Proindependence not to surender weapons

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)