A prominent Muslim leader in Indonesia, also seen as the emerging leader of a People's Power movement against President Suharto, today, called for the right of self-determination of the East Timorese people to be respected. He also admitted that Indonesia's rule of the troubled territory is a severe drain on Jakarta's coffers.

Amien Rais, the leader of the 25 million-strong Muhammadiyah group, said a referendum in the troubled territory needs to be held as soon as possible under the auspices of the United Nations and the international community.

"We have to see the living reality as it is. If the majority of the East Timorese are restless, do not trust the central authorities, and want to be free, then they should be free," he told the East Timor International Support Center in a telephone interview.

"There needs to be a referendum under the supervision of the UN and other international bodies and the final decision has to be respected by all parties concerned," he said.

"If the majority want to be independent, we have to respect that. On the contrary if the majority want to be integrated with the Republic of Indonesia, the international community, too, has to respect that. But the fact of the matter is that a referendum must be held," added Mr Rais.

Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese enclave of East Timor in 1975 and annexed it as its 27th province a year later. In the years following the invasion over 200,000, or a third of the population, died either fighting the Indonesians or from disease and starvation. The United Nations has not recognised the annexation and still considers Portugal as the territory's administrator.

Mr Rais said East Timor was a "thorn in my flesh" and added that Indonesia's resources were being wasted in keeping the troubled territory in the Indonesian republic. "There must be a solution [ to East Timor] and any post-Suharto regime that emerges has to respect the wishes of the East Timorese people," he said in the interview.

On the question of jailed East Timor resistance leader Xanana Gusmao and other East Timorese political prisoners, Mr Rais said their release would depend on the outcome of the referendum.

"If the East Timorese, in the referendum, indicate they want to be independent then, of course, all political prisoners will be freed," he said. Mr Rais reiterated that he was willing to lead a "People's Power" movement against the Suharto regime.

"If the current leaders of the pro-democracy movement do not have the moral courage to lead the people, then I am more than willing to do the job," he said.

"I repeat, as what I had told the Australian press yesterday, the Suharto government is the most corrupt regime in the universe."

[According to a May 12 East Timor Action Network (ETAN) posting on the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Hearing on Indonesia and East Timor, held on April 30, Rais's comments on the question of East Timor are close to those quoted by ETHRC. ETAN noted that his remarks differ sharply from a May 2 Jakarta Post article which suggested he was "forced" to address the topic and was "reluctant to answer". Below are excerpts from the hearing posted by ETAN - James Balowski.]

Rais: Thank you. To be very honest, I did not know that I came to this building to join the testimony before the Congress about East Timor. This is very honest. I was a bit surprised, but it is ok because I have a strong opinion, position, on this problem.

Let me tell you very brief. About two or three ago, I made a clear statement that the best way to solve the East Timorese problem is giving the referendum for the whole people of East Timor to make the choice. If the result of the referendum indicates that the vast majority of the East Timor want to join Indonesia and stay like this you know. Then that's it. But if the result of the referendum indicates that the majority of the people want to have separation to build their own state even, then let them go. However, I made the condition that the Indonesian government must be given two or three more years to quote-unquote convince the East Timorese people to stick to the present structure. Meaning that East Timor becomes one of the provinces of Indonesia, but if after three years of hard working, of maximal effort and then the East Timorese people still want to have referendum, then the best way is to give them a referendum under the supervision of the United Nations bodies. Then that's it. This very clear and I don't change my opinion up to this day.

Kennedy: So basically, you are talking about the self-determination. The people of East Timor having an opportunity to demonstrate for themselves that they can govern themselves.

Rais: Right.

Kennedy: Thank you Dr. Rais. That was very important testimony.