Subject: AFP: Indonesia to propose East Timor join
ASEAN
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 09:00:22 -0500
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo:
Indonesia to propose East Timor join ASEAN
JAKARTA, Feb 16 (AFP) - Indonesia will sponsor East Timor as a member of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) if the troubled territory opts for
independence, a senior official said here Tuesday.
Dewi Fortuna Anwar, foreign affairs advisor to President B.J.Habibie said it would be
"in Indonesia's interests" if the former Portuguese colony joined the regional
grouping.
"It is not in our interests if a country in the area is not in tune with the
others," Anwar told a journalists' seminar here, adding the "spectre" that
a foreign power would estabish as base there was a thing of the past.
"There is no real fear any more that a foreign power will have a base in East
Timor. This consideration was a concern in 1975, (but) this specter is no longer
relevant," she added.
Moreover, she said "The influence of a small and poor country will be limited. It
is more a country which needs help and assistance, than a country which might
dictate."
In 1975, Indonesia, with the tacit blessing of the United States at the time of its
debacle in South Vietnam, invaded the former Portuguese colony where Marxists and
communists had considerable influence at the time.
ASEAN now groups nine countries of the region: Burma, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Anwar also rejected the idea that eventual independence of East Timor could set a
"bad example" for other restless Indonesian provinces, notably Aceh in North
Sumatra and Irian Jaya.
"The problem of East Timor has a different history. Aceh, Irian Jaya ... we
proclaimed independence together. East Timor was a different case, a colonial backwater,
totally useless, they joined us 30 years later."
"There is no risk of a spillover," she added, making no reference to the fact
that Irian Jaya, which shares a land border with independent Papua New Guinea, did not
join Indonesia until the 1960s.
Separatist groups are both active in Aceh and Irian Jaya.
Considered close to Habibie, Anwar is believed to have been party to Jakarta's abrupt
January 27 about-face on the question of East Timor, which Indonesia annexed a year after
the 1975 invasion.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas meanwhile said Habibie's announcement last week
he wanted to see a free East Timor by January 1 was not a deadline.
"This is not a deadline, but a hope that starting in the year 2000, we would be
freed of the burden of a settlement of the problem of East Timor," Alatas said
according to the Antara news agency.
He called the date a "peg" for a time where Indonesia will no longer be
hampered by the question of a settlement on East Timor.
"We do not want to be burdened by the problem of East Timor as of January 1,
2000," Habibie said last week.
Alatas also said Lisbon, which is still regarded by the United Nations and most states
as the official administrator of East Timor, would abide by the decision of the people of
East Timor -- whether they chose independence or autonomy under the Indonesian flag.
The broad autonomy package is currently being finalized between Indonesia and Portugal
in talks held under UN auspices.
"There are still one or two matters that need further negotiations and the plan is
(the next talks) will be held on next March 9 and 10," Alatas said, adding the
package was expected to be completed by April.
The government said last month it would suggest to the new legislature to be formed
following elections in June that it let go of East Timor if the autonomy package was
rejected by the people of East Timor.
Alatas said a mechanism to determine whether the scheme was accepted or rejected by the
people of East Timor will still have to be discussed with the UN and Portugal, but again
ruled out a referendum.
"We will still have to come forward again to discuss this matter, because, a
referendum to decide whether it (the autonomy) is accepted or rejected, is not the best
way," he said.
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