April 27, 1999
Associated Press in Nusa Dua, Indonesia - Foreign police will be stationed in East Timor as part of a UN-backed peace plan for the bloodied territory which will vote on independence on August 8, Indonesia President B.J. Habibie said on Tuesday.
His comments advance what appears to be an inevitable move towards independence for East Timor where Indonesia's long and often savage rule has brought Jakarta little but international notoriety. ''In part of the agreement, the United Nations will send police to act as advisers,'' Mr Habibie told a news conference after meeting Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Bali.
Australia, one of the few countries to recognise Indonesia's 23-year rule in East Timor, has been at the forefront of recent international efforts to resolve the territory's future. The Australian delegation were upbeat about the talks, saying they had got more out of them than they had expected, and predicted the opening of a consulate in the East Timor capital Dili by the end of May. ''I recognise the difficulties faced and I also recognise very genuinely the commitment that the president and his government have made to a process which will allow a full and free choice by the people of East Timor,'' Mr Howard told the news conference.
His foreign minister, Alexander Downer, said the number of police Australia would provide was under debate, but ranged from 30 to 300. Canberra would also contribute A$20 million (HK$101 million) in aid for the East Timor ballot.
The talks follow agreement last week in New York between Indonesia and East Timor's former colonial ruler, Portugal, to give East Timorese the chance to vote on an autonomy package.
If that is rejected Habibie has said East Timorese could be handed independence.
Mr Habibie will present the East Timor vote on August 29 to the People's Consultative Assembly which has the power to allow East Timor to split from the rest of the huge archipelago. Many analysts expect East Timorese to reject Jakarta's autonomy package and opt for independence. Mr Habibie said he asked the United Nations to invite six nations - Britain, Germany, the United States, the Philippines, Australia and Japan - to help it arrange the August ballot. ''To make it fair and open, I have full confidence in the United Nations,'' Mr Habibie said when asked how he would disarm the militias to ensure the vote could take place.
''We will provide the option where they will get special autonomy for integration with Indonesia and the other is ... we will separate with peace as friends and in honour,'' he said.
