Military

DATE=4/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248383
TITLE=EAST TIMOR PEACE ACCORD (L)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: OPPOSING PARTIES IN EAST TIMOR SIGNED A PEACE ACCORD  
WEDNESDAY TO END THE CONFLICT IN THE TERRITORY.  FROM JAKARTA 
JENNY GRANT REPORTS BOTH SIDES SAY THE AGREEMENT IS A FRAGILE 
ONE.
TEXT: EAST TIMOR'S TWO CATHOLIC  BISHOPS OVERSAW THE SIGNING OF 
THE FIVE POINT PEACE ACCORD IN THE GARDEN AT BISHOP CARLOS BELO'S
RESIDENCE IN DILI, EAST TIMOR'S CAPITAL.
PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA COMMANDER JOAO TAVARES AND DILI'S REGENT 
DOMINGOS SOARES SIGNED THE DOCUMENT FOR THE SIDE SUPPORTING 
INTEGRATION WITH INDONESIA.
MR TAVARES' MILITIA MEN ATTACKED A NUMBER OF PRO- INDEPENDENCE 
HOUSES IN DILI LAST WEEKEND, KILLING UP TO 30 PEOPLE.
MANUEL CARRASCALAO AND LIANDRO ISAAC SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE 
PRO-INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TIMORESE RESISTANCE.
MR. CARRASCALAO'S TEENAGE SON WAS SHOT DEAD WHEN MILITIAS STORMED
HIS HOUSE LAST SATURDAY
WITNESSES SAY MR. CARRASCALAO AND MR. ISAAC BOTH LOOKED TIRED AND
UNDER STRESS AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY.  MR. ISAAC AND HIS FAMILY 
ARE LIVING IN HIDING IN DILI, WHILE MR. CARRASCALAO IS UNDER 
PROTECTIVE POLICE CUSTODY, STILL FEARING FOR HIS LIFE.
ACCORDING TO THE PEACE ACCORD, ALL PARTIES AGREE TO END TERROR 
AND VIOLENCE IN THE FORMER PORTUGUESE TERRITORY.  THE SIGNATORIES
PLEDGED TO WORK TOWARDS DISARMAMENT AS THE NEXT STEP.
RESISTANCE LEADER XANANA GUSMAO ALSO SIGNED THE AGREEMENT, IN 
JAKARTA, WHERE HE IS HELD UNDER HOUSE ARREST.
THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES INFORMATION CENTER SAYS THE ORIGINAL 
DOCUMENT WITH MR GUSMAO'S SIGNATURE WAS FLOWN TO DILI ON A 
MILITARY PLANE.
SOURCES CLOSE TO MR. GUSMAO SAY HE DOES NOT THINK THE PEACE 
ACCORD WILL HOLD, BUT HE BELIEVES IT IS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE 
TO THE PEACE PROCESS.
PRO- INTEGRATION FIGURES ARE ALSO SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE NEW 
AGREEMENT.
EURICO GUTERRES -- THE LEADER OF THE AITARAK MILITIA IN DILI -- 
SAYS THE PEACE ACCORD IS NOT VALID BECAUSE THE PRO-INDEPENDENCE 
FALINTIL GUERRILLAS HAVE NOT SIGNED.  HE SAYS HE WILL NOT HAND 
OVER WEAPONS UNTIL THE GUERRILLAS ARE DISARMED.
ARMED FORCES CHIEF GENERAL WIRANTO, EAST TIMOR'S MILITARY CHIEF 
COLONEL TONO SURATMAN AND THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR ABILIO SOARES 
WERE AMONG THE OTHER PARTIES SIGNING THE AGREEMENT.
CRITICS SAY THE PEACE ACCORD IS A PUBLIC RELATIONS EXERCISE 
DESIGNED TO MAKE GENERAL WIRANTO APPEAR TO BE IN FIRM CONTROL OF 
THE THE SITUATION.
THE EAST TIMORESE U-D-T POLITICAL PARTY SAYS 30 PEOPLE WERE 
KILLED IN THE VILLAGE OF HERA ON TUESDAY, JUST OUTSIDE OF DILI.  
IN A STATEMENT FROM AUSTRALIA, THE PARTY SAYS PRO-INDONESIAN 
MILITIAMEN WERE DROPPED INTO HERA USING AN INDONESIAN MILITARY 
HELICOPTER. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE GIVEN.
WHILE THE SITUATION IN THE TERRITORY REMAINS TENSE, THE FOREIGN 
MINISTERS FROM PORTUGAL AND INDONESIA WILL MEET IN NEW YORK THIS 
WEEK TO FINALIZE A SPECIAL AUTONOMY PACKAGE FOR EAST TIMOR.  
(SIGNED) 
NEB/JG/FC/PLM
21-Apr-99 2:52 AM EDT (0652 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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