Troubled Province's Release To enable RI To Concentrate on Development, Says President

Jakarta – If Timor is release from its fold, Indonesia will be able to concentrate on developing its remaining provinces toward the next millenium, President BJ Habibie said here Saturday.

With East Timor's release, Indonesia would no longer be burdened with the East Timor issue, the president said.

"In another 11 months, we are coming to the next millenium and we would like to concentrate on development for all here," the president said in a two-hour interview with Chinese Television Network (CTN). Local journalists were allowed to view a video recording of the interview.

East Timor was accepted as Indonesia's 27th province through a resolution of its People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) 22 years ago. Indonesia, Habibie said, did not wish to be burdened with the East Timor question much longer.

The Indonesian government had so far been spending more funds on development in East Timor than on the same in its other provinces. Only two percent of East Timor's total budget came from the province's own income with the rest being supplied by the central government, he said.

The Indonesian government now had two options to settle the East Timor question. The region could have an autonomy plus which meant an autonomy plus tolerance and understanding to adjust with other provinces' development. "But if they could not accept this, they could separate from us and okay, good luck with you," Habibie said.

On the other hand, if the East Timorese accepted wide autonomy, they would not have the right later to insist on being given independence. "But they could ask for independence from the Portuguese who colonized them (East Timor) or the United Nations," he said.

"That is the reaseon why I am not using the term referendum. It is to prevent it from being distorted,," he said. On the topic of Indonesia's forthcoming general election, Habibie said the government was committed to holding a fair and just election by providing fair information to the people.