Government frees East Timorese leader Xanana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): East Timorese resistance leader Jose Alexandre
\n"Xanana" Gusmao was freed from jail here on Tuesday and
\nimmediately sought refuge in the British Embassy.<\/p>\n
"As a free man, I will do everything to bring peace to East
\nTimor and to my people," Xanana said before leaving the Ministry
\nof Justice.<\/p>\n
In a statement made available to the media, the British
\nEmbassy said, "Xanana's stay at the embassy will give him a
\nbreathing space."<\/p>\n
"In the freedom of the British Embassy, he will be able now to
\ndecide for himself his next move," the Embassy said.<\/p>\n
Xanana was taken from the Ministry of Justice to the British
\nEmbassy, in Central Jakarta, under police escort accompanied by
\nhis lawyers and a number of officials.<\/p>\n
Xanana's release comes in the wake of increased violence in
\nthe troubled territory, following the announcement of last week's
\nballot.<\/p>\n
Justice Minister Muladi, who was also present at the ministry
\nbuilding, said Xanana would be handed over to the United Nations
\nand that they would be responsible as to where and how the
\nproindependence leader would be taken.<\/p>\n
Muladi said he hoped Xanana would not leave Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A decree, signed by President B.J. Habibie on Sept. 7, states
\nXanana is free due to his contribution to resolving the East
\nTimor issue.<\/p>\n
"Amnesty is given to Xanana and, therefore, all charges
\nagainst him are canceled," Presidential Decree 108\/1999 states.<\/p>\n
In a brief statement before leaving the ministry, Xanana
\nthanked Habibie and, in particular, Muladi "who during this
\ndifficult time has helped me out".<\/p>\n
"I also want to thank the international community and all the
\npeople who have supported and demanded my release," Xanana added.<\/p>\n
Xanana was captured by the military in 1992 for leading an
\narmed rebellion. He was sentenced the following year to life
\nimprisonment, which was later commuted to 20 years.<\/p>\n
Also present at the ministry on Tuesday for Xanana's release
\nwas Jakarta-based UN representative Tamrat Samuel, who described
\nXanana's freedom as an important step toward reestablishing peace
\nand resolving the very difficult problem of East Timor<\/p>\n
He said the UN recognized Xanana's role as "an important
\nleader and voice in the Timorese community".<\/p>\n
"We hope, in the future, that Xanana Gusmao will be able to
\nreturn to his homeland and actively contribute to the
\nreestablishment of security and reconciliation," Samuel said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's initial plan was to fly Xanana to Dili and hand him
\nover to the United Nations Mission in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The plan was scrubbed as many feared that Xanana would become
\ntargeted by rampaging militias.<\/p>\n
Later on Tuesday, Xanana told journalists at the British
\nEmbassy that he would return to East Timor if circumstances
\n"allowed" him to do so.<\/p>\n
"I still don't know where to go. I will go, but I don't know
\nwhether I will be going tomorrow," he said.<\/p>\n
British Ambassador Robin Christopher said "as a free man,
\nXanana could choose his own time to return to East Timor".<\/p>\n
"While Xanana is making that decision, he asked us at the
\nembassy if he could come and stay here and we agreed,"
\nChristopher said.<\/p>\n
Xanana said that despite the alleged pro-Jakarta militias
\nrunning amok in East Timor, the proindependence Falintil would
\nnot take up arms and retaliate.<\/p>\n
"Although it is very hard for the Falintil to bear the pain
\nand tears of our people, they are determined to continue the
\ncantonment and to continue pursuing the CNRT (the National
\nResistance Council for an independent East Timor) political
\nstance," Xanana said, adding that he spoke with Falintil deputy
\ncommanders on Tuesday morning about the matter.<\/p>\n
"They are determined not to make any gesture which could be
\nseen as waging civil war." (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-frees-east-timorese-leader-xanana-1447893297",
"image": ""
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