Subject: SMH: Rebels vow not to be provoked by
militias
Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 11:17:36 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
Sydney Morning Herald 12/05/99
EAST TIMOR
Rebels vow not to be provoked by militias
By MARK DODD, Herald Correspondent in Dili, and agencies
The guns of the East Timorese armed resistance would remain silent despite desperate
attempts to provoke them by pro-Indonesian militias and their Indonesian army allies, a
senior pro-independence official said yesterday. "We believe the United Nations
should stop the militias because if Falintil reacts [to militia provocation] the situation
in East Timor will become much worse - it could explode," said Mr Venceslau Germano
Pinto, a senior official of the pro-independence umbrella group, CNRT (National Council
for Timorese Resistance).
But he said a desire for peace was preventing Falintil, the armed wing of the main
independence movement in East Timor, from becoming actively involved in the territory.
"We want this war stopped. Falintil are obeying orders from their commander -
Xanana.
"[He] wants to create a peaceful situation in East Timor, and all the commanders
agree with Xanana."
In a clandestine interview with the Herald, Mr Pinto said he was delivering a message
from independence leader Xanana Gusmao to supporters and CNRT officials in hiding in Dili,
telling them to stay calm and resist provocation from pro-integration militias. At least
three people died and eight were wounded during attacks launched by pro-Indonesian armed
groups against suspected independence supporters here on Monday.
On August 8, East Timorese are due to vote in a UN-organised ballot to decide whether
the territory should accept a widespread autonomy package and stay under Indonesian
control or opt for independence.
In New York, a UN official said late on Monday that all UN staff to be deployed in
preparation for the vote should be in place by mid June.
The 600 international UN staff would include 400 voter registration and polling
officials, 15 to 18 political and civilian advisers, and various logistics,
communications, information and other staff. There would be a further undetermined number
of civilian police.
The precise number would be determined on the advice of a police advance team due back
from East Timor next Monday. A chief of mission, expected to be named shortly, should be
in East Timor by about May 20.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, has said that failure to stop continued
violence in East Timor could lead to pressure from Portugal and other Western countries to
deploy a UN military-backed peacekeeping force.
"What is important is that we show to the world, especially to the UN, that we can
uphold security and order," Mr Alatas said after a meeting with President B.J Habibie
at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday. - Reuters
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