Subject: SCMP: Gusmao predicts overwhelming majority
for independence
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 22:18:26 EDT
From: Joyo@AOL.COMSouth China Morning Post Friday, August 20, 1999
EAST TIMOR
Gusmao tips big majority for independence
VAUDINE ENGLAND in Jakarta
Pro-independence leader Xanana Gusmao believes his followers will win an overwhelming
majority in this month's autonomy ballot, despite what he describes as the Indonesian
armed forces' strategy to achieve a 50-50 result.
The ballot offers the territory autonomy within Indonesia. If that is rejected it will
pave the way for independence.
"Before, I always said that 95 per cent will choose [independence], but some
people say I am too optimistic,'" Gusmao said in Jakarta, where he is under house
arrest.
"But I think the East Timorese people will show an overwhelming victory in the
ballot."
His comments came as the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (Unamet)
yesterday called on authorities to arrest militia members threatening voters ahead of the
referendum.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres backed the UN's call and urged Jakarta to
stop turning a blind eye to militia violence in the former Portuguese colony.
"It is now clear that Indonesia's authorities and army are allowing these acts of
provocation and desperation by pro-integration militias to take place," he said in
Lisbon.
Gusmao also admitted his impatience for the ballot to happen was over-shadowed by his
preoccupation with the continuing violence in the land which Indonesia annexed by force in
1976.
The latest militia attacks in Suai and Maliana, and the public presence of gun-toting
militiamen, only serve to strengthen Gusmao's belief that the Indonesian military (TNI)
cannot be trusted.
"[TNI chief] General Wiranto has closed his eyes to the militias, he has closed
his eyes to the violence," Gusmao said.
"This shows the strategy of the TNI - they started the violence to intimidate the
population, just to get a 50-50 result.
"Many people from the pro-integration side, they say that the ballot is not the
finishing, not the ultimate act and that the MPR [People's Consultative Assembly] can
still determine the decision, if it accepts or rejects the result of the ballot."
The MPR, Indonesia's highest constitutional body, is required to validate the result of
the ballot.
Most observers are assuming the pro-independence side will win a strong majority,
forcing the MPR to take the necessary steps towards independence. But a less clear margin
of victory would allow for delays in the MPR and possible intervention.
"I myself cannot understand. I am not an expert on the Indonesian political
process," Gusmao said. "But somebody told me that with this confusion in the
MPR, one idea is that Wiranto would constitutionally take over, and oh my God," he
said, crossing himself.
He said his meetings with his counterparts on the pro-autonomy side had focused on
avoiding more bloodshed in East Timor.
Gusmao has built a pivotal role for himself as the conciliatory leader willing to
forgive past transgressions by militia and the Indonesian armed forces.
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