E. Timorese mark anniversary of 'invasion' with protests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): East Timorese marked the 23rd anniversary of
\nwhat they described as the territory's invasion by Indonesia by
\ndancing and protesting at the United Nations headquarters here.<\/p>\n
One hundred students and activists participated in the
\ndemonstration which then moved down Jl. H. Agus Salim. They
\nrepresented the East Timor Students and Youth Association, and
\nwore black headbands printed with the word "referendum."<\/p>\n
"We want the government to free political prisoners... we
\nwant a referendum... and we want justice for Timorese," Joaquim
\nFonseca, the group's spokesman told the crowds of passersby. The
\nprotesters also demanded that former president Soeharto be
\nbrought before the International Court of Justice and that
\n"architects of the 1975 invasion" also be punished.<\/p>\n
After a three-hour rally, the group was blocked by security
\npeople near the U.S. Embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in
\nCentral Jakarta. Eventually a few of their representatives met
\nwith the Embassy's political counselor Ed McWilliams.<\/p>\n
At the UN, the East Timorese handed over a letter to UN
\nSecretary-General Kofi Annan, demanding a referendum and the
\nunconditional withdrawal of troops. Much doubt has been cast
\noverseas over Indonesian authorities' statements that the bulk of
\nthe troops have largely been withdrawn from the province.<\/p>\n
The East Timor capital Dili was reported to be quiet on
\nMonday. Businesses were closed given earlier rumors of
\ndemonstrations on the anniversary.<\/p>\n
"Some people, who have come from all 14 regencies (of East
\nTimor) went to the Santa Cruz cemetery for a mass this morning,
\nbut for the rest of the day, the city has been much quieter than
\nusual," AFP quoted Pastor Domingus Sequeira as saying in Dili.<\/p>\n
On Sunday the pro-independence movement was highlighted by the
\ninstalling of 52 activists in a ceremony by a pro-independence
\ngroup, Emar Ida Nasun Timor Loro Sae. On Monday the UN assistant
\nto the secretary general, Tamrat Samuel, was scheduled to meet
\nauthorities and the Solidarity Council of East Timorese Youth and
\nStudents. He said he wished to gain an insight into the latest
\nconditions, and denied he was investigating the incident in the
\nAlas area in which five were shot during a military operation
\nincluding three soldiers.<\/p>\n
AFP also quoted the Darwin-based East Timor International
\nSupport Center (ETISC) as saying the military's plans to arm
\nvillagers in East Timor against rebel attacks was "just a cruel
\nexcuse to create another paramilitary group in East Timor," the
\nETISC statement said.<\/p>\n
"This defense force will be used by ABRI (the Armed Forces) to
\ndo their dirty work, and being out of uniform, they are
\nunaccountable for the abuses they might commit," it added.<\/p>\n
East Timor military commander Col. Tono Suratman said on
\nSaturday said he planned to arm civilians in villages which were
\nprone to attacks by pro-independence rebels, saying they were
\nneeded given the lack of troops.<\/p>\n
Indonesia denies it invaded the former Portuguese colony but
\nlanded after being invited to break up an escalating civil
\nconflict. (edt\/33\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timorese-mark-anniversary-of-invasion-with-protests-1447893297",
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