Subject: LUSA: Habibie rules out independence for East Timor Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 08:25:22 -0500 (EST) From: "Sharon R.A. Scharfe" <pet@web.net> 14 DEZ 98 - 40:85 East Timor: Indonesia president rules out independence for occupied territory Jakarta, Dec 14 (Lusa) - Indonesian President B.J. Habibie had told a Muslim leader of his country that it is "impossible" for East Timor to gain independence from Indonesia. "Indonesia can exist without East Timor but East Timor cannot exist without Indonesia," Habibie was quoted as saying by Abdurrahman Wahid, leader of Nahdtul Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Muslim organisation. The news was reported by Jakarta Post on Sunday. Wahid met the Indonesian president on Saturday. Indonesia invaded East Timor in December 1975.-Lusa Copyright© 1996 Agência Lusa E-Mail Agência Lusa Back to December Menu |