Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
99JAKARTA5955
1999-12-01 10:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE'S MEETING WITH XANANA GUSMAO

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM PINR PREF SOCI MOPS UN ID 
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O 011052Z DEC 99
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1763
INFO ASEAN COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY LISBON 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 005955 

ROME FOR VATICAN
USUN FOR PIPER CAMPBELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/04
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR PREF SOCI MOPS UN ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE'S MEETING WITH XANANA GUSMAO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 005955

ROME FOR VATICAN
USUN FOR PIPER CAMPBELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/04
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR PREF SOCI MOPS UN ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE'S MEETING WITH XANANA GUSMAO


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS PAMELA SLUTZ; REASON 1.5(D).

SUMMARY
--------------


2. (C) AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROTH,
AMBASSADOR GELBARD AND PARTY MET A WARM AND ELABORATE
RECEPTION AT XANANA GUSMAO'S COMPOUND IN AILEU, EAST
TIMOR ON NOVEMBER 23. AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE STRESSED
U.S. DETERMINATION TO RESOLVE THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN
WEST TIMOR AND ARRANGED FOR XANANA TO RECORD A
STATEMENT REFUTING MILITIA DISINFORMATION AND URGING
THE REFUGEES TO RETURN. HE ADVISED XANANA THAT HE
WOULD BE DEALING WITH A MUCH IMPROVED GOI DURING HIS
UPCOMING VISIT TO JAKARTA. XANANA MADE CLEAR HIS
RESISTANCE TO "BEING FORCED TO ACCEPT MILITIA LEADERS
AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED." THE CNRT LEADER ALSO
REMAINED CONCERNED THAT UNTAET AND THE NGO'S WERE NOT
ADEQUATELY CONSULTING HIS PEOPLE. XANANA INDICATED
THAT HE AND HIS ADVISORS NOW WERE THINKING ABOUT A
QUICKER TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE.

WARM RECEPTION


3. (C) DUE TO XANANA GUSMAO'S ILLNESS (THE
CNRT LEADER WAS FEVERISH AND COUGHING -- WE
ARRANGED FOR A U.S. MILITARY DOCTOR TO VISIT
HIM ON NOVEMBER 24),AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE AND
PARTY ASCENDED VIA UNTAET HELICOPTER TO
XANANA'S CURRENT HEADQUARTERS AT AILEU, A COOL
MOUNTAIN TOWN 50 KM SOUTH OF DILI. SEVERAL
HUNDRED ARMED AND SMARTLY UNIFORMED FALINTIL
GUERRILLAS STOOD AT ATTENTION AT THE LARGE
FIELD WHERE THE HELICOPTER LANDED, MANY WITH
LONG HAIR PROTRUDING FROM THEIR RED BERETS.
AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE WAS GREETED BY XANANA,
WHO WAS FLANKED BY UDT (TIMORESE DEMOCRATIC
UNION) LEADER JOAO CARRASCALAO AND ALSO
ACCOMPANIED BY DEPUTY FALINTIL COMMANDER MATAN
RUAK. AFTER PASSING THROUGH HUNDREDS OF
ONLOOKERS AND SEVERAL ROWS OF WOMEN DRESSED IN
A VARIETY OF COLORFUL EAST TIMORESE
TRADITIONAL GARMENTS, AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE AND
PARTY JOINED XANANA AND HIS AIDES ON A COVERED
STAGE TO WATCH AN IMPRESSIVE PROGRAM PRESENTED
BY TRADITIONAL DANCERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS
FALINTIL REGIONS. SOME NOT SO TRADITIONAL

DANCING BY THE 8 TO 10 YEAR OLD SET (TO
CURRENT POP HITS PLAYED ON A SCRATCHY TAPE)
CONTRIBUTED TO THE FESTIVE, RELAXED
ATMOSPHERE. XANANA CALLED THE PROCEEDINGS
"OUR FIRST STATE VISIT."

