---------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- Portugal to push for ETimor leader's release LISBON, Aug 26 (AFP) - Portuguese officials were set Thursday to push for the release of East Timor resistance leader Xanana Gusmao during a three-way meeting with Indonesian and United Nations officials. The Portuguese delegation, led by the ambassador Fernando Neves, wants Gusmao freed so that he can take part in the forthcoming referendum on whether to grant East Timor independence or a form of autonomy. Gusmao, who was sentenced to 20 years jail in 1992, was transferred to house arrest in February. The meeting was to be the 17th and final summit of the three parties before the vote on East Timor, a former Portuguese colony invaded by Indonesia and then annexed 24 years ago. The three sides were to try to overcome differences which emerged during their previous meeting, on August 13 in Jakarta, including the thorny question of Gusmao's release. The head of the Indonesian delegation, Nugroho Wisnumurti, announced Wednesday that Jakarta would let Gusmao go, but only after the vote. He argued that the pro-independence leader would face harassment if he were released, thereby destabilizing the situation in the region, and that Indonesia would then be held responsible. Portugal has said however that Gusmao's presence during the electoral campaign would be a "historic chance" and "decisive factor" for stability and calm. Senior officials from the two countries, in the presence of special UN envoy Jamsheed Marker, were also to tackle the question of security for the referendum exercise. Marker was the guest Wednesday of Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres and met with Foreign Minister Jaime Gama, who praised the UN envoy's efforts to bring a "fair future" to the territory. The Portuguese government is insisting on knowing what concrete measures the Indonesians plan in addition to those already promised. Portugal is expected to reiterate its readiness to provide the necessary financial and human resources for a transition period following the vote. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 26 Aug 1999 jam 13:00:01 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
