---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- The Australian 5 Aug 99 Fischer appointed to lead Timor monitors By DENNIS SHANAHAN AUSTRALIA has sent a strong signal to Indonesia that it wants a fair ballot for East Timor's independence by appointing former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer to lead the parliamentary team to monitor the vote, due later this month. The Government has also forwarded Labor's nomination of high-profile critic of Indonesia, Laurie Brereton, to the UN and Indonesian authorities. The Government has deliberately chosen Mr Fischer only weeks after he resigned as deputy prime minister and minister for trade. He and Mr Brereton, Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, have been nominated to join a four-party parliamentary team. The Indonesian Government previously refused Mr Brereton permission to go to East Timor after he made a series of critical remarks about Indonesia and previous Labor party policy on East Timor. Canberra's nomination of Mr Fischer, and its passing on of the ALP's nomination of Mr Brereton, may cause friction with the Indonesian Government. There has been some concern within Foreign Affairs that the appointment of Mr Fischer to head the delegation may be seen as an attempt to intimidate the Indonesian Government in its handling of the East Timor poll. Government sources confirmed yesterday that Mr Fischer's high profile had been considered in the decision. The Indonesian authorities are expected to accept Mr Fischer's nomination as leader of the team, which represents the National Party, the Liberal Party, the ALP and the Australian Democrats. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 5 Aug 1999 jam 16:49:18 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
