---------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- Reuters English News Service 08/15/1999 INDONESIA: Free E.Timor will not hit Indonesia unity-Habibie JAKARTA, Aug 16 - Independence for the disputed territory of East Timor will not damage the unity of Indonesia, President B.J. Habibie said on Monday. "We are sure that whatever the decision taken by the people of East Timor, the unity and the completeness of the Republic of Indonesia will be maintained. That is a historical fact," Habibie said in a prepared state of the nation speech. East Timor is due to hold a U.N.-organised referendum on independence on August 30. The ballot gives a choice for East Timorese between wide-ranging autonomy under Jakarta's rule or independence. Many believe the referendum will mark the end of Jakarta's often brutal rule over the former Portuguese colony. Indonesian troops invaded East Timor in 1975 and some 200,000 Timorese have died of war, famine or disease under Indonesian rule. Habibie stunned the international community earlier this year by reversing Indonesia's policy of 23 years and saying Jakarta may grant East Timor independence. He expressed his hopes on Monday that the ballot would go smoothly. "We hope that the direct ballot can be conducted in a safe, orderly and smooth manner, so the people of East Timor can freely determine their future," he said. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 16 Aug 1999 jam 06:32:24 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
