DATE=1/28/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244789
TITLE=INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EAST TIMORESE WERE DIVIDED THURSDAY OVER JAKARTA'S OFFER
THAT IT WILL CONSIDER INDEPENDENCE FOR THE TERRITORY. FROM
JAKARTA JENNY GRANT REPORTS THAT SOME RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COSTS OF SEPARATION
FROM INDONESIA.
TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TIMORESE
RESISTANCE, FRANCISCO CEPEDA, TOLD V-O-A EAST TIMOR WANTS A
TRANSITIONAL AUTONOMY SO IT CAN BE BETTER PREPARED FOR
INDEPENDENCE.
ON WEDNESDAY INDONESIAN PRESIDENT HABIBIE SAID IF A MAJORITY OF
EAST TIMORESE DO NOT SUPPORT JAKARTA'S PLAN FOR SPECIAL AUTONOMY,
THE PARLIAMENT COULD CONSIDER GIVING THE TERRITORY IMMEDIATE
INDEPENDENCE.
MR. CEPEDA SAYS EAST TIMOR NEEDS AT LEAST FIVE YEARS TO PREPARE
FOR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE IF IT IS TO BE A SEPARATE COUNTRY.
ECONOMIC REPORTS PREPARED BY THE INDONESIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL CAST
DOUBT ON THE VIABILITY OF AN INDEPENDENT EAST TIMOR. THEY
INDICATE THE TERRITORY WOULD NEED FOREIGN AID FOR THE NEXT 25
YEARS AND IT WOULD RUN AN ANNUAL BUDGET DEFICIT OF 125 MILLION
DOLLARS, IF GIVEN INDEPENDENCE NOW.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EAST TIMOR ASSEMBLY, ARMINDO MARIANO, SAYS IF
INDONESIA ABANDONS EAST TIMOR THERE WOULD BE A CIVIL WAR.
THE FORMER COLONIAL POWER, PORTUGAL, WITHDREW FROM EAST TIMOR
BEFORE INDONESIAN FORCES INVADED IN 1975.
LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORKER MANUEL CARRASCALAO SAYS EAST TIMOR IS
READY FOR INDEPENDENCE NOW. HE SAYS TALK OF A CIVIL WAR IS
NONSENSE.
/// REST OPT /// NOBEL PRIZE WINNING RESISTANCE FIGURE JOSE RAMOS
HORTA WELCOMED THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFER, BUT SAID EAST TIMORESE
SHOULD BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE THEIR FUTURE THROUGH A
REFERENDUM. // END OPT ///
FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS HAS RULED OUT THE OPTION OF A VOTE ON
INDEPENDENCE, SAYING IT WOULD BE DIVISIVE AND OPEN OLD WOUNDS.
MR. ALATAS SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CONSIDERING MOVING JAILED
RESISTANCE LEADER XANANA GUSMAO FROM HIS JAIL TO A SPECIAL
COMPOUND IN JAKARTA.
MR. GUSMAO, WHO IS SERVING A 20 YEAR JAIL TERM, IS SEEN AS A KEY
PLAYER IN FINDING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION FOR EAST TIMOR.
MR. GUSMAO'S LAWYERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WERE NOT ALLOWED
TO MEET WITH THE JAILED LEADER THURSDAY. ONE OF HIS LAWYERS,
JOHNSON PANJAITAN, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL AFRAID TO GIVE
MR. GUSMAO MORE FREEDOM. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/FC/PLM
28-Jan-99 6:08 AM EST (1108 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
