FORCE DEPLORED

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 9 December 1975, Page 1

FORCE DEPLORED

t.V.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 8. Regret at the Indonesian involvement in the capture of the East Timor capital of Dili was expressed by the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) today.

“The Government is against the use of force to settle the Timor dispute, whether by East Timor parties themselves or by intervention from the outside,” he said.

“I have noted, however, that the Indonesian Foreign Minister (Mr Malik) has reiterated that the people of East Timor should be permitted to exercise their right to self determination.- I welcome this assurance.” The important thing now was that peace and stability should be restored to the whole of East Timor, he said. Even so it would be a difficult task to ascertain the real wishes of the people and to arrive at a political solution based on an act of genuine . choice. “The fact is that the people of East Timor have not been adequately prepared for democratic self-government,” said Mr Rowling. “What has been taking place in the Portuguese colony has been a struggle for power among small, politically aware factions who are only marginally representative of the vast majority of the 600,000 people of East Timor.

“It is most unlikely that any of the conflicting factions would have been able to ensure that free elections were held throughout the whole country,” said Mr Rowling. The Prime Minister added that New Zealand had cosponsored a resolution on the Timor question at the United Nations. The resolution reaffirmed

the right of the people of Portuguese East Timor to “self determination, freedom and independence" and it called for a United Nations mission to visit the area.

§50,000 gift The Government is to contribute $25,000 to each of two appeals by the International Committee of the Red Cross for relief assistance to Timor.

The I.R.C. is conducting two separate operations — one for Portuguese East Timor and the other for Indonesian West Timor — where up to now the Indonesian Government has been supporting the refugees who have fled across the border from the fighting in the east. The Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Walding) said the contribution would be used to supply items such as blankets and soap for refugees and prisoners of war and for the general expenses of the Red Cross operation. (Invasion report, Page 21)