Calls for disarmament of Timor civilians abound<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leading figures from East Timor have called on
\nthe Armed Forces (ABRI) to withdraw around 100 guns which it has
\nsaid it distributed among civilian gangs supportive of continued
\nintegration with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and jailed East
\nTimorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao were among
\nleading figures from the province who renewed calls for the
\nmilitary to disarm the gangs on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"For 23 years we've seen that a military solution with guns
\nhas been useless. So why guns again now? I just don't
\nunderstand,\" Belo told reporters from his residence in Dili.<\/p>\n
He said all parties must put down their guns and begin
\nnegotiating for peace in the province.<\/p>\n
The 13,000 military personnel currently stationed in East
\nTimor should be enough to guarantee security in the troubled
\nprovince, which has a population of around 800,000, Belo said.<\/p>\n
Asked if independence for East Timor would lead to a civil war
\nas suggested by the Indonesian government, Belo said: \"That's
\nwhat we must avoid\".<\/p>\n
\"If Indonesia were to leave after creating a pitting among the
\nEast Timorese, it would be worse than the Portuguese colonial
\nadministration.\"<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas has repeatedly stated
\nthat this is not Indonesia's intention.<\/p>\n
Belo called on politicians in the province to put the welfare
\nof the East Timorese people before their own interests.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Xanana said much feared clashes between pro and
\nanti-integration groups in the province must be avoided.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Xanana met Clementino dos Reis Amaral, Samsuddin
\nand Koesparmono Irsana from the National Commission on Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
After the meeting he disclosed that a \"commission for peace\"
\nwould be set up with the commission's help, adding that he would
\nask his followers to give it their full cooperation.<\/p>\n
Xanana also called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) to consider a
\nnon-military solution for the disputed territory and said he
\nwould order separatist rebels in the province to disarm if the
\nIndonesian military was willing to do the same.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Antara quoted ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt.
\nGen. Sugiyono as saying he saw sense in the proposal.<\/p>\n
\"If we put down our weapons at the same time, that would be
\ngood,\" Sugiyono was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
David Dias Ximenes, the deputy chairman of the CNRT resistance
\ngroup, said in Dili that \"an independent body\" was needed to
\nverify a recent claim made by East Timor Military Commander Col.
\nTono Suratman, who said that only 100 guns had been distributed
\nin the province, not 20,000 as some have claimed.<\/p>\n
Arming civilians, he said, would not help to find a peaceful
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
Similar calls came from Manuel Viegas Carascalao of the
\nReconciliation and Unity Movement of East Timorese People
\n(GRPRTT) and Olandina Alves Cairo of the East Timorese Women's
\nAnti-Violence Movement.<\/p>\n
Manuel said: \"I don't think civil war would break out in East
\nTimor if Indonesia willingly let it go. But it would still be
\nprudent to take back the guns given to civilians.\"<\/p>\n
When asked about armed civilians, Olandina said: \"With their
\nlow education levels, they would use the weapons improperly and
\nviolence would be inevitable.\"<\/p>\n
The pro-integration Forum for Democracy and Justice Unity
\n(FPDK) and representatives of loyalist East Timorese youths and
\ncommunity leaders held separate meetings with Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas at the latter's office here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
They expressed their support for integration with Indonesia
\nand voiced their opposition to suggestions of granting
\nindependence to the troubled province. (aan\/33\/01)<\/p>",
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