U.S. WANTS TO HELP


4. (C) FOLLOWING BRIEF REMARKS BY XANANA AND
OTHERS IN THE LOCAL TETUN LANGUAGE, AMBASSADOR
HOLBROOKE WAS ASKED TO SPEAK. HOLBROOKE
SALUTED THE EAST TIMORESE FOR HAVING ACHIEVED
PEACE AND FREEDOM AFTER A LONG AND COURAGEOUS
STRUGGLE AND DREW APPLAUSE WITH HIS REMARK
THAT EAST TIMOR WOULD SOON BE THE FIRST NEW
NATION OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. HOLBROOKE
RECALLED THAT HE HAD JUST SEEN THE REFUGEES IN
WEST TIMOR, WHO WERE BEING TOLD LIES ABOUT THE
SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR. HOLBROOKE ADDED THAT
IF ONLY THE REFUGEES IN WEST TIMOR COULD SEE
THIS PEACEFUL SCENE IN AILEU, THEY WOULD
RETURN. WHILE THE EAST TIMORESE HAD GAINED
THEIR FREEDOM THEMSELVES, THE U.S. AND THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WANTED TO HELP IN
CREATING A NEW STABLE DEMOCRACY. THE
LEADERSHIP MUST COME FROM THE EAST TIMORESE
THEMSELVES, HOWEVER.

A NEW SITUATION IN JAKARTA


5. (C) MOVING TO XANANA'S CURRENT RESIDENCE
FOR A MORE PRIVATE DISCUSSION, HOLBROOKE AND
A/S ROTH STRESSED TO XANANA THAT HE WAS NOW
DEALING WITH A VERY DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT IN
JAKARTA, ONE WHICH STILL INCLUDED SOME BAD
ELEMENTS BUT WHICH ALSO HAD A PRESIDENT AND
FOREIGN MINISTER WHO WERE STRESSING TOLERANCE,
AND AN ATTORNEY GENERAL ANXIOUS TO INVESTIGATE
THE ABUSES IN EAST TIMOR TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
INDONESIA HAS CHANGED. HOLBROOKE URGED XANANA
TO REMEMBER THAT HE HAD SOME FRIENDS IN
JAKARTA, INCLUDING PRESIDENT WAHID. XANANA
CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS MEETING PRESIDENT WAHID
IN JAKARTA ON NOVEMBER 30.

FOCUS ON REFUGEES


6. (C) HOLBROOKE TOLD XANANA THAT THERE WERE
FOUR ISSUES DRIVING THE INDONESIA/EAST TIMOR
DYNAMIC: THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER IN JAKARTA
BETWEEN THE REFORMERS AND THE STATUS QUO
SUPPORTERS; THE SITUATION IN WEST TIMOR, WHERE
AT LEAST ONE-EIGHTH OF THE EAST TIMORESE
POPULATION REMAINED TRAPPED; THE CNRT'S
RELATIONS WITH JAKARTA; AND THE ACEH
SITUATION. HOLBROOKE SAID THE FOCUS OF HIS
TRIP HAD BEEN THE PEOPLE IN THE CAMPS IN WEST
TIMOR. DISINFORMATION AND INTIMIDATION WERE
PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM RETURNING HOME. IN ONE
INSTANCE, THREE DAYS AGO, 1000 REFUGEES HAD
SIGNED UP TO DEPART AND ONLY 350 SHOWED UP, A
CLEAR INDICATION OF THE SCALE OF INTIMIDATION.

NEED TO GET MESSAGE OUT


7. (C) HOLBROOKE TOLD XANANA THAT HE MUST
URGENTLY BROADCAST HIS MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE
IN THE CAMPS VIA ALL POSSIBLE MEANS AND
ADVISED HIM TO INSIST TO THE GOI DURING HIS
UPCOMING VISIT TO JAKARTA THAT THERE WOULD BE
NO GOOD RELATIONS UNTIL THE CAMPS WERE
CLEARED. (COMMENT: AT HOLBROOKE'S URGING,
XANANA CONVEYED SUCH A MESSAGE URGING REFUGEES
NOT TO BELIEVE RUMORS OF CONTINUING CONFLICT
IN EAST TIMOR AND ASSURING THEM THEY HAD
NOTHING TO FEAR, VIA THE MEDIA COVERING THIS
EVENT. END COMMENT.)

