Don Greenlees, Jakarta – Indonesia is paving the way to transfer Xanana Gusmao out of Jakarta's Cipinang jail and place him under house arrest, in a significant concession to international demands the East Timorese resistence leader be immediately freed.
Under pressure from Western governments to grant Mr Gusmao amnesty and negotiate directly with him over the future status of East Timor, senior Indonesian government sources said Foreign Minister Ali Alatas recently raised the option of house arrest during a meeting of the Habibie Cabinet.
The UN has backed placing Mr Gusmao under house arrest because it would allow him greater freedom to talk to supporters and foreign visitors over proposals by President B.J. Habibie to give East Timor wide-ranging autonomy.
Western diplomats confirmed yesterday Mr Alatas had mentioned the possibility of house arrest on several occasions in another sign of the shift in Indonesian thinking about the protracted dispute over East Timor.
Although diplomatic sources said Mr Gusmao, serving a 20-year sentence for leading a bloody resistance war against Indonesia, had recently expressed interest in the Foreign Minister's proposals, there were conflicting accounts of whether he would accept an offer of house arrest.
But government sources said Indonesia needed to overcome some "technical difficulties" before permitting Mr Gusmao's transfer to house arrest. Among these was the lack of a legal provision for house arrest.The sources said Justice Minister Muladi was consulting with senior colleagues, including Home Affairs Minister Syarwin Hamid and Defence Minister and armed forces commander General Wiranto.
UN envoy on East Timor, Jamsheed Marker, has been pressing the Government to agree to house arrest as an interim step leading to Mr Gusmao's eventual freedom.
Dr Habibie has repeatedly insisted Mr Gusmao will only be released as part of a comprehensive solution to the East Timor conflict, which involved international recognition of Indonesian sovereignty. But government sources said Dr Habibie was likely to accept house arrest if legal requirements could be met.
Indonesian officials say Mr Gusmao has already been given unusual freedom in Cipinang jail, being allowed a constant stream of vistors. Last week, he held talks with three US congressman. He also met Australian ambassador John McCarthy twice last year.
Australia and other Western governments have urged Indonesia to immediately release Mr Gusmao so he could actively take part in negotiations on the status of the former Portuguese colony, invaded by Indonesia 23 years ago.
UN-brokered talks between Indonesia and Portugal are due to resume in New York at the end of the month. But foreign governments, including Australia's, believe Indonesia needs to make greater efforts to deal directly with respected East Timorese leaders.
In a December 21 letter to Dr Habibie, John Howard signalled a significant switch in his Government's policy, backing self-determination for the first time. He also criticised the talks in New York for not giving an "adequate role" to the East Timorese, in particular Mr Gusmao.