---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- July 27, 1999 Indonesia To Promote Integration Benefit To E Timor - Gen JAKARTA (AP)--Indonesia will strive to convince the people of East Timor of the benefits of becoming an autonomous region, military chief Gen. Wiranto said Tuesday. "The best for them is to remain within the republic," Wiranto told a news conference after a cabinet meeting on security and law enforcement. Indonesia has ruled East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, since 1976 - a year after its troops invaded the half-island territory. After years of sharp criticism over human rights violations, Jakarta softened its position early this year. A U.N.-sponsored referendum will ask East Timor's residents to chose whether to become an autonomous region within Indonesian or opt for full independence. The vote is scheduled for Aug. 21 or 22, but may be delayed because of security concerns. "We will utilize the campaigning efforts to convince the people of East Timor that becoming an autonomous region of Indonesia is the best choice for them," Wiranto said without elaborating. Independence activists say the majority of East Timor's 800,000 people want to break away from Indonesia. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 27 Jul 1999 jam 21:32:05 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
