Xanana gets hero's welcome in Dili
Xanana gets hero's welcome in Dili
DILI (JP): East Timorese resistance leader Jose Alexandre
"Xanana" Gusmao returned to the territory on Friday for the first
time in nearly seven years and called for reconciliation in the
territory.
In a jubilant reception in Dili among 5,000 supporters, Xanana
was tightly guarded by Australian troops from the International
Force for East Timor (Interfet).
Stressing his role as a freedom fighter, Xanana donned
military fatigues bearing the emblem and rank of the Falintil
resistance movement.
"I understand that we have lost everything ... Everywhere in
the land of Timor Loro Sae, people have destroyed, burned and
killed. But our desire to become independent is now within our
hands," he said to the emotional crowd.
"But we have to look forward," he yelled.
Xanana, who flew in to Dili Thursday evening, was accompanied
on the podium by Falintil deputy commander Taur Matan Ruak.
Xanana, who was captured in Dili in 1992, was released by the
Indonesian government last month following the historic Aug. 30
ballot on self-determination for the territory.
After his release Xanana took refuge in the British Embassy in
Jakarta for several days before fleeing to Darwin.
"Our suffering we can leave behind. Today we see our future.
This land is ours. We will be independent forever," he said in
the local Tetum language.
Interfet Commander Maj. Gen. Peter Cosgrove, after briefly
meeting with Xanana, described it as "a joyous day for East
Timorese".
"We hope that with his wise and mature leadership, together
with the other leaders of East Timorese society, that they can
help the UN manage the transition to nationhood".
Cosgrove also revealed that Interfet forces have landed in the
Ambeno enclave, located in East Nusa Tenggara province in the
western half of Timor Island.
He said Interfet troops landed by sea at Oekussi, the town in
the enclave.
AFP reported that Interfet troops detained 40 armed militiamen
carrying pipe guns, swords and knives. However, no shots were
reportedly fired.
"There was no report of TNI (Indonesian Military troops) in
the area," Cosgrove said.
At the United Nations in New York, Reuters reported that
Security Council members moved closer on Friday to authorizing a
major UN operation to lead East Timor to independence after China
apparently succeeded in having several references to human rights
investigations eliminated from the text.
But council president Sergei Lavrov said it was uncertain
whether the British-drafted resolution would be adopted on Friday
or early next week.
Diplomats said the dispute over referring to an inquiry into
alleged atrocities in East Timor appeared to have been resolved
after the elimination of a call for all parties to cooperate with
the investigation.
Other sections referring to the probe were changed during
meetings late Thursday among senior officials from the United
States, Britain, France, Russia and China, all permanent council
members with veto power.
The main provisions of the resolution set up a UN Transitional
Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), consisting of up to 8,950
troops, 200 military observers, 1,640 police officers and an
unspecified number of civilian officials.
It is to take over from the Australian-led Interfet.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a recent report that
the transition to independence could take two years to three
years.
UNTAET, which will have the task of administering virtually
all public services in the devastated territory, including the
justice system, was expected to be given an initial mandate of 14
months until Jan. 31, 2001. (33)