DATE=7/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251346
TITLE=RAMOS / HORTA / EAST TIMOR (L-O)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE LEADER JOSE RAMOS-HORTA HAS
ANNOUNCED (FRIDAY) THAT INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTERS WOULD SHARE
POWER WITH THEIR RIVAL PRO-INDONESIA FACTION -- IF THEY WIN
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE TROUBLED TERRITORY. PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS
FROM JAKARTA -- WHERE MR. RAMOS-HORTA SPOKE TO REPORTERS.
TEXT: INDEPENDENCE LEADER JOSE RAMOS-HORTA SAYS TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL TAKE TO THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE IF THE
PRO-INDEPENDENCE FACTION WINS THE AUGUST REFERENDUM ON THE
TERRITORY'S FUTURE STATUS. BUT IN ORDER TO HEAL LONG-STANDING
DIVISIONS ON EAST TIMOR, HE SAYS, INDEPENDENCE LEADERS WOULD
MOVE TO IMMEDIATELY REASSURE RIVAL PRO-INTEGRATION LEADERS THAT
THEY WILL NOT BE LEFT OUT OF THE NEW SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
// RAMOS-HORTA ACT //
OUR PLAN IS THAT WITHIN HOURS OF THE BALLOT RESULT BEING
ANNOUNCED BY THE (U-N) SECRETARY GENERAL -- AND IF IT IS
IN FAVOR OF INDEPENDENCE -- WE WILL CALL A NATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF RECONCILIATION AND POWER-SHARING. THE
PRO-INTEGRATION PEOPLE WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN US IN A
TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION, FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS, UNDER
THE UNITED NATIONS.
// END ACT //
THE UNITED NATIONS IS IN EAST TIMOR TO HELP ORGANIZE A SPECIAL
AUTONOMY REFERENDUM IN AN EFFORT TO END MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF
FIGHTING THAT BEGAN WHEN THE INDONESIAN MILITARY INVADED THE
FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY IN 1975.
THE EAST TIMORESE PEOPLE WILL BE ASKED TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY
ACCEPT AN INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT OFFER OF WIDE-RANGING AUTONOMY
FOR EAST TIMOR. IF THEY REJECT THAT PLAN, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT
WILL CONSIDER GRANTING EAST TIMOR FULL INDEPENDENCE.
CONCERN REMAINS, HOWEVER, THAT NEITHER OF EAST TIMOR'S WARRING
FACTIONS IS READY TO ACCEPT DEFEAT IN THE REFERENDUM -- AND THE
TERRITORY RISKS FALLING BACK INTO CIVIL WAR.
// OPT // MR. RAMOS HORTA IS THE CO-WINNER OF THE 1996 NOBEL
PEACE PRIZE FOR HIS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS IN EAST
TIMOR. HE IS ALSO A LONG-TIME CRITIC OF THE INDONESIAN
GOVERNMENT. BUT THROUGHOUT HIS SIX-DAY VISIT, MR. RAMOS-HORTA
CONSISTENTLY PRAISED THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ALLOWING HIM
TO BREAK 24 YEARS OF SELF-IMPOSED EXILE FROM INDONESIA -- BY
GRANTING HIM A VISA TO ATTEND PEACE TALKS BETWEEN EAST TIMOR'S
WARRING FACTIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, // END OPT // MR. RAMOS- HORTA STRESSED IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS -- INCLUDING FELLOW
INDEPENDENCE LEADER XANANA GUSMAO -- BE RELEASED IN ORDER FOR THE
AUGUST BALLOT TO BE CREDIBLE. HE SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY BACKS HIM ON THIS POINT:
//2ND RAMOS-HORTA ACT //
THE U-N SECRETARY- GENERAL HAS SAID ALREADY THAT THE
(U-S) STATE DEPTARTMENT, THE UNITED NATIONS, AND
EVERYBODY, THE EUROPEAN UNION, SAYS XANANA GUSMAO HAS
TO BE RELEASED, ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS HAVE TO BE
RELEASED, OTHERWISE IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR
INDONESIA TO PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT THE BALLOT WAS FREE
WHEN MOST LEADERS CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN IT. IT IS A BIT
LIKE EXPECTING THE ELECTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA TO END
APARTHEID, TO BE FREE -- WITH MANDELA STILL IN PRISON.
// END ACT //
MR. RAMOS-HORTA'S DEMAND WAS ECHOED ON FRIDAY BY THE U-N SPECIAL
ENVOY TO EAST TIMOR, JAMSHEED MARKER. MR. MARKER CALLED MR.
GUSMAO A "FORCE FOR RECONCILIATION" IN EAST TIMOR AND SAID IT
WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REFERENDUM.
MR. GUSMAO IS A FORMER GUERRILLA COMMANDER. HE IS NOW UNDER HOUSE
ARREST IN THE INDONESIAN CAPITAL, JAKARTA, SERVING A 20 YEAR
SENTENCE ON CHARGES OF SUBVERSION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/JO
02-Jul-99 6:18 AM EDT (1018 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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