Amnesty for militia members possible: Gusmao
Amnesty for militia members possible: Gusmao
DILI, East Timor (Agencies): East Timor's president in
waiting, Xanana Gusmao, said on Tuesday that amnesties must be
considered for some of those who led the deadly violence
surrounding the territory's independence vote two years ago.
"We must not say 'No, Never' to amnesty," Gusmao told AFP in
an interview.
"We must consider how to practice, how to exercise justice in
East Timor, but we should not throw amnesty out of this process."
The former guerrilla commander has led East Timor's
independence struggle since 1981, first from the mountains and
then from jail. He has become the chief advocate of
reconciliation.
He announced at the weekend that he would run for president
despite earlier refusals because of pressure from the people and
political parties contesting Thursday's elections for a
constituent assembly.
Gusmao's stance could set him at odds with the future
parliament. Representatives of the 16 parties and four
independent candidates running in this week's poll have declared
their support for an international war crimes tribunal.
Gusmao said that while he would not oppose a tribunal, he
would not actively seek it.
"I support the international tribunal but it is not me, it is
not my business. I don't oppose it but it's not my business.
"I'm not a human rights activist, I'm not a judge, I'm not a
prosecutor. I'm not a politician also. I am a citizen that is
concerned about the future of the development of this country. We
must be realistic.
"It is better to consider reconciliation, justice and amnesty,
how it can be dealt with."
The United Nations warned on Tuesday that troublemakers could
try to sabotage the first democratic election in East Timor's
turbulent history, but was confident the poll would be free of
major violence.
In the final hours before campaigning ends ahead of Thursday's
vote, the capital Dili was a sea of color as banner-waving
voters, some with faces painted in party colors, flooded the
streets in trucks, on motorbikes and on foot.
Despite fears of bloodshed and attacks by pro-Jakarta militias
sheltering across the border in Indonesian West Timor, the
campaign for a constituent assembly to pave the way for
independence has been remarkably peaceful.
The most serious incident so far was the stoning of a car.
Appeal
Gusmao, and the chief UN administrator, Sergio Vieira de
Mello, appealed to the people to ensure violence did not erupt.
"I am not (concerned). But we need to remain vigilant," Vieira
de Mello told reporters.
"The fact the electoral campaign unfolded the way it did in a
peaceful manner doesn't mean that agents provocateurs may not try
in the next couple of days, or indeed when the results of the
election are announced, to destabilize the process.
Gusmao said the election for the 88-member assembly would set
an important precedent for future votes, including a presidential
ballot due next year.
"I appeal for non-violence," he told Reuters. "Everybody must
refrain... from any kind of excess. It is very important for the
future that the first time we exercise our rights in a free
election we create a reference for the future."
On the dusty streets of the seaside capital, East Timorese are
sick of bloodshed after more than 25 years of war and rebellion
that climaxed in the destruction of the territory and the death
of hundreds after a 1999 UN-run vote to end Indonesia's military
rule.
"We chose independence, life or death. Now it's time," said
Dili resident Gregoriou Simoes, who described himself as "just an
ordinary person".
"There will be no violence. There are no enemies any more. We
are united now," he added.
Wearing a Fretilin cap, he was speaking enthusiastically
outside Dili's main sports stadium as the largest party and the
spearhead of the fight for independence held a final rally.
Fretilin is expected to win an overwhelming majority of the
vote on Thursday.