DATE=8/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EAST TIMOR TALKS / L-O
NUMBER=2-252756
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: One day before the start of East Timor's
political campaign period, the United Nations has
announced a new effort to try to insure peace after
the vote. As Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, the
United Nations is forming a panel with representatives
of both sides in the disputed Indonesian territory, to
try to achieve reconciliation.
Text: The United Nations special representative for
East Timor, Jamsheed Marker, says two days of talks
with officials from Indonesia and East Timor's former
colonial ruler Portugal were "positive" and
"constructive." Mr. Marker says the officials focused
on the period immediately after the autonomy
referendum is held on August 30th.
The talks concluded on Friday, with Mr. Marker's
announcement that top officials had endorsed a plan to
set up a special East Timorese Commission.
/// MARKER ACTUALITY ///
They've come out with an understanding which
would include the formation of an East Timorese
Consultative body aimed at the facilitation of East
Timorese cooperation and reconciliation in the
aftermath of the popular consultation.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Marker says the body will be made up of 25 people,
adding more details about the plan will be provided at
a later time.
The meeting ended one day before the start of the two-
week political campaign period in East Timor. The
Timorese will vote August 30th on whether to accept
Jakarta's offer of special autonomy within Indonesia.
The autonomy referendum is intended to help end more
than two decades of a guerrilla war for independence
in East Timor, by allowing the people to vote on the
territory's political status. If the plan is rejected,
the government says it will consider granting East
Timor independence.
Mr. Marker says the U-N Secretary General, Kofi Annan,
has repeated a demand for East Timorese independence
leader Xanana Gusmao to be released in order to
participate in the campaign. The former guerrilla
leader is held under house arrest in Jakarta on
charges of subversion.
But Indonesian Foreign Ministry official Nigroho
Wisnumurti says Mr. Gusmao will be allowed to campaign
from within house arrest.
/// WISNUMURTI ACTUALITY ///
We are ready to give all the facilities under of
course the code of conduct that was established by the
United Nations to give him all the opportunities to
engage in a campaign. And campaigning can be done in
every way, including to speak on television -- to the
public through the television. He can send messages
through the television, through the radio. He can even
be represented in other cases in rallies in East
Timor.
/// END ACT ///
The Indonesian government says Mr. Gusmao will be
released from house arrest as part of a solution to
the East Timor conflict -- but it has not provided a
date. (Signed)
NEB/PN/FC
13-Aug-1999 06:15 AM LOC (13-Aug-1999 1015 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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