Subject: AFP: Students urge release of Xanana
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 16:42:46 +1300
From: sonny inbaraj <ausasia@ozemail.com.au> Organization: The AustralAsianStudents
urge release of leader, referendum in East Timor
Fri 14 Aug 98 - 06:20 GMT
JAKARTA, Aug 14 (AFP) - Some 100 East Timorese students from different universities in
Indonesia protested Friday demanding the release of jailed rebel leader Xanana Gusmao and
a referendum for the troubled territory.
The protests took place consecutively at the justice ministry and the UN headquarters
here, and ended peacefully after officials in both places personally accepted a petition
handed over by student representatives.
Dozens of policemen watched closely as the students, wearing black head bands labeled
"referendum", waved banners reading "Referendum is the best and democratic
way", "Free Xanana" and "total withdrawal of Indonesian forces".
Jakarta invaded East Timor in 1975 and unilaterally declared the territory its 27th
province the following year in a move never recognised by the United Nations and most
states.
The students, members of the "East Timor Students and Youth Association" or
IMPPETTU, urged Jakarta to agree to a referendum under UN supervision to allow the people
of East Timor to decide their own future.
The Indonesian government has promised East Timor autonomy, a pledge which has drawn
Portugal into talks, but it has rejected the possibility of a referendum, saying it will
only trigger bloodshed.
Foreign ministers from Jakarta and Lisbon last week agreed in New York to take steps to
speed a solution, including closer involvement by East Timorese.
"We're not against the dialogue but we want to be part of it," one protestor
said. "The talks should involve Xanana and regard him as our national leader."
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said recently Xanana had "an important part to
play" in negotiations over the future of the former Portuguese colony.
Senior officials from both Portugal and Indonesia are scheduled to meet again in New
York by the end of September to discuss Indonesian proposals for "wide-ranging
autonomy" for East Timor excluding foreign affairs, security and finance.
"Timor Today" ETISC -East Timor International Support Center PO Box 651
N'cliff, Darwin Australia 0814 Bahasa Indonesia dan Inggris http://www.easttimor.com
email: etio@ozemail.com.au
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