autonomy package for the troubled territory.

Xanana's lawyer Hendardi said his client was circumspect about Friday's agreement resulting from the United Nations-sponsored tripartite dialog in New York, because he had yet to receive details.

"Our client has yet to be informed about results of the dialog and constraints that have delayed the signing of the final agreement to May 5," Hendardi said in a press release on Sunday.

"In the eyes of our client, it would be fair and a must for the UN to provide the information to our client, considering the talk/dialog deals with the direct interest and future of the people of East Timor."

The press release also quoted Xanana as saying the delay appeared to hinder the settlement process, an action incompatible with previous statements issued by President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto of a quick resolution for the troubled province.

According to Xanana, foot-dragging on the settlement process would lead to further violence, because, despite the recent peace agreement, "there is no sign of improvement (in the territory), especially (regarding) the violence which is still taking place inland".

Despite the expression of concern, Hendardi said Xanana, also president of the National Resistance Council for an Independent East Timor (CNRT), hoped Indonesia and Portugal showed their commitment to seeking a comprehensive and quick solution to the East Timor issue.

On Friday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his Portuguese counterpart, Jaime Gama, completed an agreement which will allow 800,000 people in East Timor to vote on their future in either July or August.

The deal will only be signed on May 5, because the two sides have yet to agree on security and voting arrangements.

The East Timorese capital of Dili was calm on Sunday following the announcement of the agreement, AFP reported.

United States Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton Roy arrived in Dili on Sunday for a short visit, which he said was aiming at gathering the views of the various factions in East Timor.

"I am here with full (Indonesian) government approval ... I am here because I haven't been here for a year and I thought it would be useful to come back again," Roy said shortly after arriving in the provincial capital.

Roy, who was accompanied by three other diplomats, including the defense attache, said he was to meet with Dili Bishop Carlos Ximenes Felipe Belo later on Sunday, while the rest of his agenda was "still being set up".

In the capital, shops were open and people were back on the streets. Public transport was also functioning again, following the signing on April 21 of a cease-fire among warring factions in the province.

Talks

In a related development, Reuters, reported from Canberra that Australian Prime Minister John Howard was set to arrive in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday, for crisis talks with Habibie on how to achieve peace in East Timor.

On Sunday, Defense Minister John Moore say he did not believe Australia would have to use its defense or financial relationships with Habibie as bargaining tools during Tuesday's meeting, despite calls from the major opposition party to do so.

"We are there to offer our assistance ... to point out that we don't like to see lawlessness on our borders because it has implications for Australia," Moore told Australian television.

"Because of that, I'm quite sure that the talks won't be based on threats and counter-threats, but will be based on good will and commitments to outcomes," said Moore, who will attend the talks along with Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer.

Australia aimed to win a firm commitment for peace in East Timor from Habibie and a pledge that he would do all he could to disarm warring factions.

Wiranto and Alatas are scheduled to accompany Habibie during the talks. (rms)