Subject: JP: Czech Republic's stance on Timor
misrepresented by Antara
Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 17:46:22 -0400
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)AMBASSADOR CLARIFIES CZECH STANCE ON E TIMOR Jakarta
Post, 25 May 1999
JAKARTA (JP): Czech Ambassador to Indonesia Milan Sarapatka denied on Monday a report
by The Jakarta Post suggesting that he believed East Timor would be better off remaining
as part of Indonesia.
Sarapatka, who visited East Timor last week, said statements attributed to him in the
May 20 story under the headline "RI still responsible for law and order in E.
Timor" were inaccurate.
The statements were based on a Dili dispatch by Antara, which covered the ambassador's
meeting with East Timor administration secretary Radjakarina Brahmana.
The Czech Republic has never recognized Indonesia's annexation of East Timor, and
supports the UN activities including the "popular consultation" in the territory
in August, the ambassador said.
"The Embassy of the Czech Republic is concerned with human rights violations in
East Timor. The main precondition for the success of the consulta-tion in August is the
creation of an atmosphere free from vio-lence and intimidation.
"Only a peaceful ballot can ensure the East Timorese peo-ple's genuine aspiration,
what-ever it will be — a special autonomy offered by the Indonesian government or
independence," he said.
"The situation in the province is tense and critical. The killing of innocent
people has to be stopped. The world community must support talks between pro-independence
and pro-inte-gration groups, and convince them to sit together and start negotiations and
stop the vio-lence and fighting. The result of the peaceful discussion would be crucial
for the next development of the East Timorese society."
Sarapatka is the latest among a plethora of foreign ambassadors and officials to visit
East Timor in recent weeks as the territory gears itself up for the August vote.
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign 111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey
CR7 8HW, UK Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322 email: tapol@gn.apc.org Internet:
www.gn.apc.org/tapol Campaigning to expose human rights violations in Indonesia, East
Timor, West Papua and Aceh
Back to June Menu
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu
June '98 through February '99 |
