`One condition for dialog with Fretilin'<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): East Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio
\nSoares says he is willing to hold a dialog with leaders of the
\nseparatist movement Fretilin but on one condition.<\/p>\n
\"They have to accept East Timor's integration with Indonesia
\nfirst,\" Abilio told The Jakarta Post yesterday in his first
\ncomment on the peace gesture made by Fretilin last week.<\/p>\n
\"If they're willing to come out of their jungle hiding with
\nthe intention of genuine peace, I'm willing to meet them,\" he
\nsaid. \"I'm more than prepared.\"<\/p>\n
Abilio said that he had not received the letter from the
\nFretilin leaders offering to hold peace talks.<\/p>\n
The letter's existence was publicly disclosed through
\ninternational news agencies.<\/p>\n
Fretilin leaders made their offer for a truce and peace dialog
\nlast week but the local military has rejected it out of hand
\nstressing that the rebel movement was virtually a spent force.<\/p>\n
Fretilin has been waging guerrilla warfare for a separatist
\nstate in East Timor since the former Portuguese colony joined
\nIndonesia in 1976. Its size and strength has been steadily
\ndeclining and the movement suffered a severe blow in 1992 when
\nits commander, Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao was captured and
\nthen convicted to 20 years in jail.<\/p>\n
Abilio said the question of East Timor's integration with
\nIndonesia is not for negotiation.<\/p>\n
The offer of presidential amnesty to all remnants of Fretilin
\nmembers still stand, he said. \"They have nothing to fear when
\nthey come out of their hiding. Clearly this is better than
\nspending their time in the jungle.\" (yac\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/one-condition-for-dialog-with-fretilin-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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