AGREEMENT RAISES PRESSURE ON GOI


8. (C) XANANA EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A DEAL TO
PERMIT THE REFUGEES TO RETURN MIGHT FORCE HIS
PEOPLE "TO ACCEPT THE MILITIA COMMANDERS AS IF
NOTHING HAD HAPPENED." HOLBROOKE ASSURED
XANANA THAT THE AGREEMENT SIGNED AT THE BORDER
ON NOVEMBER 22 DID NOT REQUIRE XANANA TO MAKE
ANY SUCH DEAL. HOLBROOKE ADDED THAT HIS PARTY
HAD UPPED THE PRESSURE ON THE INDONESIAN
MILITARY BY TAKING THEM INTO THE CAMPS
ACCOMPANIED BY THE INDONESIAN AND
INTERNATIONAL PRESS. WHILE IT REMAINED TO BE
SEEN WHETHER THE INDONESIAN COMMITMENTS WOULD BE
IMPLEMENTED, THE CAMP VISIT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP
WHICH RAISED THE PRESSURE ON THE INDONESIANS.

A FASTER TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE?


9. (C) AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE ASKED XANANA IF
HE HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHEN INDEPENDENCE
SHOULD BE ACHIEVED. XANANA SAID HIS AND HIS
ADVISORS' CURRENT THINKING WAS "WHY WAIT SUCH
A LONG TIME?" XANANA ARGUED THAT IT WOULD BE
EASIER AND FASTER FOR AN INDEPENDENT
GOVERNMENT TO ARRIVE AT STRATEGIC DECISIONS
THAN IS THE CASE WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION OF
CONFUSING MANDATES. (COMMENT. ON NOVEMBER 22
ACTING UNTAET DEPUTY DAVID HARLAND TOLD POLOFF
THAT TOP UNTAET OFFICIALS ALSO WERE SERIOUSLY
CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF A QUICKER
TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE THAN ORIGINALLY
ENVISIONED. END COMMENT.)

TIMING IMPORTANT


10. (C) AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE SAID THE FIRST
ISSUE IS FOR THE EAST TIMORESE TO BUILD UP THE
GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SYSTEM. THEN
THEY CAN DECIDE WHEN TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT
MEMBER OF THE UN. XANANA AND DE MELLO MUST
CONSULT CLOSELY TO ARRIVE AT THIS DECISION.
THE U.S. WOULD SUPPORT WHATEVER WAS DECIDED
AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE BEFORE AND AFTER
INDEPENDENCE. TIMING WAS IMPORTANT: WAITING
TOO LONG WOULD PROVOKE RESISTANCE WHILE MOVING
TO INDEPENDENCE BEFORE EAST TIMOR WAS PREPARED
ALSO WOULD HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. XANANA
SAID THAT PRESENT UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING
HUMAN RESOURCES COMPLICATED ANY DECISION ON
TIMING FOR INDEPENDENCE. AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE
SAID THAT WHILE NO DECISION NEED BE MADE RIGHT
AWAY, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BEGIN FOCUSSING ON
THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE UN'S TIMETABLE FOR THE
TRANSITION WOULD BE A KEY DETERMINING FACTOR
IN A NUMBER OF AREAS.

WHICH CURRENCY?


11. (C) IN RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE'S
QUERY, XANANA SAID THAT "FOR POLITICAL
REASONS" THE CNRT WAS CONSIDERING USING THE
PORTUGUESE ESCUDO AS EAST TIMOR'S CURRENCY.
HOLBROOKE POINTED OUT THAT THE ESCUDO WOULD BE
REPLACED BY THE EURO IN ANOTHER 18 MONTHS AND
HE SUGGESTED THAT A DECISION ON CURRENCY BE
LEFT TO THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS. XANANA SAID
THE IMF HAD BEEN AMENABLE TO USING THE
AUSTRALIAN OR SINGAPORE DOLLAR OR THE RUPIAH.

FUTURE GOVERNANCE


12. (C) AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE ASKED ABOUT PLANS FOR A
GOVERNING COUNCIL DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.
XANANA SAID HE AND SRSG DE MELLO (WHO ARRIVED FROM
DILI TO JOIN THE MEETING AT THIS POINT) HAD AGREED IN
PRINCIPLE ON A TRANSITION ADVISORY COUNCIL. XANANA
SAID THE CNRT WOULD DISBAND AT INDEPENDENCE WITH THE
POLITICAL PARTIES BECOMING THE MAIN ACTORS.

GELBARD