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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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