E. Timorese mark anniversary of 'invasion' with protests

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the troops have largely been withdrawn from the province.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)