E. Timorese leaders meet in Kupang

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Twenty three East Timorese liurai (chieftains) from two warring groups are scheduled to gather in the capital of East Nusa Tenggara, Kupang, on Tuesday to hold reconciliation talks.

Uni Timor Aswain (UNTAS), who are to host the talks, said on Monday that the two warring groups have agreed to try to find a compromise over their differences on the future of East Timor.

Baucau bishop Mgr. Basilio Nascimento will mediate the meeting.

On Monday, 12 tribal leaders from East Timor arrived in Kupang. They were Cipriano Correra from Baucau, Anthonio Vicente from Viqueque, Joa Brito from Laga, Augusto da Silva from Liquica, Alexio Cortereal from Ainaro, Constantino Barreto from Bobonarao, Domingos Saldanha from Aileu, Alexio Ximenes from Baucau, Francisco Gutteres, Francisco Soares and Paulo Assis, all from Dili.

About 11 East Timorese chieftains, currently residing in West Timor are expected to participate in the meeting.

UNTAS chairman Domingos M.D. Soares said the meeting would not adopt a political approach to settle problems that have arisen between supporters of prointegration and proindependence but it will place emphasis on the use of East Timorese traditional culture to settle their differences. (30)