East Timorese refugees go home as tension rises

JAKARTA (JP): As tension slowly builds up in East Timor over the perceived prospect of independence, the majority of some 5,000 villagers seeking refuge in a church in the town of Suai in the province's Covalima regency overcame their fears on Monday and began to return, a local priest has said.

Catholic priest Francisco Soares said some of the returning villagers who had taken refuge for a week had armed themselves with traditional weapons like arrows.

"It seems to me these villagers don't really want to pick a fight," he told The Jakarta Post by phone from Suai.

Although there are still many refugees in a half constructed church and a school building in Suai, Francisco said that the number had dropped drastically. He did not give figures.

Regarding armed civilians from the neighboring Ainaro regency, who were said to be backed by the military and who the villagers claimed had terrorized them into fleeing their homes -- Francisco said local authorities had guaranteed residents' safety. For several days since Jan. 25, villagers in Covalima were forced to flee their villages where Ainaro militia men were firing shots in the air.

Francisco said the incidents had left four people dead of gunshot wounds. Two more died in the shelter of diarrhea and a breathing problem, he added.

On Monday, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo defended the arming of civilians, saying this was part of the military-sponsored civilian militia established to protect the people from troublemakers.

Armed Forces Spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif reiterated that the militia had been carefully recruited and well-trained and that they were under the command of the regional military chief, Col. Tono Suratman.

National police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi, whose force was given rights to recruit the civilians, said in Bandung on Monday that they would improve the militia's organization should trouble occur. "Of course it's not solely the responsibility of the police," he said.

Many concerned observers have cited fears of a civil war that could be triggered by the military's controversial policy.

On Monday, former East Timor governor Mario Viegas Carascalao urged the military take back all weapons from the militias.

Chairman of the country's largest Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid also shared the view.

"I understand that the existence of such militia is needed to maintain security... but with recent developments, let's make a break here. Talk is wiser than using weapons," he asserted.

In the province's capital of Dili on Monday, a street rally staged by some 200 pro-independence activists passed off peacefully without incidents as feared.

The demonstrators, some wearing headbands with "total independence" in Portuguese inscribed on them, went to the local legislature and held a free-speech forum at the Santa Cruz cemetery. This was where an alleged massacre by the military took place in 1991 that left at least 50 dead.

Demonstrators also called for the release of independence fighter Alexandre Jose "Xanana" Gusmao from prison in Jakarta.

On Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas in Jakarta said that in a bid to meet the increasing calls for Xanana's release, the government has considered placing him in a house serving as a "branch" of East Jakarta's Cipinang prison where Xanana is serving a 20-year sentence.

The house is located 200 meters from the prison.

Minister of Justice Muladi said the measure was not against the country's Criminal Code Procedures; it was the same as an assimilation program undergone by a convict before release.

Lawyer Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara said Saturday that the move regarding Xanana was a "political compromise" rather than a legal matter. "Xanana should just as well be set free," he said, a step which would help foster peace in East Timor.

Last week, President B.J. Habibie's government announced that it might let go of East Timor in 2000 if Indonesia's offer of broad autonomy for the province as a final solution was rejected in ongoing UN-Indonesia-Portugal talks over the province.

Chairman of the Muslim Community Party Deliar Noer on Monday said that Habibie's "transitional" government was in no position to make the "hasty" offer.

Chairman of National Mandate Party Amien Rais, said also on Monday that East Timorese should participate in the June poll first before rushing on with independence euphoria which he said could be reconsidered in about three years time.

East Timor will be allotted 13 seats in the House of Representatives -- up from the current four -- under the newly endorsed election law. (33/45/edt/rms/43/aan)