---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Australian Financial Review Thursday, August 26, 1999 Timor market economy pledge By Tim Dodd, Jakarta As more than 10,000 independence supporters filled Dili streets yesterday in a colourful and peaceful rally, independence leader Mr Xanana Gusmao pledged that the new state of East Timor would be based on a market economy, the rule of law and a fully accountable government. In a statement he read at his prison house in Jakarta, Mr Gusmao also promised a general amnesty for all past political crimes and made clear that this included members of the pro-Indonesia militia groups which have fought against independence with terror and intimidation. "The state of Timor Lorosae (East Timor) will welcome to its bosom all the Timorese, regardless of the positions they assumed in the past. I particularly refer to those who are part of the pro-integration paramilitary forces," he said. Mr Gusmao, a former guerilla leader who fought the Indonesian army for 16 years, called for reconciliation on all sides, saying: "Our nation will be greater if each and every one of us is able to forgive, including those who have committed the most reprehensible acts." At yesterday's rally in Dili, Agence France-Presse reported that many in the crowd held framed pictures of Mr Gusmao or wore T-shirts with his picture. Others just drew a semblance of his face on their shirts. The tenor of Mr Gusmao's statement left no doubt that he expects East Timorese to choose independence in Monday's referendum and that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly will subsequently allow East Timor to separate. He said the new East Timor would be based on a market economy and would "encourage the building and strengthening of the private sector". It would encourage investment from abroad and a specific bill protecting national and foreign investments would be enacted. But with an estimated annual GDP per head of about $A200, East Timor will be in the bottom economic tier of nations if it becomes an independent state and is expected to be heavily reliant on foreign aid. Mr Gusmao acknowledged that "to overcome Timor Lorosae's backwardness and underdevelopment is a very difficult task". "The scarcity of resources and the high level of illiteracy are preoccupying," he said. He defined the objective of economic policy as transforming the present agrarian and subsistence economy into a more diversified and developed one. He promised open, responsible government, saying that "public administration will be managed with transparency, raising the level of professionalism with full and regular accountability". An independent East Timor would also want good relations with a "democratic and multi-party Indonesia". ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 25 Aug 1999 jam 21:57:50 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
