DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42863
TITLE=EAST TIMOR / GUERRILLAS
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=SOIBADA, EAST TIMOR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AS DISCUSSIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF EAST TIMOR CONTINUE, THE
PRO-INDEPENDENCE FALINTIL GUERRILLAS --WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING IN
THE IN THE JUNGLE FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS -- MAY HAVE TO REASSESS
THEIR ROLE. JENNY GRANT MET WITH GUERRILLA LEADERS AT A CAMP IN
THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF EAST TIMOR TO TALK ABOUT CEASEFIRE AND
HOPES FOR PEACE.
TEXT: //SOUND EFFECTS ELLE SETTE TALKING OVER HIS VIDEO //
FALINTIL'S OPERATIONAL COMMANDER, ELLE SETTE, IS PROUD OF HIS
NEW TOY -- A SONY VIDEO CAMERA HE SAYS HIS TROOPS STOLE FROM THE
INDONESIAN MILITARY.
ELLE SETTE OR L-SEVEN AS HE IS CALLED BY HIS CLANDESTINE NAME --
EXPLAINS A TRAINING VIDEO HE MADE AT HIS BASE CAMP IN THE RUGGED
ROMELAU MOUNTAINS.
THE VIDEO -- COMPLETE WITH TRADITIONAL EAST TIMORESE FOLK MUSIC
-- SHOWS 50 YOUNG MEN LEARNING TO FIGHT AS GUERRILLAS. L-SEVEN
SAYS HE IS TRAINING HUNDREDS OF NEW GUERRILLAS -- AND HE CLAIMS
ALL OF THEM HAVE GUNS.
L-SEVEN -- WEARING HIS LUCKY RED BRAID AND MEDALLIONS OF DON
BOSCO AND THE MADONNA -- HAS FOUGHT AGAINST THE INDONESIAN
PRESENCE IN EAST TIMOR FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
HIS FIGHT MAY BE OVER SOON. INDONESIA HAS SAID IT IS WILLING TO
GRANT EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE IF THE TERRITORY DOES NOT ACCEPT AN
AUTONOMY PACKAGE. THE UNITED NATIONS WOULD OVERSEE THE
WITHDRAWAL OF INDONESIAN TROOPS.
BUT THE QUESTION LINGERS, IS THE JOB OF THE GUERRILLAS FINISHED
NOW THAT THE PARTIES FOR AND AGAINST INTEGRATION WITH INDONESIA
HAVE COME TO THE TABLE FOR RECONCILIATION TALKS?
// ACTUALITY L-SEVEN SPEAKING (IN TETUM) OVER HIS VIDEO --
ESTABLISH AND FADE DOWN //
L-SEVEN SAYS IF THE INDONESIAN MILITARY IS HARD HEADED AND
REFUSES TO WITHDRAW FROM EAST TIMOR IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE
GUERRILLAS WILL BEGIN ACTIVE FIGHTING AGAIN.
FALUR -- WHO COMMANDS THE CENTRAL REGION THREE AREA -- HAS AGREED
TO ACCEPT A CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK BETWEEN THE REBEL
LEADER XANANA GUSMAO, AND THE PRO-INDONESIAN PARAMILITARY LEADER
JOAO TAVARES.
BUT SPEAKING FROM THIS REMOTE MOUNTAIN CAMP -- REBELS SAY THEY
ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE CEASEFIRE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
INDONESIAN MILITARY -- WHO IS THEIR MAIN OPPONENT IN THE BUSH.
FOR THE TIME BEING THE REBELS ARE TAKING A NEW TACK -- THEY HAVE
INVITED CIVILIANS AND EX-POLITICAL PRISONERS INTO THEIR CAMPS.
FALUR -- ARMED WITH A PISTOL AND DRESSED IN A FULL DENIM OUTFIT
AND AKUBRA HAT FROM AUSTRALIA -- EXPLAINS THE NEW STRATEGY.
// FALUR -- IN TETUM, FADE UNDER //
FALUR SAYS THE GUERRILLAS PLAN TO WORK ACTIVELY WITH THE
CLANDESTINE MOVEMENT AND STUDENT GROUPS TO TRY TO JOIN IN THE
RECONCILIATION PROCESS.
THAT DOES NOT STOP ALL 40 GUERRILLAS IN THIS CAMP CARRYING M-16
RIFLES AND PORTUGUESE G-M'S LOADED WITH BULLETS -- SOME OF WHICH
THEY SAY THEY BOUGHT FROM THE CASH-STRAPPED INDONESIAN MILITARY.
THE GUERRILLAS ARE DIVIDED OVER THEIR FUTURE IN THE EVENT OF AN
INDEPENDENT EAST TIMOR. SOME SAY THEY WANT TO RETURN TO THEIR
HOME VILLAGES AND TAKE UP FARMING AGAIN.
L-SEVEN AND FALUR BOTH AGREE THAT THE GUERRILLAS SHOULD FORM THE
BASE OF A NEW NATIONAL ARMY IN AN INDEPENDENT EAST TIMOR, DESPITE
THE FACT THAT XANANA GUSMAO SEES NO NEED FOR A NATIONAL FORCE.
FALUR SAYS SHARING AN INDONESIAN BORDER WITH WEST TIMOR AND WITH
AUSTRALIA ON EAST TIMOR'S DOORSTEP, EAST TIMOR WILL NEED A
MILITARY FORCE ADEPT IN THE MOUNTAINS.
THE GUERRILLAS ADMIT THEY COULD BE IN GRAVE PHYSICAL RISK IN A
NEW EAST TIMOR, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF A VOTE ON SPECIAL
AUTONOMY.
// ACT BI LOU MALI -- IN TETUM //
35YEAR OLD FEMALE GUERRILLA BI LOU MALI SAYS MOST OF ALL SHE IS
LOOKING FORWARD TO REUNITING HER FAMILY. WEARING AN ORANGE
SARONG AND MUDDY RUBBER BOOTS, BI LOU STIRS A GIANT POT OF SOUP
MADE FROM A FRESHLY-SLAUGHTERED GOAT, WHICH THE CAMP MEMBERS WILL
EAT FOR DINNER.
BI LOU HAS FOUGHT IN THE JUNGLE FOR 13 YEARS AND HAS LOST ONE
BABY IN AN AMBUSH BY THE INDONESIAN SOLDIERS. SHE HAS NOT SEEN
HER TWO REMAINING CHILDREN FOR THREE YEARS.
THIS WOMAN -- WHO STILL HAS AN BULLET LODGED IN HER SHOULDER WHEN
SHE WAS CAUGHT IN A CROSSFIRE -- SAYS SHE IS FINALLY PREPARED TO
FORGIVE THE INDONESIAN MILITARY FOR THE LOSSES INFLICTED ON HER
FAMILY.
THAT KIND OF FORGIVENESS COULD BE THE KEY TO A SETTLEMENT
BETWEEN THE RIVAL PARTIES IN EAST TIMOR AND TO BRING PEACE TO THE
WAR TORN REGION.(SIGNED)
NEB/JG/GC/FC
16-Mar-99 4:39 AM EST (0939 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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