UN to address problem of armed groups in E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations is attempting to address the problem of armed civilian groups heightening tension in troubled East Timor, a UN official said on Saturday.

"There are problems to overcome, we are looking for ways to address the problems," Tamrat Samuel of the UN secretary- general's office was quoted as saying by AFP after meeting East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao. The latter was recently moved to house arrest from the Cipinang penitentiary.

Samuel said the three-hour talk included the issue of the armed civilian groups.

In the past week, two died in clashes among armed residents supporting independence, continued integration with Indonesia or a referendum.

Last month, the government announced it would ask the People's Consultative Assembly to consider separation for the province if negotiations on its offer for autonomy failed.

East Timor governor Jose Abilio Soares called on Saturday for the responsible parties in both camps to meet on the issue of avoiding more violence from "extreme groups".

All East Timorese should practice self-restraint while negotiations continued between Indonesia and Portugal, the former colonial power in the province, under the auspices of the United Nations.

"We should prevent the extreme groups from developing," he said in Yogyakarta.

Several parties have urged the confiscation of all weapons from civilians, charging the military has equipped prointegration groups.

Meanwhile, Antara reported from Dili on Saturday that 250 unarmed civilians were recruited to help police maintain security in the province.

"They are not armed with guns but they are equipped with sticks, handcuffs and riot shields," Capt. Widodo DS, spokesman for the East Timor Police, said on Friday.

He said they were stationed in Latem, Baucau, Viqueque, Aileu, Liquica and Ambeno.

Police plan to recruit 1,000 civilians to assist in security maintenance. (rms/44)