E. Timorese mark anniversary of 'invasion' with protests

JAKARTA (JP): East Timorese marked the 23rd anniversary of what they described as the territory's invasion by Indonesia by dancing and protesting at the United Nations headquarters here.

One hundred students and activists participated in the demonstration which then moved down Jl. H. Agus Salim. They represented the East Timor Students and Youth Association, and wore black headbands printed with the word "referendum."

"We want the government to free political prisoners... we want a referendum... and we want justice for Timorese," Joaquim Fonseca, the group's spokesman told the crowds of passersby. The protesters also demanded that former president Soeharto be brought before the International Court of Justice and that "architects of the 1975 invasion" also be punished.

After a three-hour rally, the group was blocked by security people near the U.S. Embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta. Eventually a few of their representatives met with the Embassy's political counselor Ed McWilliams.

At the UN, the East Timorese handed over a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, demanding a referendum and the unconditional withdrawal of troops. Much doubt has been cast overseas over Indonesian authorities' statements that the bulk of the troops have largely been withdrawn from the province.

The East Timor capital Dili was reported to be quiet on Monday. Businesses were closed given earlier rumors of demonstrations on the anniversary.

"Some people, who have come from all 14 regencies (of East Timor) went to the Santa Cruz cemetery for a mass this morning, but for the rest of the day, the city has been much quieter than usual," AFP quoted Pastor Domingus Sequeira as saying in Dili.

On Sunday the pro-independence movement was highlighted by the installing of 52 activists in a ceremony by a pro-independence group, Emar Ida Nasun Timor Loro Sae. On Monday the UN assistant to the secretary general, Tamrat Samuel, was scheduled to meet authorities and the Solidarity Council of East Timorese Youth and Students. He said he wished to gain an insight into the latest conditions, and denied he was investigating the incident in the Alas area in which five were shot during a military operation including three soldiers.

AFP also quoted the Darwin-based East Timor International Support Center (ETISC) as saying the military's plans to arm villagers in East Timor against rebel attacks was "just a cruel excuse to create another paramilitary group in East Timor," the ETISC statement said.

"This defense force will be used by ABRI (the Armed Forces) to do their dirty work, and being out of uniform, they are unaccountable for the abuses they might commit," it added.

East Timor military commander Col. Tono Suratman said on Saturday said he planned to arm civilians in villages which were prone to attacks by pro-independence rebels, saying they were needed given the lack of troops.

Indonesia denies it invaded the former Portuguese colony but landed after being invited to break up an escalating civil conflict. (edt/33/anr)