[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
NEWS- Indonesia vows crackdown on E
Indonesia vows crackdown on East Timor protests
June 29, 1998
Web posted at: 3:06 a.m. EDT (0706
GMT)
DILI, East Timor
(Reuters) -- Indonesian
authorities on Monday
vowed to crack down on
protests in East Timor,
but said they were willing
to discuss what form of autonomy would be
appropriate for the troubled territory.
Jakarta-appointed East Timor governor Abilio
Soares said authorities would get tough on
protests, which he said had led to anarchy in the
former Portuguese enclave annexed by Indonesia in
the mid-1970s.
"The armed forces have been instructed to take
stern measures against rioters who have attacked
government offices, cars and flags of the Republic
of Indonesia," Soares told a news conference in the
territory's capital Dili.
In Jakarta, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told reporters
that the future of East Timor could only be resolved
through dialogue.
"Demonstrations or riots will not bring a solution," he
told reporters in parliament. "What's more, those
who are demonstrating and causing disturbances
are university students who should know better."
Street protests have broken out frequently in Dili
since the Indonesian government announced earlier
this month that it was willing to give East Timor
special status if its sovereignty over the region was
recognized by Portugal and the United Nations.
The United Nations has not recognized Jakarta's
rule over the enclave and still considers Lisbon as
the administering power.
Many in the Roman Catholic-dominated territory are
calling for a referendum on the future of East Timor,
but some are saying the integration with Indonesia
should now be accepted. Both sides have held rival
demonstrations and last week clashes broke out
between them in which at least one person was
killed.
"A referendum will only cause a split among
Timorese and a civil war," Alatas said. "This is a
fact, look at the situation now in East Timor. There
are groups demonstrating, both pro and anti
(Indonesia). There are disturbances, tensions and
people are hurt.
"We are looking for a way out that is complete,
peaceful and which can be accepted by the majority
of the East Timor people, foreign nations and the
United Nations.
"According to the government, this (can be done)
through creating a special province based on
extensive autonomy. This need not be done
unilaterally but we are ready to negotiate about
what that autonomy is with all sides."
Soares said he would not allow any demonstrations
at all in the territory.
"We will ask those holding demonstrations to also
stop... to leave it out. Let us have dialogue.
"If they refuse, they will be arrested. But I will ask
the armed forces not to kill them. I have told those
who are pro-integration there should no be more
violence," he said without elaborating.
Demonstrations press on
Protests were held in Dili on Monday nevertheless.
Hundreds of East
Timorese, riding on trucks,
buses and motorcycles,
toured the city of 130,000
people demanding a
referendum on
independence and
shouting "Viva Xanana,"
referring to jailed guerrilla
leader Xanana Gusmao. Gusmao is serving a
20-year jail term in Jakarta for opposing Indonesia's
rule.
Anti-riot troops and police blocked several roads
leading to the governor's office.
Despite the protests, Dili was more or less
peaceful, although many shops were closed for fear
of further clashes between rival groups.
Three European envoys, in East Timor to assess
the current situation, left for Baucau town to the
east of Dili to meet Bishop Basilio dos
Nasciemento.
He and Nobel laureate Bishop Carlos Belo are the
only two bishops in East Timor.
The ambassadors are scheduled to meet Belo in
Dili on Tuesday before heading back to Jakarta.
Baucau residents said the town was calm.
Indonesia invaded East Timor, a territory of
800,000 people, in 1975 soon after the Portuguese
withdrew unilaterally. Hundreds of thousands of
people were killed in the fighting and subsequent
famine.
Human rights activists have said Indonesian troops
shot more than 200 people in 1991 in a massacre
in Dili. Indonesia's official inquiry said 50 unarmed
protesters were shot in the incident.