`One condition for dialog with Fretilin'

`One condition for dialog with Fretilin'

DILI, East Timor (JP): East Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio
Soares says he is willing to hold a dialog with leaders of the
separatist movement Fretilin but on one condition.

"They have to accept East Timor's integration with Indonesia
first," Abilio told The Jakarta Post yesterday in his first
comment on the peace gesture made by Fretilin last week.

"If they're willing to come out of their jungle hiding with
the intention of genuine peace, I'm willing to meet them," he
said. "I'm more than prepared."

Abilio said that he had not received the letter from the
Fretilin leaders offering to hold peace talks.

The letter's existence was publicly disclosed through
international news agencies.

Fretilin leaders made their offer for a truce and peace dialog
last week but the local military has rejected it out of hand
stressing that the rebel movement was virtually a spent force.

Fretilin has been waging guerrilla warfare for a separatist
state in East Timor since the former Portuguese colony joined
Indonesia in 1976. Its size and strength has been steadily
declining and the movement suffered a severe blow in 1992 when
its commander, Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao was captured and
then convicted to 20 years in jail.

Abilio said the question of East Timor's integration with
Indonesia is not for negotiation.

The offer of presidential amnesty to all remnants of Fretilin
members still stand, he said. "They have nothing to fear when
they come out of their hiding. Clearly this is better than
spending their time in the jungle." (yac/emb)