May 16, 2004 5:07am
AP Online

DILI, East Timor_East Timor wants to find a solution "acceptable to all" for crimes against humanity committed in its territory in 1999 by Indonesian troops and pro-Indonesia militias, its foreign minister said Sunday.

Jose Ramos Horta told reporters that Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and East Timor President Xanana Gusmao meet for two hours on Indonesia's resort island of Bali late Saturday.

They discussed a push by the United Nations to bring to justice those responsible for killing some 1,500 people after East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in a 1999 referendum.

He said the two leaders did not specifically discuss Indonesian Gen. Wiranto, who was slapped with an arrest warrant by a U.N.-backed special tribunal last week for his alleged role in the 1999 violence. Wiranto, a presidential candidate in July 5 polls, headed Indonesia's army at the time of the East Timor vote.

The vote sparked a murderous rampage by Indonesian troops and their militia proxies, which also destroyed much of East Timor's infrastructure.

Horta said East Timor, Indonesia and the U.N. are still looking "at what further steps could be taken that would be acceptable to all." He said it was too early to disclose what those steps would be.

"(We will) explore some ideas based (our) interest and concern including the issue of justice, without losing focus ... of the strong bilateral ties between East Timor and Indonesia," Horta said.

Indonesia's foreign minister, Hassan Wirajuda, said the talks focused on "reconciliation," border issues and other bilateral matters. He did not elaborate.

Gusmao earlier said he would not support the charges against Wiranto, arguing that improving relations with Indonesia is more important than seeking justice for the victims of the massacres.

The chief prosecutor in the capital, Dili, also said he would try to revoke the warrant, saying it was premature and that the case needed further review.

Last year, U.N. prosecutors working in the tiny nation indicted Wiranto for his alleged command responsibility for "murder, deportation and persecution" committed during 1999.

He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the indictment was an effort to undermine his candidacy in the July 5 presidential elections.

East Timor became the world's newest nation in 2001 after a period of transitional rule by the United Nations. The world body still keeps a small peacekeeping force, provides technical assistance, and funds efforts to bring those responsible for crimes against humanity to justice.

Some estimates say as many as 200,000 East Timorese died during Indonesia's two-decade occupation as a result of military operations, starvation and
disease.