DATE=7/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251700
TITLE=INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SUPPORTERS OF INDONESIAN OPPOSITION LEADER MEGAWATI
SUKARNOPUTRI ARE DEMONSTRATING TO SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE
WOMAN WHO COULD BECOME INDONESIA'S NEXT PRESIDENT. AS PATRICIA
NUNAN REPORTS FROM JAKARTA, THE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE THE FIRST
PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF SUPPORT FOR MS. MEGAWATI SINCE INDONESIA'S
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN JUNE.
TEXT: ALMOST 100 SUPPORTERS OF OPPOSITION LEADER MEGAWATI
SUKARNOPUTRI USED HYPODERMIC NEEDLES TO DRAW BLOOD FROM THEIR
THUMBS -- WHICH THEY THEN USED TO STAMP THUMB PRINTS ON
PETITIONS. IT WAS THEIR DRAMATIC WAY OF PROCLAIMING SUPPORT FOR
MS. MEGAWATI TO BE INDONESIA'S NEXT PRESIDENT. HUNDREDS OF OTHER
PEOPLE ALSO SIGNED THEIR NAMES ON A PRO-MEGAWATI BANNER IN THE
INDONESIAN CAPITAL.
MS. MEGAWATI'S "PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY" REMAINS THE
FRONTRUNNER IN THE ON-GOING VOTE COUNT FROM INDONESIA'S JUNE
SEVENTH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. WITH ABOUT 60-PERCENT OF THE
BALLOTS COUNTED, IT HAS GARNERED ABOUT 36-PERCENT OF THE TOTAL.
THE GOVERNMENT'S RULING "GOLKAR" PARTY IS IN SECOND PLACE WITH
ABOUT 19-PERCENT.
HER PARTY'S SUCCESS PUTS MS. MEGAWATI IN A SOLID POSITION FOR A
RUN AT THE INDONESIAN PRESIDENCY LATER THIS YEAR. ANALYSTS SAY
MUCH OF THE SUPPORT FOR MS. MEGAWATI IS DUE TO THE FACT HER
FATHER WAS INDONESIA'S FOUNDING PRESIDENT SUKARNO.
DESPITE HER PARTY'S SUCCESS IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, IT IS
NOT CERTAIN SHE WILL WIN THE INDONESIAN PRESIDENCY IN NOVEMBER.
SOME ANALYSTS FEAR AN OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE FROM HER SUPPORTERS IF
SHE LOSES.
MS. MEGAWATI ALSO RECEIVED A SHOW OF SUPPORT (TUESDAY) FROM AN
UNLIKELY SOURCE. EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE LEADER JOSE
RAMOS-HORTA SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT MS. MEGAWATI WOULD RESOLVE THE
TWO-DECADES OF CONFLICT IN THE RESTIVE EAST-TIMOR PROVINCE IF
SHE IS ELECTED PRESIDENT.
MR. RAMOS-HORTA'S COMMENTS IN AUSTRALIA ECHO SIMILAR STATEMENTS
HE MADE DURING A RECENT VISIT TO JAKARTA.
// RAMOS-HORTA ACT //
MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI HAS SHOWN TO BE A WOMAN WITH PRUDENCE,
WITH CAUTION, WITH STATESMANSHIP, AND WE BELIEVE THAT SHE WILL
HONOR THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR.
// END ACT //
THE EAST TIMORESE PEOPLE WILL VOTE ON THE FUTURE STATUS OF THE
DISPUTED TERRITORY IN A U-N SUPERVISED AUTONOMY REFERENDUM
PLANNED FOR AUGUST.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, MS. MEGAWATI SAID SHE DID NOT SUPPORT
INDEPENDENCE FOR EAST TIMOR. THE COMMENT PROMPTED INTENSE
SPECULATION SHE MIGHT NOT HONOR THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT'S
COMMITMENT TO GRANT EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE IF VOTERS REJECT
AUTONOMY.
/// REST OPT ///
MEANWHILE, IN INDONESIA'S NORTHERN ACEH PROVINCE, AT LEAST EIGHT
PEOPLE ARE REPORTED DEAD IN CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND SEPARATIST
REBELS.
// OPT // LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY TWO POLICE OFFICERS AND SIX
REBELS WERE KILLED IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN ACEH'S NORTHERN AND
EASTERN DISTRICTS. THEY HAVE DECLINED TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.
// END OPT //
THE VIOLENCE HAS PROMPTED HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIALS TO RENEW THEIR
CALLS FOR THE INDONESIAN MILITARY TO WITHDRAW FROM THE STAUNCHLY
MUSLIM PROVINCE.
INDONESIAN TROOPS WERE FIRST SENT INTO THE AREA IN 1989 TO CRUSH
A SEPARATIST REBELLION. ANALYSTS SAY YEARS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES CARRIED OUT BY THE MILITARY THERE HAVE FUELED ACEH'S
INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/JO/RAE
13-Jul-99 7:27 AM EDT (1127 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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