The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, is to make a groundbreaking visit to East Timor tomorrow, believed to be the first by a European foreign minister to the former Portuguese colony since it was annexed by Indonesia in 1976.
His arrival in the capital, Dili, will coincide with a demonstration by pro-Indonesian forces, whose militia has in recent days carried out at least two massacres of supporters of independence.
While he will be flying into a very tense situation, the presence of an EU foreign minister may in fact help ensure that the Indonesian military keep a tight control on events when the pro-integrationists hold what they called an "invade Dili" rally to commemorate the bloody Indonesian invasion of the former Portuguese colony in 1975.
While the rally is being held, Mr Andrews will be meeting the governor and military commander to discuss events leading to an autonomy referendum and possible independence for East Timor. He also expects to meet in Dili with the Nobel peace laureate Bishop Carlos Belo, head of the Catholic Church in East Timor.
Mr Andrews arrived in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, last night and today will discuss the situation in East Timor with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, and the jailed guerrilla leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao.
On Monday he will meet President B.J. Habibie of Indonesia. Mr Andrews said last night that Ireland had always been one of the most pro-active countries on the East Timor question and he would be reporting to the General Affairs Council of EU Foreign Ministers next month on his trip.
The EU has strongly supported setting out the parameters for the Indonesian government to address the issue and ensure the freedom of the East Timor people to decide their future, he said.
The groups opposing independence for East Timor said they would stage their demonstration in Dili tomorrow because of the refusal of Mr Gusmao to back away from a call to take up arms after the recent massacres of civilians. Mr Basillo Araujo, a spokesman for pro-integration groups, said his supporters would also protest at a Mass on Sunday to be conducted by Bishop Belo.
Two weeks ago pro-integration forces, armed and backed by the Indonesian military, attacked a church in Liquica. The military said five people were killed but Bishop Belo said at least 25 were hacked or shot to death.
Mr Gusmao has been under house arrest in Jakarta since his release from prison six weeks ago to allow his participation in talks on East Timor's future.
The Indonesian government threatened to return him to prison after he made his call to arms.
On Wednesday he qualified the statement, saying through his lawyer: "I am obliged to continue to ask the defenceless people of East Timor to refuse to allow themselves to be slaughtered like animals, although I know that the armed forces will continue supporting the militias," but he added, "I renew my appeal for peace, dialogue and reconciliation."
The Indonesian Minister for Justice, Mr Muladi, said last week he would return Mr Gusmao to Cipinang Prison in Jakarta if he did not retract his call to arms and is planning to visit him to demand an explanation of his words. Mr Andrews said that returning Mr Gusmao to jail would be "less than helpful".
Mr Hendardi, leader of an Indonesian human rights organisation, said that "removing Xanana to Cipinang Prison would be a wrong decision and should be suspected as part of a violent conspiracy to sabotage the process of seeking a peaceful solution in East Timor".
Pro-Jakarta militiamen in Dili also said yesterday they would arrest pro-independence East Timorese accused of intimidation. They called on civil servants favouring independence to resign from the Indonesian administration and threatened to throw them out by force if they refused.