End to Timor Issue Sought

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica —  Indonesia’s foreign minister on Friday ruled out a prolonged transition period on the road to independence for the rebel territory of East Timor, but he said he hoped that the Timorese would opt for autonomy within Indonesia rather than full independence.

Ali Abdullah Alatas, who is attending a meeting of developing countries in the Jamaican resort of Montego Bay, said autonomy was “the most realistic, the most fair, the most viable and the most peaceful solution” for the region. Indonesia has ruled the former Portuguese colony with an iron fist since it invaded the territory in 1975.

But failing that, Indonesia wanted the issue to be settled quickly and will not agree to a long period of autonomy in the run-up to independence, he added.

“There is a counterproposal by some who want independence that would have a period of autonomy first, then after three, five or maybe 10 years, we have a referendum for independence,” Alatas said. “This is what we do not think is a realistic proposition. It will not work, it will only be a recipe for continuing conflict in East Timor.”

President B.J. Habibie, reversing Indonesia’s previous policy, said last month that he was ready to consider independence for East Timor if the territory rejected an offer of sweeping autonomy.

On Friday, Portuguese media quoted the head of an Indonesian human rights committee as saying that Habibie has backed a call for a peace commission to be set up to help avert bloodshed in East Timor.