Xanana's presence sought

JAKARTA (JP): Constansio Costa Dos Santos alias Akuita, a 21- year-old man accused of making bombs for rebellion purposes, and Paul George Rodregues Pereira demanded yesterday that the Dili District Court present jailed East Timorese separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao in their trial.

Antara said the two defendants cited Xanana as being responsible for the bomb making activities that the authorities uncovered in Demak, Central Java, last September.

"I am willing to be tried if the supreme commander... Xanana Gusmao is present during every session," Akuita told the panel of judges presided over by I Made Nandu in Dili, East Timor yesterday.

"Xanana has to be responsible... we are just members carrying out his orders," said Akuita.

Brushing aside accusations of terrorism, he said the separatist group had been trying to free East Timor from Indonesia.

"East Timor is still at war, so any means is justified in order for us to achieve the political aspirations of East Timorese people," he said.

Police questioned Xanana in November over alleged links with the bomb making operation discovered last September in Demak, Central Java.

Xanana is currently serving a reduced 20-year jail sentence in Cipinang Prison. He was arrested in Dili, East Timor, in 1992, after heading the Fretilin separatist movement in its armed campaign for a separate state.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) recently linked Xanana with an East Timorese group that it said had planned to blow up civilian targets with homemade bombs in their separatist movement against the government.

Xanana had denied the accusations of terrorism, saying there was never any intention to use the bombs on civilian targets.

"The bombs were made to strengthen our resistance toward the Armed Forces and I will take full responsibility for their activities," Xanana said.

Implicated in the case are seven East Timorese who were arrested recently. (swe)