---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ and click banner our sponsor ---------------------------------------------------------- KOLOM SUPANGKAT: WHAT IS THE MYSTERY BEHIND ALATAS CHANGE OF HEART? It seems to be inconceivable that adamant as he has been on the issue of referen- dum, Alatas all of a sudden agreed to the balloting in East Timor that differs in name only with referendum at the last moment of negotiations on Thursday. I suspect that the Foreign Ministers of Australia and Britain persuasive powers has a profound influence on the mind of Alatas. And last but not least, "Mother" Albright who had a long talk with him duing her visit to Indonesia lately must have something to do with it. But why did he put it on the table at the last moment? Did he want to surprise the world, particularly the media who already voiced optimism given Alatas "oscillating diplomacy" as Jame Gama said? The autonomy package "complicated and sophisticated" as it is, is still being cooked back in Jakarta and to be presented back to the Tripartite on April 22. In the meantime, hopefully there will be no other surprises that would set back the greatest progress made so far on this issue. But heaven only knows. H.S. Hidayat Supangkat The United Nations ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 12 Mar 1999 jam 18:51:09 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
