Calls for disarmament of Timor civilians abound

JAKARTA (JP): Leading figures from East Timor have called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) to withdraw around 100 guns which it has said it distributed among civilian gangs supportive of continued integration with Indonesia.

Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and jailed East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao were among leading figures from the province who renewed calls for the military to disarm the gangs on Thursday.

"For 23 years we've seen that a military solution with guns has been useless. So why guns again now? I just don't understand," Belo told reporters from his residence in Dili.

He said all parties must put down their guns and begin negotiating for peace in the province.

The 13,000 military personnel currently stationed in East Timor should be enough to guarantee security in the troubled province, which has a population of around 800,000, Belo said.

Asked if independence for East Timor would lead to a civil war as suggested by the Indonesian government, Belo said: "That's what we must avoid".

"If Indonesia were to leave after creating a pitting among the East Timorese, it would be worse than the Portuguese colonial administration."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas has repeatedly stated that this is not Indonesia's intention.

Belo called on politicians in the province to put the welfare of the East Timorese people before their own interests.

In Jakarta, Xanana said much feared clashes between pro and anti-integration groups in the province must be avoided.

On Thursday, Xanana met Clementino dos Reis Amaral, Samsuddin and Koesparmono Irsana from the National Commission on Human Rights.

After the meeting he disclosed that a "commission for peace" would be set up with the commission's help, adding that he would ask his followers to give it their full cooperation.

Xanana also called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) to consider a non-military solution for the disputed territory and said he would order separatist rebels in the province to disarm if the Indonesian military was willing to do the same.

On Wednesday, Antara quoted ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Sugiyono as saying he saw sense in the proposal.

"If we put down our weapons at the same time, that would be good," Sugiyono was quoted as saying.

David Dias Ximenes, the deputy chairman of the CNRT resistance group, said in Dili that "an independent body" was needed to verify a recent claim made by East Timor Military Commander Col. Tono Suratman, who said that only 100 guns had been distributed in the province, not 20,000 as some have claimed.

Arming civilians, he said, would not help to find a peaceful solution.

Similar calls came from Manuel Viegas Carascalao of the Reconciliation and Unity Movement of East Timorese People (GRPRTT) and Olandina Alves Cairo of the East Timorese Women's Anti-Violence Movement.

Manuel said: "I don't think civil war would break out in East Timor if Indonesia willingly let it go. But it would still be prudent to take back the guns given to civilians."

When asked about armed civilians, Olandina said: "With their low education levels, they would use the weapons improperly and violence would be inevitable."

The pro-integration Forum for Democracy and Justice Unity (FPDK) and representatives of loyalist East Timorese youths and community leaders held separate meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas at the latter's office here on Thursday.

They expressed their support for integration with Indonesia and voiced their opposition to suggestions of granting independence to the troubled province. (aan/33/01)