Jakarta – Chief of the Udayana Military Command overseeing Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara, Maj. Gen. Willem T. da Costa, said on Tuesday that he supported former rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao as a possible president of neighboring Timor Lorosae (East Timor).

"If we were asked our opinion on who would be a suitable candidate to become the president of Timor Lorosae, we would recommend Xanana Gusmao," da Costa said in Denpasar, as quoted by Antara.

He said Xanana was a figure capable of bridging the interests of the neighboring country and Indonesia. "We believe Xanana is capable of performing the task. In other words, the CNRT [National Council of East Timorese Resistance] leader will always have the same views on the relationship and the interests of both countries," he said.

Da Costa said Indonesia and Timor Lorosae had several common interests that needed to be discussed and resolved. He cited the border problems, the East Timorese refugees remaining in East Nusa Tenggara, human rights abuses and the return of Indonesia's assets in East Timor to Indonesia.

Asked about other candidates – secretary-general of Fretilin Mari Alkatiri and former East Timor governor Mario Vegas Carascalao – the military commander said he did not feel comfortable with either person. "Carascalao, for example, is an inconsistent person who has a tendency to follow others. During the Portuguese rule in East Timor, he joined Portugal, but when East Timor integrated into Indonesia, he joined Indonesia. And now, after East Timor has become an independent country, he is running for presidency," he said.

Carascalao and a number of Timor Lorosae figures tend to be inconsistent if compared with Xanana, he added. "Furthermore, psychologically and culturally, Xanana is more acceptable [to Indonesia]," da Costa said.