Indonesia risks losing provinces: Ramos-Horta

Ramos-Horta (right) says Xanana Gusmao (left) will be East Timor's first elected leader

By staff and wires

SYDNEY, Australia -- Indonesia risks losing more provinces because of violence committed by its army against their people, East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has warned.

Ramos-Horta, winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, on Sunday told Australia's Nine Network the provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya were particularly unstable and may finally decide the only option is secession.

"It is incumbent upon Jakarta to address very seriously, and with compassion and with vision, the claims, the suffering of the people of West Papua (Irian Jaya) and Aceh," Ramos-Horta said

"If they do not give up on violence against the legitimate claims of these people then the problem will drag on and maybe they will reach a point of no return where the only option left (is) secession by these regions.

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"However, I believe that Jakarta has now a golden opportunity to really make serious efforts in meeting halfway the Acehnese and the Irianese."

Ramos-Horta's comments came as Australian Prime Minister John Howard arrived in Jakarta for an historic first meeting with newly installed Indonesian Prime Minister Megawati Sukarnoputri,

Rebels in the Aceh province, in the north of Sumatra Island, have been fighting for an independent Islamic state for more than two decades. The fighting has intensified this year, with more than 1000 people killed since January.

Militia in the remote jungle province of Irian Jaya, or West Papua, have been fighting for independence since the Dutch left their former colony in 1961.

A group of Papuans declared independence on December 1 of that year, but Indonesian troops began moving in over the following two years.

Indonesia took sovereignty over Irian Jaya by means of a UN plebiscite in 1969, but the West Papuans have long argued the method was flawed.

New president, new hope

Ramos-Horta said it would be 'unwise' for Australia to ignore the emerging conflicts in Aceh and West Papua, but was confident Howard would raise the issue of violence and human rights abuses in the two provinces during his current visit with Megawati.

"Of course I would agree that Australia shouldn't too publicly lecture the new president.

"We must give her the benefit of the doubt, give her time to consolidate her administration, to pursue the dialogue that she has promised with the regions, so I would caution against any public lecturing, any public criticism for the time being."

Ramos-Horta was open-minded about the future of Indonesia under Megawati, the popular daughter of Indonesia's founder Sukarno.

"There is a new president who's just announced a new cabinet ... new policies will be announced. So I think we all should refrain from any posturing or criticism, let's give her the benefit of the doubt," he said.