Proindependence not to surender weapons
JAKARTA (JP): A proindependence leader in East Timor said on Sunday his followers would not surrender weapons as long as military troops remain in the troubled territory.
David Ximenes, coordinator of the Resistance Council of East Timor (CNRT) in the East Timor capital of Dili, told AP that his group would be only willing to hand over their arms directly to the United Nations.
"For over 23 years, Falintil has been fighting against the military," Ximenes said, referring to the armed wing of his group which is a faction of the separatist movement.
Sunday was scheduled to be the first day of a disarmament period in advance of the scheduled Aug. 8 ballot that will let East Timorese choose between independence and autonomy within Indonesia.
Leaders of proindependence and proautonomy movements signed on Sunday a joint agreement aimed at ending violence ahead of the U.N.-sponsored ballot.
Under the deal, disarmament of guns and sharp weapons is scheduled to run through July 5. An April peace pact that did not address the thorny issue fell apart.
However, a signatory to the agreement, Jose Alexandre Xanana Gusmao, who leads the proindependence side, stated on Saturday that it was yet to be agreed which party would disarm the East Timor factions.
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) have been given full responsibility of security in the province ahead of the direct ballot.
"Given the fact that the disarmament is not the responsibility of Polri, the Peace and Stability Commission (KPS) and the UN will later decide which institution will be in charge of overseeing the disarmament process," Xanana said in a statement.
Xanana also said he stressed during the three-day meeting at the justice ministry the "necessity to close down all the military posts spread throughout the territory, and for the Indonesian Military (TNI) to be confined to barracks as necessary conditions for the implementation of the disarmament".
The Commission was set up as part of the peace efforts in East Timor, brokered by the National Commission on Human Rights and the Dili-based East Timor National Commission on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, Dino Patti Djalal, spokesman for Indonesia's task force for the August vote, urged the refugees scattered across various regencies in East Timor to register for the United Nations Mission in East Timor to participate in the August ballot, Antara reported on Saturday.
Dino made the announcement in Belu regency which houses thousands of East Timorese who have fled violence in their villages.
Some 26,000 settlers have fled East Timor since the government announced in January it would consider independence for the territory.
Reuters also reported on Saturday the arrival of the first unit of some 272 UN civilian police force members in East Timor was delayed.
Defense Northern Command Captain John Toohey said the departure of up to 45 civilian police was delayed due to logistic reasons in East Timor.
But reports of a possible delay to the direct ballot for security reasons have been denied by UN officials.
Meanwhile, Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo told some 40 reinforcement doctors to remain neutral in their duty to the territory.
Officials said the doctors, who had just arrived in East Timor on Tuesday, would be deployed to the regencies ahead of the August ballot.
Antara also reported that a member of the pro-Jakarta militia, Hilario Gustavo, 40, was found dead in Manupavia hamlet near Dili on Saturday. East Timor Police spokesman Capt. Widodo said on Sunday that Gustavo's attackers were believed to be independence supporters.
Widodo also quoted a report from Viqueque Police that another prointegration supporter suffered stab wounds during an attack by a group of proindependence supporters on Saturday.(33/byg)