Rival E. Timor groups reconcile in Kupang<\/p>\n
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Former East Timorese warring
\ngroups -- the proindependence National Council for East Timor
\nResistance (CNRT) and the Prointegration Fighters (PPI) -- met
\nhere on Tuesday, admitted their past mistakes and pledged to
\ndisarm themselves in order to jointly develop East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed to admit our past mistakes and vow to develop
\nEast Timor, although some prointegration leaders will continue to
\nlive in Indonesia,\" said Nomencio Lopes de Carvalho, a PPI
\ncommander.<\/p>\n
However in the meeting, CNRT also rejected the request for an
\namnesty made by PPI, saying they were not eligible to grant such
\npardons.<\/p>\n
\"East Timor is in a transitional situation so CNRT can't talk
\nabout amnesty matters,\" Francisco Guterres, an executive from
\nCNRT, said.<\/p>\n
He added that his group was not a political party, but merely
\nan organization to accommodate the East Timorese struggle against
\nIndonesia's integration.<\/p>\n
Francisco even announced that CNRT would be dissolved on June
\n9 after its 24-year existence.<\/p>\n
He pointed out the group was an umbrella organization which
\naccommodated all political parties in the territory.<\/p>\n
Francisco said that at present the territory was still under
\nthe United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
\n(UNTAET).<\/p>\n
The prointegration leaders asked for pardons for past human
\nrights abuses and other violence committed during the 1999
\nballot.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's meeting marked the reunion of the warring faction
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in the border town of Atambua, grenades exploded at
\naround 8:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
The explosions killed at least three people and injured
\nseveral others on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Commander of the border security task force Lt. Col. Magna
\nCandra confirmed the incident but could not give further details
\nas an examination into the incident was still underway.<\/p>\n
He said contact with United Nation's Peacekeeping Forces would
\nbe made soon to verify the incident.<\/p>\n
He said there were two blasts in an interval of less than five
\nminutes.<\/p>\n
The explosions, caused panic among residents of Maumetan
\nRaihon hamlet in East Timor and the nearby villages in East Nusa
\nTenggara.<\/p>\n
According to Magna, personnel of the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nsaw three East Timorese killed in the blasts who were then rushed
\nby locals to territory within East Timor.<\/p>\n
Officials at the local Atambua General Hospital said that at
\nleast three Indonesians were injured in the incident, including
\nan army sergeant who was a member of the local subdistrict
\nmilitary command. (30\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rival-e-timor-groups-reconcile-in-kupang-1447893297",
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