Xanana designates Darwin as his base

Xanana designates Darwin as his base

DARWIN, Australia (Agencies): East Timorese resistance leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao arrived here on Sunday after fleeing Indonesia with a pledge to soon begin "commuting" to his homeland.

Gusmao, who was freed by Indonesian authorities earlier this month after seven years in prison and house detention in Jakarta, was whisked to a car on arrival and taken away before reporters could ask him any questions.

The head of Gusmao's National Council for Timorese Resistance (CNRT) in Australia, Joao Carrascalao, told reporters that Gusmao would commute between Darwin and the East Timor capital of Dili, a two-hour flight to the north.

He said Gusmao would form a virtual government in exile until a United Nations-backed multinational force, set to begin arriving in East Timor on Monday morning, restored security to the devastated territory.

"While security cannot be guaranteed by the international forces in East Timor, then we will have to commute from Dili and Darwin," he said.

"His life can't be guaranteed in Dili," Carrascalao said. "Darwin is very close to East Timor. It (Australia) is a free and democratic country where we can work without the sort of pressure that you have in Jakarta."

He gave no further details.

Gusmao arrived on a commercial flight from the Australian city of Cairns, but slipped out a side exit, eluding dozens of waiting journalists and supporters.

Carrascalao claimed that Gusmao left Jakarta because of death threats by "fundamentalists". He did not elaborate.

Gusmao had taken refuge in the British embassy in Jakarta since his release from detention.