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DATE=6/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251154
TITLE=EAST TIMOR
BYLINE= PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  NOBEL LAUREATE, JOSE RAMOS-HORTA AND OTHER EAST TIMORESE 
INDEPENDENCE LEADERS ARE MEETING AT THE HOME OF INDEPENDENT 
LEADER XANANA GUSMAO DURING A BREAK IN PEACE TALKS IN JAKARTA.  
AS PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS, THE VISIT IN INDONESIA BY MR. 
RAMOS-HORTA IS THE FIRST TIME EAST TIMOR'S TOP INDEPENDENCE 
LEADERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER IN MORE THAN 20-YEARS.
TEXT:  NOBEL LAUREATE, JOSE RAMOS-HORTA, STEPPED FOOT IN 
INDONESIA SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 24-YEARS.  HE CAME TO 
ATTEND PEACE TALKS BETWEEN EAST TIMOR'S RIVAL, PRO-INDEPENDENCE 
AND PRO-INTEGRATION FACTIONS.  IT IS AN EMOTIONAL VISIT.  MR. 
RAMOS-HORTA FLED THE DISPUTED TERRITORY OF EAST TIMOR IN 1975, 
JUST THREE-DAYS AHEAD OF AN INVASION OF THE FORMER PORTUGUESE 
COLONY BY THE INDONESIAN MILITARY.  HE HAS SPENT 24-YEARS IN 
SELF-IMPOSED EXILE, CAMPAIGNING FOR EAST TIMOR'S INDEPENDENCE.
MR. RAMOS HORTA WAS AMONG A HANDFUL OF INDEPENDENCE ACTIVISTS 
MEETING (SUNDAY) WITH INDEPENDENCE LEADER XANANA GUSMAO.  A 
ONE-TIME GUERRILLA LEADER, MR. GUSMAO IS BEING HELD UNDER HOUSE 
ARREST IN JAKARTA ON CHARGES OF SUBVERSION.  MR. RAMOS-HORTA SAYS
HE IS A GREAT ADMIRER OF MR. GUSMAO.
                        /// HORTA ACT ///
         I WAS SPEECHLESS.  IN MEETING -- NOT ONLY HIM AS A 
         LEADER -- BUT MEETING HIM AS A HUMAN BEING.  ONE OF THE 
         GREATEST HUMAN BEINGS I HAVE KNOWN IN MY LIFE.
                         /// END ACT ///
NO DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED ABOUT THE MEETING AT MR. GUSMAO'S 
HOME.  BUT MONDAY, PEACE TALKS ORGANIZED BY EAST TIMOR'S 
SPIRITUAL LEADER, BISHOP CARLOS BELO, ARE SET TO RESUME.  BISHOP 
BELO AND MR. RAMOS-HORTA SHARE THE 1996 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR 
THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS IN EAST TIMOR.
THE TALKS CENTER ON DISARMING EAST TIMOR'S RIVAL FACTIONS BEFORE 
A REFERENDUM ABOUT THE TERRITORIES POLITICAL STATUS PLANNED FOR 
AUGUST.  THE EAST TIMORESE PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON 
WHETHER THEY WANT THE TERRITORY TO OFFICIALLY INTEGRATE WITH 
INDONESIA OR IF IT SHOULD BECOME AN INDEPENDENT NATION.   
(SIGNED)
NEB/PN/DWJ/RAE
27-Jun-99 7:53 AM EDT (1153 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.