Dili - Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, a strong contender for the Indonesian presidency and no friend to East Timor's independence cause, is scheduled to visit the illegally occupied territory today for three hours, writes David Shanks.
The visit of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle leader is officially to campaign for four seats that East Timor returns to the National Assembly in Indonesia, but her visit will be seen in the context of East Timor's UN-managed August 8th autonomy/independence referendum. She will address a rally in Dili and meet Bishop Carlos Belo.
Meanwhile, Mr David Wimhurst, spokesman for the UN Assessment Mission in East Timor, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that the jailed East Timor rebel leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao, may be allowed to campaign. Mr Wimhurst said Mr Gusmao may campaign through the media if he was unable to come in person to East Timor. The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Australia and the UN are at loggerheads over whether 280 international civilian police for East Timor should carry sidearms for their protection. Yesterday some 450 Indonesian police left for Timor.