Subject: Reuters: Indon to free all E.Timor
prisoners after ballot
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 07:11:17 EDT
From: Joyo@aol.comIndonesia to free E.Timor prisoners after ballot
JAKARTA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Indonesia will free all East Timorese political prisoners
after the bloodied territory's U.N.-run independence vote on August 30, Justice Minister
Muladi said on Monday.
``All of the East Timorese political prisoners would be freed when the direct ballot is
completed,'' Muladi told reporters, without saying when.
The most prominent political prisoner is guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao, who was moved
to house arrest earlier this year under mounting international pressure and is regularly
allowed to leave his house to meet foreign dignitaries and attend talks in Jakarta on the
future of his homeland.
He is serving a 20-year term for leading the fight against Indonesia's often brutal
rule over the territory, which is not recognised by the United Nations.
The U.N.-organised vote allows East Timorese to choose between independence or
wide-ranging autonomy within Indonesia.
Jakarta has previously pledged to free Xanana whatever the outcome of the vote. Most
diplomats and analysts believe East Timorese will overwhelmingly opt for independence if
the vote is free and fair.
But pro-Jakarta militias have killed dozens of people, mainly civilians, this year in a
bloody terror campaign to keep the eastern half of Timor island part of Indonesia.
Jakarta invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975 and annexed it in the following
year.
Back to August Menu
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu |
