Subject: Peace agreement signed. Bishops dont sign
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 10:33:50 -0400
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)SOLID-NET Published by Solidaritas untuk Penyelesaian
Damai Timor Leste Solidarity for Peace in East Timor Jl. Parmuka Jaya Sari No. 9, Jakarta
10570 Telp. 62-21-422 4079, 422 6348; Faks. 62-21-422 4079 email: solidmor@centrin.net.id
Web: www.solidamor.org Translated by TAPOL
BISHOP BELO AND BISHOP BASILIO REFUSE TO SIGN PEACE AGREEMENT
Solid-Net (Dili 21/4)
A peace agreement between the two sides in East Timor was signed today at 11 am at the
residence of Bishop Belo in Dili. Although the signing took place in his residence,
neither he nor Bishop Basilio signed the document as witnesses. Sources say that they
would not sign because they had not obtained the approval of the Vatican. The other
witness to sign the agreement was General Wiranto.
The agreement was signed by Xanana Gusmao and Leandro Isaac of the CNRT and for the
pro-integration side, Domingus MD Soares SH, chairman of FPDK (?) and Joao Tavares,
Prointegration War Commander.
Signing on behalf of the government and the military were Abilio Soares (Gopvernor),
Col.(Pol) Timbul Silaen (chief of police), Col. TNI Tono Suratman (Korem military
commander), the chairman of the local assembly (DPRD), as well as a representative of the
National Human Rights Commission. Only one of the three witnesses, General Wiranto signed.
For the CNRT, signing the document meant recognising the CNRT as the umbrella
organisation representing the resistance of the people of East Timor. Many people on the
pro-independence side were doubtful about the wisdom of signing and regretted the decision
to do so, but it was seen as being a very important step toward achieving peace and order
in advance of the ballot. (tass)
[According to an earlier report, David Ximenes refused to sign the document as one of
the two CNRT signatories.]
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign 111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey
CR7 8HW, UK Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322 email: tapol@gn.apc.org Internet:
www.gn.apc.org/tapol Campaigning to expose human rights violations in Indonesia, East
Timor, West Papua and Aceh
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