Subject: SMH: East Timor resistance 'still too
scared to campaign'
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 11:43:43 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
Sydney Morning Herald 28/05/99
INDONESIA
Resistance 'still too scared to campaign'
Dili: An East Timorese resistance leader, Mr David Ximenes, dismissed yesterday a call
by Indonesia for thousands of his supporters to come out of hiding to campaign ahead of
the autonomy ballot, saying they still feared for their lives.
Mr Ximenes, spokesman for the National Council for Timorese Resistance, who went
underground last month after pro-Jakarta militia groups went on killing rampages, said
United Nations representatives in Dili had told them the UN could not guarantee their
security.
He said he and his supporters believed militia groups would still attack and try to
kill them despite the UN's growing presence.
"We simply cannot come out ... there is nothing to guarantee our safety and we do
not believe the Indonesians are sincere," he said.
Up to 100 independence activists have been killed in attacks by militia groups since
January.
On Wednesday Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, called on independence
supporters who were hiding to come out and campaign. "They have to go out and be
given a chance," he said.
Under a UN agreement between Indonesia and Portugal, Indonesian security forces are
responsible for creating a climate free of fear and intimidation for the ballot, scheduled
for August 8.
A 600-strong UN contingent, many of them Australians, only has authority to advise
Indonesian police and help arrange the ballot.
Mr Ximenes said the Indonesian armed forces were continuing to intimidate and attack
independence activists. He named three members of his organisation who were allegedly
tortured and beaten on Wednesday in Liquica, 40 kilometres west of Dili.
Mr Ximenes welcomed the announcement by Australia's Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, that
the Indonesian Government had given final approval for the reopening of an Australian
consulate in Dili.
Hopes that East Timorese would take part in national elections on June 7 have suffered
a blow, with only 43 per cent of eligible voters registering.
Election monitors in Jakarta say the registration figures in East Timor, among the
lowest in the country, indicate many East Timorese do not want to take part in case it
lends legitimacy to Indonesia's rule.
- Lindsay Murdoch
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