Xanana ready to forgive past wrongs

Xanana ready to forgive past wrongs

JAKARTA (JP): East Timorese proindependence leader Jose
Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao on Monday called on East Timorese and
Indonesians to work together for the future, despite the tragic
past of his homeland.

Speaking in a conciliatory tone, Xanana pledged to forgive
past political crimes committed against his people.

"Let bygones be bygones. We should all now move forward, and I
would like to inform our Indonesian brothers and sisters that the
East Timorese will still respect Indonesia as a great nation,"
Xanana said from the British Embassy.

Jakarta released Xanana last Tuesday from house arrest, and
since then he has sought refuge at the embassy.

"There are historical mistakes everywhere, but they will not
obstruct the future relationship between East Timor and
Indonesia," Xanana said.

"We are not the enemy of the Indonesian people, what we have
been trying to do all these years is only trying to voice our
opinion."

Xanana's remarks came as President B.J. Habibie announced late
Sunday that the government would invite international
peacekeepers to restore peace and order in East Timor.

Violence erupted in East Timor following the announcement of
the result of the Aug. 30 ballot on the troubled territory's
future.

"I wish to express my profound and heartfelt gratitude to the
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Security
Council for helping the Indonesian Government to take this
courageous decision," Xanana said.

He also said police would be solely responsible for
maintaining security and order in the future East Timor.

"The East Timorese are tired of war, we know exactly the grief
and pain of the war, so we do not want to create any armed forces
in our land," Xanana said. (byg)