ANFREL: Xanana To Be Freed After 7th August Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - "Solidamor" Press Release 9 June 1999 XANANA TO BE FREED AFTER 7th AUGUST - HABIBIE A five-member Asian delegation headed by General Sayud Kerdphol from Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan and the Philippines belonging to the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), met today with President Habibie at the Presidential Palace. The delegation are among the 75 international observers deployed by ANFREL to 20 provinces during the June 7 election. When asked about the release of political prisoners like Xanana Gusmao, East Timor opposition leader and Budiman Sudjatmiko, president of PRD, one of the political parties contesting in the election, President Habibie said that upon his assumption as president, he already released a number of political prisoners based on five criteria including the prisoner's allegiance to the constitution. He said that Xanana has been accused of criminal offense and sentenced to life imprisonment, then it was reduced to 20 years so he has 13 years more to serve. The ANFREL delegation asserted that he should be freed before the August 7 Referendum so he could participate freely in the negotiation process. Habibie committed to the group that Xanana will be released after the people of East Timor vote for their independence and East Timor becomes a friendly neighbor then, 'we can reduce his sentence to 7 years so he will be automatically released '. Asked how his government intends to address the post-election scenario like the possiblity of violence and instability, he assured the group that everything is on the pipeline until the next president, whether it is a 'he or a she' will be elected. Asked if there is possiblity to elect the new president earlier than November as demanded by the opposition political parties, he said 'that is against the constitution' and he will not do anything against the constitution. He said 'democracy is just a technique' so this election only serves this function towards a long-term democratization process. The post-election challenge he considers important is the socialization of the values of democracy where the lessons learned of the past will be experienced by everyone. Expounding on East Timor, he said it is something that will have to be decided by the people and he hopes whoever wins in the election will respect the will of the East Timorese people. He emphasized the role of the MOU signed by Portugal, Indonesia and East Timor under the auspices of the UN- that this is binding as far as the parties involved are concerned. With regards to small arms, they will be gathered and deposited by the police with the assistance from the UN and those who use small arms will be punished under the law by the UN police. Habibie told the ANFREL delegation his administration's accomplishments as far as human rights are concerned. He mentioned Indonesia's ratification of the ILO conventions and how, through the decress and laws passed during his short time as president he was able to address the economic issues of the country. He cited the increase in currency exchange from a low of 16,000 to a dollar to the current 7,800 to a dollar and the positive change in the interest rate. The meeting was attended by his cabinet including Armed Forces Commander General Wiranto and nine other ministers and advisers. The delegation consisted of Prof. Suto from Japan, Sushil Prakuyel from Nepal, Evelyn Balais-Serrano from the Philippines and Thun Saray from Cambodia. For more information, call up or visit the ANFREL Secretariat at Hotel Indonesia, M.H. Thamrin, Jakarta, tel. no. 2301003 or 3906262 ext. 1588. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytpac-06.14.99-23:59:34-18565