DATE=4/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248608
TITLE=AUSTRALIA-EAST TIMOR (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD HAS GONE TO THE
INDONESIAN RESORT ISLAND OF BALI, WHERE HE IS TO MEET TUESDAY
WITH INDONESIAN PRESIDENT B-J HABIBIE. EAST TIMOR IS THE
SUBJECT OF THE BALI MEETING. AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, AUSTRALIA
FEARS A FURTHER ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IF THE VOTE ON AUTONOMY
FOR EAST TIMOR IS DELAYED.
TEXT: AS EAST TIMOR'S CLOSEST NEIGHBOR, AUSTRALIA HAS WATCHED
WITH INCREASING NERVOUSNESS AS PLANS FOR A VOTE ON AUTONOMY FOR
THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY HAVE SPARKED A WAVE OF BITTER
POLITICALLY-RELATED VIOLENCE.
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD SAID MONDAY IT IS IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REALISTIC FOR AUSTRALIA TO ACCOMPLISH ON
THE EAST TIMOR ISSUE. SPEAKING BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE MONDAY FOR
BALI, MR. HOWARD SAID AUSTRALIA HAS NOT SET ANY CONDITIONS FOR
TUESDAY'S MEETING.
NEVERTHELESS, BOTH SIDES CLEARLY VIEW THE TALKS AS IMPORTANT, AS
INDICATED BY THE HIGH-LEVEL PARTICIPATION BY BOTH SIDES. IN
ADDITION TO THE TWO COUNTRIES' RULERS, THE FOREIGN AND DEFENSE
MINISTERS FROM AUSTRALIA AND INDONESIA ARE ATTENDING, AS WELL AS
INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF GENERAL WIRANTO. ONE AUSTRALIAN
NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST CALLS IT "THE MOST SERIOUS AND DEMANDING
DIPLOMATIC TEST" MR. HOWARD HAS FACED.
THE BALI MEETING WILL FOCUS ON SECURITY MATTERS. AUSTRALIAN
OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT SOME GUARANTEES FROM INDONESIAN OFFICIALS
THAT THE INDONESIAN MILITARY WILL CURB THE VIOLENT ACTIVITIES OF
ARMED PRO-JAKARTA MILITIAS, THAT HAVE BEEN RAMPAGING THROUGH EAST
TIMOR.
TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AFTER INDONESIA INVADED AND SUBSEQUENTLY
ANNEXED EAST TIMOR, JAKARTA NOW SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO RELINQUISH
IT IN AN AUTONOMY DEAL. SHOULD THAT BE REJECTED BY THE TIMORESE,
PRESIDENT HABIBIE SAYS HE IS PREPARED TO APPROVE INDEPENDENCE
FOR THE TERRITORY. TALKS BETWEEN INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL ON
PROCEDURES FOR AN AUTONOMY VOTE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
BUT THE PROPOSAL HAS SET OFF AN ESCALATING SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE, BY
THE PRO-JAKARTA MILITIAS. INDEPENDENCE ACTIVISTS ALLEGE HARDLINE
ELEMENTS OF THE INDONESIAN MILITARY ARE BACKING THE MILITIAS, IN
A BID TO DERAIL THE VOTE, SCHEDULED FOR SOMETIME IN JULY. BUT
SOME UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THE BALLOT MAY HAVE
TO BE POSTPONED.
AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER SAID IN BALI THAT
ANY DELAY IN THE VOTE RISKS SETTING OFF FURTHER VIOLENCE. BUT,
HE ADDED, THE MACHINERY TO ENSURE A FREE AND FAIR VOTE MAY NOT
BE IN PLACE IF THE VOTE IS HELD TOO QUICKLY.
AUSTRALIA HAS SAID IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A U-N TROOP PRESENCE IN
EAST TIMOR TO OVERSEE THE BALLOT, BUT REJECTS SENDING U-N
PEACEKEEPERS TO EAST TIMOR. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC/PLM
26-Apr-99 6:27 AM EDT (1027 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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