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DATE=2/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245427
TITLE= EAST TIMOR / RESISTANCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SUZANNA ANDERSON
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDONESIAN PRESIDENT B-J HABIBIE'S STATEMENT THAT HE 
FAVORS INDEPENDENCE FOR EAST TIMOR HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY MEMBERS 
OF THE EAST TIMORESE RESISTANCE.  AS WE HEAR FROM 
V-O-A'S SUZANNA ANDERSON, ONE KEY MEMBER OF THE EAST TIMORESE 
RESISTANCE SAYS THERE ARE STILL MANY OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME.   
TEXT:  PRESIDENT HABIBIE SAID HE BELIEVES IT WOULD BE FAIR AND 
JUST TO GIVE EAST TIMORESE THEIR FREEDOM.  HE SAID HIS GOVERNMENT
DOES  NOT  WANT TO BE BURDENED BY EAST TIMOR'S PROBLEMS AFTER 
NEXT YEAR. 
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TIMORESE RESISTANCE [THE C-N-R-T] SAYS 
THE STATEMENT IS A POSITIVE STEP BY THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT.  
HOWEVER, THE GROUP'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, 
CONSTANCIO PINTO, SAYS HE WILL REMAIN SKEPTICAL AS LONG AS 
INDONESIAN TROOPS REMAIN IN EAST TIMOR.
                     /// FIRST PINTO ACT ///
         IT IS SOMEWHAT CONTRADICTORY TO HIS STATEMENT THAT HE 
         [HABIBIE] DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE EAST TIMOR BECOME A 
         BURDEN FOR INDONESIA.  BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS  
         NO  POSITIVE SIGN IN EAST TIMOR.  AND I THINK WE CAN 
         ONLY BELIEVE IT WHEN THEY START TO WITHDRAW THE MILITARY
         FROM EAST TIMOR, AND BEGIN TO DISARM ALL THESE 
         PARAMILITARY AND CIVILIANS. 
                         /// END ACT ///
JAKARTA AND LISBON HAVE BEEN HOLDING U-N  - SPONSORED TALKS ON 
THE FUTURE OF THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY.  ONE MAJOR OBSTACLE 
TO A SETTLEMENT IS INDONESIA'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW A REFERENDUM ON 
AUTONOMY.
MR. PINTO SAYS NEGOTIATORS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ARE TRYING TO 
FIND WAYS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
                    /// SECOND PINTO ACT ///
         THE INDONESIAN AND PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE AGREED IN
         PRINCIPLE TO ALLOW THE U-N TO GO TO EAST TIMOR TO 
         CONDUCT DIRECT CONSULTATION.   BUT I THINK THEY ARE 
         STILL LOOKING FOR ANOTHER WAY TO CONDUCT ANY KIND OF 
         ELECTIONS OR VOTING IN EAST TIMOR, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE 
         EAST TIMORESE TO EXPRESS THEIR WILL.
                         /// END ACT ///
DESPITE THESE OBSTACLES, OBSERVERS SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME 
SINCE INDONESIA ANNEXED EAST TIMOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO THAT AN
ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM SEEMS POSSIBLE.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/WTW
11-Feb-99 5:47 PM EST (2247 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.