E. Timorese told to avoid violence<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The international community called on the East
\nTimorese to avoid violence in settling their disputes, while
\njailed leader Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao called for the
\npresence of a United Nations (UN) peace keeping force in the
\nterritory, following his earlier threat that his followers were
\nready for a war against pro-Indonesian groups.<\/p>\n
In New York, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said UN Secretary-
\nGeneral Kofi Annan was \"seriously concerned by reports from East
\nTimor and hopes that all acts of violence and intimidation will
\nstop\".<\/p>\n
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned on Tuesday
\nthat the situation in East Timor was volatile following an
\nescalation of violence in the troubled province.<\/p>\n
Downer said he had repeatedly urged the Indonesian government
\nnot only to ensure arms would not be provided to progovernment
\ncivilian militias but also to disarm people in the province.<\/p>\n
\"There has been a reasonable amount of restraint exercised but
\nthere has to be more restraint exercised than has been the case
\nup until now,\" Downer told Reuters.<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department expressed concern, describing Xanana
\nremarks as a \"dangerous and troubling\" development.<\/p>\n
The Japanese government also expressed concern.<\/p>\n
\"We are hoping that any political differences can be solved
\nthrough peaceful negotiations among the parties (concerned). This
\ncase cannot be the exception to the principle which we abide by,\"
\nsaid Akitaka Saiki from Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's
\noffice.<\/p>\n
In a two-page statement, released on Monday evening, Xanana
\nsaid he had instructed his followers to undertake a general
\npopular insurrection against armed militia groups who continue
\nkilling proindependence supporters.<\/p>\n
Xanana said he lost his patience following reports that Armed
\nForces (ABRI)-backed civilian militias opened fire on people in
\nMaubara, Liquica regency, on Monday, leaving four killed.<\/p>\n
\"The situation has reached an intolerable limit in East Timor.
\nTherefore I am compelled to authorize the Falintil guerrillas to
\nundertake all necessary actions in defense of the population
\nagainst the unprovoked and murderous attacks of armed civilians
\nand ABRI,\" said the leader of the National Resistance Council for
\nan Independent East Timor (CNRT). Falintil is under CNRT's
\numbrella.<\/p>\n
Catholic priest Marcal Dias Ximenes said ABRI should be held
\nresponsible for Monday's incident that claimed two lives, not
\nfour as claimed by Xanana. Marcal identified the fatalities as
\nFrancisco and Felix.<\/p>\n
The priest also blamed the military for the killing of Adolino
\nMagalaens, 23, in Lasao, Ermera regency, on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\"The military can not find a scapegoat for this incident,\"
\nsaid the priest.<\/p>\n
Xanana, who previously insisted on using peaceful means in his
\nstruggle for an independent East Timor, deplored the
\ninternational community for providing empty promises to his
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"We receive many promises of aid and cooperation for a future
\nindependent East Timor when what we need is unequivocal and
\nimmediate support to put an end to bloodshed and violence,\" said
\nXanana in a statement.<\/p>\n
Xanana's angry remark came just a few hours after President
\nB.J. Habibie summoned several ministers to discuss the draft of
\nthe Indonesian autonomy proposal for East Timor.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said after the meeting
\nthat the government had not finished its final draft, to be
\npresented during the tripartite talks with Portugal under the
\nauspices of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan later this month.<\/p>\n
Xanana's lawyer Johnson Panjaitan said his client's supporters
\nin East Timor strongly pressed Xanana to issue a war order
\nbecause ABRI continues supplying arms to their opponents.<\/p>\n
\"They can no longer stand the brutality of the militias ...
\nXanana said the current situation is very serious (because)
\npeople are facing systematic killings,\" Panjaitan said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Xanana's supporters reminded their leader not to forget their
\nsufferings from his well equipped detention house in Central
\nJakarta, said Panjaitan.<\/p>\n
Xanana believes that a UN presence is the only way to ensure a
\npeaceful direct voting process to determine the future of East
\nTimor in July.<\/p>\n
Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Habibie's advisor on foreign affairs,
\nregretted Xanana's statement, saying it might endanger peaceful
\nefforts to settle East Timor's problems.<\/p>\n
\"What we need now is a situation conducive to the
\nimplementation of the UN-sponsored direct balloting on the
\nautonomy package in July,\" Dewi told Antara.<\/p>\n
East Timor Military Commander Col. Tono Suratman said he
\nagreed with Catholic leaders' appeal for disarmament of the
\nconflicting parties. However, he said it was impossible for ABRI
\nto disarm itself as demanded by the church.<\/p>\n
\"If we are also disarmed then who will be responsible for
\nsecurity here?\" he said. (prb\/33)<\/p>",
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