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)