---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- July 25, 1999 E Timor Leader Praises Asean Talks On Rights, Democracy MANILA (AP)--East Timor leader Jose Ramos Horta said Sunday an Association of Southeast Asian Nations decision to begin discussing democracy and human rights issues was a positive step, but added a lot more has to be done. For one, Asean countries should help ensure a peaceful independence ballot next month on East Timor, where massive rights abuses have become an impediment in the group's relations with the European Union and Western countries, Horta said. "I think it is already a major step forward, a positive step, that the Asean countries now do not see human rights and democracy as taboos," Horta told The Associated Press in an interview. But he said "Asean must go further." Horta said there was no need for Asean to discard a founding principle of non-interference in each other's domestic affairs because human rights and democracy should be excluded from the policy's coverage, being "matters of international jurisdiction and responsibility." In wide-ranging discussions during an informal retreat Friday in Singapore, Asean foreign ministers agreed that the 10-member trading bloc must consider becoming more active in settling diplomatic disputes and begin addressing questions such as human rights and democracy. In the past, Asean has avoided such issues because of its policies of consensus and non-interference. The new chairman, Thailand's Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, has been a strong advocate of more frank and public discussions of internal matters that may lead to instability and cross-border problems. Specifically, Horta asked Asean countries to urge one of its founding members, Indonesia, to pull out troops from East Timor as a step to reduce potential violence ahead of a U.N.-organized referendum on independence for the half-island territory. Clashes between pro-independence groups and Indonesia loyalists have already forced the postponement of the referendum to Aug. 21 or 22. Horta, who won the Nobel Prize in 1996 along with compatriot Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, said he was confident about 90% of East Timorese voters would choose independence instead of limited self-rule if there were "no threats and intimidations." In such a case, East Timor should be invited by Asean to become a member, said Horta. Horta arrived in the Philippines on Saturday to seek help in ensuring next month's referendum is peaceful and credible. Aside from an Indonesian troop withdrawal, Horta said he also would like Indonesia to confine any soldiers still in the territory to their barracks and disarm gangs stirring up trouble ahead of the referendum. Horta will ask the Philippines and other countries to prod Indonesia into allowing him and other pro-independence leaders like Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao to return to their homeland for the referendum. Horta said he wouldn't argue if the U.N. mission overseeing the elections decided to postpone the vote for another week because of continuing clashes between pro-independence groups and Indonesian loyalists. In his meetings with Manila's leaders, Horta said he would also discuss cooperation between the Philippines and East Timor, which are both predominately Catholic and share a history of struggle against authoritarianism. Horta has been living in exile in Australia but returned for the first time in 24 years for a visit to Jakarta last month. Indonesian officials have barred him and other pro-independence leaders from returning to their homeland, fearing their presence would incite more violence. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 26 Jul 1999 jam 00:16:27 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
