Subject: RT: East Timor's Gusmao dismisses Bali
meeting
Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 08:49:02 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
April 28, 1:52 a.m. ET
East Timor's Gusmao dismisses Bali meeting
JAKARTA, April 28 (Reuters) - Detained East Timor resistance leader Xanana Gusmao on
Wednesday wrote off emergency talks between Australia and Indonesia on his troubled
homeland, saying they produced little of significance.
In a statement issued through his lawyer, Gusmao said he was disappointed Australian
Prime Minister John Howard had not drawn attention to massacres this month by
pro-Indonesia militias.
Gusmao cited killings in the East Timor capital Dili and the town of Liquisa in the
statement, issued by lawyer Hendardi.
The talks between Howard and Indonesia's President B.J. Habibie took place on the
holiday island of Bali on Tuesday.
``There is no new significant thing from the two national leaders' talks,'' the
statement said. The only additions were setting August 8 as the date for an autonomy
ballot and a commitment by Australia on financial and medical aid.
Gusmao said Indonesia should formally accept the U.N.-brokered deal with Portugal on
its plan to ballot Timorese on autonomy as soon as possible. The deal includes a foreign
police presence in the troubled territory.
Indonesia said on April 24 it had agreed to the plan and Habibie said on Tuesday he had
accepted the draft without any changes. But it is not due to be ratified by the cabinet
until May 5.
``Although the peace agreement has been signed...saying the Indonesian Armed Forces
(ABRI) would be neutral, in reality the situation in East Timorese is getting worse,'' the
statement said.
``The delay from April 24 to May 5 opens up the possibility for the militias to carry
out political mobilisation, intimidation, threats and terror.''
Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it the following year in a move not
recognised by the United Nations. Earlier this year, Habibie said East Timor would be
given the chance to vote on an autonomy package.
If the territory rejected autonomy, it would be offered independence, he said.
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