Troops foils E. Timor separatist drive

DILI, East Timor (JP): Government troops have foiled a terror campaign launched by separatists that was intended to coincide with a seminar on East Timor in Manila, the military says.

Col. Johny Lumintang, military commandant overseeing security in East Timor, told journalists that the rebels attacked citizens' houses and "ambushed people in the streets".

He put the number of those involved at "no less than 300" but declined to explained how the troops had dealt with them.

He said the separatists meant to use the planned Manila seminar on East Timor to make the world aware of their existence.

"The clandestine movement's activities are confined to distributing anti-government and pro-Fretilin (secession movement) brochures," Lumintang said.

Recently, a number of separatists held an anti-integration demonstration at Hotel Mahkota in Dili where a group of visiting foreign journalists stayed, he said.

He said some of the demonstrators were arrested.

He added the clandestine movement will not be able to destabilize East Timor because most of the local people are in favor of integration with Indonesia and do not sympathize with the rebels. (yac/pan)