Subject: SMH: E. Timorese protesters storm Canberra
talks
Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 08:46:53 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
Sydney Morning Herald 28/04/99
Protesters storm Canberra talks
By MARK METHERELL in Canberra
About 50 Timorese protesters, angered by the presence of a pro-Indonesian leader at a
conference in Canberra yesterday, chanted "terrorist, murderer" after trying to
storm the venue.
A 33-year-old Sydney man was arrested and charged with throwing a missile, thought to
be a candle.
Three windows of Old Canberra House, at the Australian National University, were
broken.
The demonstrators objected to the presence of Mr Basilio Araujo, a senior public
servant in Dili associated with the pro-integrationist militias on East Timor, at talks
aimed at seeking solutions to hostilities in the province.
The conference, attended by 35 people from East Timor, Jakarta and elsewhere, was meant
to have been a low-key affair, closed to the public, and aimed at encouraging dialogue.
A Timorese protester from Melbourne, Mr Cancio Noronha, stood among placards portraying
victims of the slaughter on East Timor and said it was inconceivable that the Australian
National University should invite Mr Basilio, whom he said had publicly advocated violence
and murder. Support for Mr Basilio's attendance came from an unexpected quarter. The
secretary of the Fretilin Standing Political Commission, Mr Mauhodu, a staunch opponent of
Mr Basilio, said: "I think the presence of Basilio here is not a great problem. He is
not the real enemy of the East Timorese. The real enemy of the East Timorese is the
military that didn't want democracy, didn't want peace and justice for East
Timorese."
Mr Mauhodu, who fought for Fretilin against the Indonesian military in the mountains of
East Timor for 17 years and was imprisoned by the Indonesian authorities, called his own
press conference to plead for a peacekeeping force as a crucial step towards stability and
democracy in the province.
He said he hoped the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, would convince Indonesia's President,
Dr B.J. Habibie, to disarm the militias and support a peacekeeping force to end the
terrorism and bloodshed. If there were a United Nations peacekeeping force, Fretilin would
be ready to disarm.
Mr Mauhodu recalled attending East Timor Peace Association meetings with Mr Basilio and
argued that it was only after the rival independence and integrationist supporters
appeared close to accord that the army incited bloodshed.
The conference organiser, Dr Roland Rich, the director of the Australian National
University's Centre for Democratic Institutions, defended the presence of Mr Basilio, who
had been invited some time ago by East Timorese participants.
"I know there are political enemies in the room but they are prepared to talk to
each other," he said. The meeting was an example of "second track
diplomacy", where individuals, not negotiators, sought to find common ground.
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