| Subject: AAP: Rights, not aid, the issue in an
independent E Timor Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 08:57:53 -0500 From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org> AAP NEWSFEED February 15, 1999, Monday Rights, not aid, the issue in an independent E Timor By Karen Polglaze, South-East Asia Correspondent JAKARTA, Feb 15 AAP - Independence for East Timor had nothing to do with Australia and Prime Minister John Howard should stop commenting on the possible aid burden of the people's right to choose their own future, an Indonesian political party said today. The comments came as tension rose in the disputed half-island territory after reports that a young independence supporter was shot dead - either by the police mobile brigade (Brimob) or by pro-integrationists. Mr Howard said last week that an independent East Timor would cost Australia dearly in terms of aid funding. Chairman of the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party Nurdin Purnomo said today Australia should stop talking about the possible financial burden of East Timor. "Whatever the East Timorese people want to do has nothing to do with Australia," Nurdin told AAP. "As a neighbour, Australia should play a very wise and very neutral role. "For so many years, the East Timorese have been in a very bad situation because of integration ... and now they have a chance to say what they like but a third party is saying don't do it because you're going to be a burden to me. "Australia should be saying how can I help." Mr Howards comments had prompted the Australian section of an international aid organisation to urge the government to look to the human rights rather than the possible price. His remarks also contrast with those of Portuguese Finance Minister Antonio Sousa Franco who said there would be no limits on his country's eventual aid to its former colony. Portuguese solidarity with East Timor could not be limited by financial concerns, the minister was reported as saying by Portuguese newsagency Lusa. World Vision Australia spokesman Alan Austin said the government should rethink its priorities on East Timor. "The government's first concern has got to be the human rights of the people, not what an independent East Timor would cost the Australian aid budget," Austin told AAP. "Australia is a very wealthy country." Indonesia has announced that if East Timor rejects the government's offer of wide-ranging autonomy within the republic as a final solution, it will ask its highest legislative body to rescind the resolution formally annexing the former Portuguese colony. President BJ Habibie has said the province could be released as early as January 1, next year. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 after the Portuguese authorities withdrew to an offshore island during a civil war. East Timor was formally annexed in 1976 after the Balibo Agreement made between some of the territory's leaders and the Indonesian government. The United Nations has never recognised Indonesian sovereignty, but Australia does. The Howard government believes it would be better for the territory to remain as Indonesia's 27th province despite more than two decades of human rights violations under the rule of Indonesia's military (ABRI). Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will meet his Indonesian counterpart Ali Alatas later this month at the Australia Indonesia Ministerial Forum in Bali and will then travel to Jakarta to meet Habibie. Should East Timor be cut loose, it would revert to Portuguese rule. Portugal has said it would institute a decolonisation process under the auspices of the UN leading to eventual independence after about two years. Although the Habibie government has made its views clear, general elections on June 7 will result in a new legislature that could decide not to change East Timor's status. Leading Opposition figure Megawati Sukarnoputri yesterday repeated her strong views before wildly cheering crowds that East Timor should remain part of Indonesia. Her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) is expected to garner a significant portion of the vote in June. Megawati is one of a handful of leading candidates for the presidency in the indirect elections which will take place when the People's Consultative Assembly meets in late October. Back to February Menu |