Subject: The Nation: Thais respond to Timor poll aid
Date: Fri, 02 Apr 1999 08:01:48 -0500
From: ETISC <etio@ozemail.com.au>Thais respond to pleas for Timor poll aid
Kavi Chongkittavorn
JAKARTA (The Nation, Apr 1, 1999) -- Indonesia has officially approached three Asean
countries to be part of a contact group on East Timor to be set up by UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan.
Nugroho, the Foreign Ministry's director general of political affairs, on Tuesday met
with envoys from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and asked for funds to assist the peace
process that would involve a direct ballot, which will take place in July in East Timor.
He told the Asean representatives that a more detailed plan would be completed early
this month and they would be informed.
An informed source told The Nation that Thailand is willing to participate in the group
set up by Annan, provided it did not involve financial contributions.
''We are in economic difficulties. We can only contribute our personnel,'' said the
source. Thailand has wide-ranging experience in the field, especially during the
reconstruction period in Cambodia when it mobilised engineering groups and peacekeeping
units to help the post-war recovery.
Both Singapore and Malaysia have not made any commitment to the proposal.
Earlier this year, the Thai government permitted Indonesia to use its embassy in Lisbon
as a liaison office to contact Portuguese authorities.
In a recent meeting in New York between Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and his
Portuguese counterpart Jamie Gama and Annan, they agreed that assistance from the
international community is crucial for the future of East Timor.
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Human Rights has established a commission on East
Timor to ensure peace during the planned direct ballot. The new commission will assist the
local people in making the choice between the government offer of a wide-ranging autonomy
or independence.
Scores of people have died in clashes since the government announced earlier this year
that it was considering giving the province independence.
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