Subject: IO - More figures support Timor
independence
From: "Paula" <paularoque@mail.telepac.pt>Indonesian Observer 1st
February 1999 Front Page
More figures support Timor independence
JAKARTA (IO) — Amid heated debates over the best solution for the troubled
province of East Timor, more and more public figures have stated their agreement with the
government that independence is the best alternative to resolve the thorny issue.
"I think it’s an ideal, and realistic [solution]," Marzuki Darusman of
the National Commission on Human Rights said in Manado, North Sulawesi over the weekend.
Darusman said one of the main factors triggering clashes and unrest in the former
Portuguese colony in recent months, is uncertainty over the solution to the East Timor
problem.
"Last year the situation in East Timor improved in terms of human rights. However
the uncertainty remains a concern," Darusman said.
Sharing his opinion, Ryaas Rasyid, a director general at the Home Affairs Ministry,
said independence for East Timor means a lessening of the burden for Indonesia.
"East Timor’s independence will lessen Indonesia’s burden. Immediate
independence will be better," Rasyid said.
According to President BJ Habibie’s political adviser, Dewi Fortuna Anwar, the
government’s decision to offer independence to East Timor was based on objective
reasons.
"President Habibie has looked into the matter more objectively," Anwar told
private television station RCTI yesterday, explaining the reasoning behind the offer.
Anwar, however, admitted that from the economic point of view, independence for East
Timor ‘doesn’t make sense’.
No less than 93% of East Timor’s provincial budget come from Jakarta as the
territory’s revenues can only contribute 3% to the budget.
Chairman of the National Mandate Party, Amien Rais, meanwhile said that the referendum
is the best solution, rather than immediate independence.
"I don’t think this [immediate independence] is wise. I think the best
solution is to conduct a referendum in two or three years time over the East Timor issue.
This would enable the people to be mentally prepared," Rais said.
Diplomatic ties
In the meantime, diplomats from Indonesia and Portugal arrived in Lisbon and Jakarta
over the weekend to establish the first diplomatic ties between the two countries in
recent years. Ties were frozen over two decades ago because of the East Timor issue.
Reuters reported that two diplomats from each country are setting up interest sections
under the auspices of embassies of friendly nations like the Thai embassy in Lisbon and
the Dutch embassy in Jakarta.
Rzlan Ishar Jenie from Indonesia said in Lisbon as quoted by Reuters that Indonesia was
determined to seek a ‘peaceful and lasting’ solution to the problem.
Interest sections constitute a form of diplomatic relations, but without the actual
establishment of embassies.
Jenie said he hoped his presence in Portugal would contribute towards a climate of
increased goodwill and understanding between the people of the two countries.
Portugal’s Ana Gomes, meanwhile, said she would visit East Timor as soon as
possible and that she would have to be "very well prepared, as it could be the first
of a series of regular visits".
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