Troops foils E. Timor separatist drive

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)