Proindependence not to surender weapons<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A proindependence leader in East Timor said on
\nSunday his followers would not surrender weapons as long as
\nmilitary troops remain in the troubled territory.<\/p>\n
David Ximenes, coordinator of the Resistance Council of East
\nTimor (CNRT) in the East Timor capital of Dili, told AP that his
\ngroup would be only willing to hand over their arms directly to
\nthe United Nations.<\/p>\n
\"For over 23 years, Falintil has been fighting against the
\nmilitary,\" Ximenes said, referring to the armed wing of his group
\nwhich is a faction of the separatist movement.<\/p>\n
Sunday was scheduled to be the first day of a disarmament
\nperiod in advance of the scheduled Aug. 8 ballot that will let
\nEast Timorese choose between independence and autonomy within
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Leaders of proindependence and proautonomy movements signed on
\nSunday a joint agreement aimed at ending violence ahead of the
\nU.N.-sponsored ballot.<\/p>\n
Under the deal, disarmament of guns and sharp weapons is
\nscheduled to run through July 5. An April peace pact that did not
\naddress the thorny issue fell apart.<\/p>\n
However, a signatory to the agreement, Jose Alexandre Xanana
\nGusmao, who leads the proindependence side, stated on Saturday
\nthat it was yet to be agreed which party would disarm the East
\nTimor factions.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) have been given full
\nresponsibility of security in the province ahead of the direct
\nballot.<\/p>\n
\"Given the fact that the disarmament is not the responsibility
\nof Polri, the Peace and Stability Commission (KPS) and the UN
\nwill later decide which institution will be in charge of
\noverseeing the disarmament process,\" Xanana said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Xanana also said he stressed during the three-day meeting at
\nthe justice ministry the \"necessity to close down all the
\nmilitary posts spread throughout the territory, and for the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) to be confined to barracks as necessary
\nconditions for the implementation of the disarmament\".<\/p>\n
The Commission was set up as part of the peace efforts in East
\nTimor, brokered by the National Commission on Human Rights and
\nthe Dili-based East Timor National Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dino Patti Djalal, spokesman for Indonesia's task
\nforce for the August vote, urged the refugees scattered across
\nvarious regencies in East Timor to register for the United
\nNations Mission in East Timor to participate in the August
\nballot, Antara reported on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Dino made the announcement in Belu regency which houses
\nthousands of East Timorese who have fled violence in their
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
Some 26,000 settlers have fled East Timor since the government
\nannounced in January it would consider independence for the
\nterritory.<\/p>\n
Reuters also reported on Saturday the arrival of the first
\nunit of some 272 UN civilian police force members in East Timor
\nwas delayed.<\/p>\n
Defense Northern Command Captain John Toohey said the
\ndeparture of up to 45 civilian police was delayed due to logistic
\nreasons in East Timor.<\/p>\n
But reports of a possible delay to the direct ballot for
\nsecurity reasons have been denied by UN officials.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo told some 40
\nreinforcement doctors to remain neutral in their duty to the
\nterritory.<\/p>\n
Officials said the doctors, who had just arrived in East Timor
\non Tuesday, would be deployed to the regencies ahead of the
\nAugust ballot.<\/p>\n
Antara also reported that a member of the pro-Jakarta militia,
\nHilario Gustavo, 40, was found dead in Manupavia hamlet near Dili
\non Saturday. East Timor Police spokesman Capt. Widodo said on
\nSunday that Gustavo's attackers were believed to be independence
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
Widodo also quoted a report from Viqueque Police that another
\nprointegration supporter suffered stab wounds during an attack by
\na group of proindependence supporters on Saturday.(33\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/proindependence-not-to-surender-weapons-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}