Talks between Portugal and Indonesia have begun again under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. On 26 September, foreign ministers Ali Alatas and Joao de Deus Pinheiro were scheduled to start discussions which were halted after the tragic events of 12 November last year.
There is guarded optimism that these talks may lead to a comprehensive solution of the East Timor problem, which has been on the UN agenda since 1975. The initiative for the talks came from UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali, in talks with President Suharto during the non-aligned summit. Suharto accepted his proposal for talks without pre-conditions, the formulation suggested earlier this year by Portugal. As chairman of NAM, Suharto may feel he needs to show greater flexibility. His address at the UN General Assembly on 24 September is seen in Jakarta as a major achievement in his ambition to become an international figure; refusal to negotiate with Portugal could jeopardise this image.
All parties directly concerned
Since 1982, the last time a resolution was adopted on East Timor at the General Assembly, talks between Portugal and Indonesia have never included East Timorese representatives. This time the Portuguese have insisted on including the Timorese, in line with General Assembly Resolution 37/30 of 1982 which called on the Secretary-General to hold consultations with „all parties directly concerned“ in the conflict.
The Portuguese proposal was flatly rejected by Indonesia. Although Foreign Minister Ali Alatas has stuck to this, the signs from Jakarta suggest he may be open to compromise along the lines proposed by CNRM spokesperson Jose Ramos Horta of including Timorese in both delegations. It is not unlikely that ex-governor, Mario Carrascalao, would be in the Indonesian team. Suharto has already appointed him roving ambassador for East Timor affairs. There is also talk of church participation in an observer capacity, which might bring Bishop Belo into the talks.
A breakthrough?
While it is still too early to predict the outcome, the restart of negotiations
could be a step forward. Indonesia has been dragged to the negotiation
table by international pressure while Indonesia watchers hint that Suharto
may be willing to grant some kind of autonomy to the Timorese. This could
mean little change for the long-suffering Timorese. In any case, the military
run the show in Timor and there is no sign of compromise on their part.
Political and military considerations in Jakarta and Dili can be miles
apart. Ultimately however, only one thing can settle the issue, a referendum
held under international auspices.
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