Milita leader, Xanana agree to end hostility<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang<\/p>\n
East Timor's charismatic leader Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao
\nand former pro-Jakarta militia leader Joao Tavares agreed on
\nTuesday to end their hostility and to work together for peace in
\nEast Timor through reconciliation.<\/p>\n
Xanana and Tavares reached the agreement in a closed-door
\nmeeting in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
Xanana arrived here on Monday for a three-day visit with his
\nmain mission being reconciliation with East Timorese refugees and
\npro-Jakarta East Timor leaders in the province. He was
\naccompanied by his wife, Kirsty Sword Gusmao, and son, Alexandre
\nSword Gusmao, during his visit.<\/p>\n
Xanana said that his meeting with Tavares was part of a
\nreconciliation effort to achieve a holistic repatriation. \"I and
\nTavares talked about reconciliation. I also underlined that
\nreconciliation would only work if there was a legal system. And
\nTavares agreed with this idea,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tavares concurred, saying that he and Xanana had agreed not to
\nsow the seeds of warfare and hatred in the children of East
\nTimor. \"Hostility and strife will not end if there is no
\nreconciliation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I and Xanana talked about how to bring peace to East Timor.
\nWe also agreed to end our conflict.\"<\/p>\n
They agreed to support the process of repatriation of the East
\nTimorese refugees now living in camps in West Timor in
\nIndonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province.<\/p>\n
Xanana said that he hoped that his visit would encourage
\nrefugees to return to their villages in Timor Lorosae (East
\nTimor), especially after the establishment of a reconciliation
\ncommission.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that refugees returning to their villages can live in
\npeace together with their brothers under the supervision of the
\ncommission, even though they previously had different political
\nviews,\" he added.<\/p>\n
On his talks with Archbishop Mgr. Petrus Turang Pr., Xanana
\nsaid that he expressed his gratitude to the bishop for the
\nservice he had done for the East Timor refugees living in East
\nNusa Tenggara province.<\/p>\n
\"I personally ask the Kupang bishop to pray for us, the East
\nTimorese people, so that we can live in and enjoy peace. I also
\nappeal to the bishop to help facilitate the repatriation
\nprocess,\" Xanana said.<\/p>\n
Bishop Mgr. Petrus Turang said the Kupang diocese fully
\nsupported the efforts to create peace in East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"I pray for true and lasting peace for the people of East
\nTimor\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nani Kosapilawan, spokesman for the East Nusa
\nTenggara provincial administration, said the passenger ship
\nPatricia Anne Hotung belonging to the UN Transitional
\nAdministration in East Timor (UNTAET) would arrive in the city on
\nWednesday to transport more than 100 East Timorese families back
\nhome.<\/p>\n
\"Governor Piet A. Tallo has ordered officials of the relevant
\nagencies to accompany the refugees to board the ship on
\nWednesday,\" he said at his office on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said the 100 families had decided to go back home after
\nbeing influenced by Xanana's visit to their camps in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Nani hailed Xanana's peace mission at this time of year, just
\nbefore Christmas and New Year.<\/p>\n
\"Many East Timorese refugees were impressed by Xanana's good
\nintentions to create peace in East Timor,\" he said, adding that
\nmany local people came out in the city to greet Xanana and his
\nfamily on Monday and Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said a majority of more than 143,000 East Timorese refugees
\nwere expected to follow suit and return after Xanana's
\nreconciliatory visit, which was aimed at persuading them to
\nreturn to their home land.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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