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DATE=4/28/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248695
TITLE=EAST TIMOR REACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: IN THE DISPUTED TERRITORY OF EAST TIMOR, A LEADER OF A 
PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA GROUP SAYS HE IS REJECTING A PLAN ANNOUNCED
BY THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TO HOLD A VOTE ON THE FUTURE OF THE 
DISPUTED TERRITORY.  BUT AS PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS FROM JAKARTA, 
AN INDONESIAN MILITARY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE MILITIAS WILL BE 
DISARMED. 
TEXT:  THE PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA LEADER SAYS THE GROUPS ARE READY
TO UNDERTAKE A GUERRILLA WAR IN THE MOUNTAINS TO KEEP EAST TIMOR 
A PART OF INDONESIA.  JOSE ESTEVAO SOARES SAYS THE GROUPS ARE 
PREPARED TO FIGHT FOR "23 YEARS" IF NECESSARY -- A REFERENCE TO 
THE AMOUNT OF TIME CIVIL WAR HAS ALREADY BEEN WAGED IN EAST 
TIMOR. 
MR. SOARES, WHO REPRESENTS A COALITION OF PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA 
GROUPS MADE HIS COMMENTS AFTER MEETING WITH A BRITISH DIPLOMAT IN
THE EAST TIMORESE CAPITAL OF DILI.
HOWEVER THE HEAD OF THE INDONESIAN MILITARY IN EAST TIMOR SAYS 
THE MILITIA GROUPS WILL BE DISARMED. COLONEL TONO SURATMAN SAID 
THE DISARMAMENT WILL TAKE PLACE "IN THE COMING WEEKS,"   BUT GAVE
NO OTHER DETAILS. 
THE MILITIA GROUPS -- SOME OF WHICH RECEIVE WEAPONS FROM THE 
INDONESIAN MILITARY -- HAVE BEEN BLAMED FOR A RECENT WAVE OF 
VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR.  THE BLOODSHED BEGAN WHEN THE INDONESIAN 
GOVERNMENT SAID IT MAY GRANT THE TERRITORY FULL INDEPENDENCE 
LATER THIS YEAR. 
ON TUESDAY, INDONESIAN PRESIDENT B-J HABIBIE ANNOUNCED THAT A 
BALLOT ON THE FUTURE STATUS OF EAST TIMOR WILL BE HELD IN AUGUST.
THE EAST TIMORESE WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT AN OFFER OF 
AUTONOMY FROM THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT.  THE DEAL WOULD GIVE 
EAST TIMOR SOME SPECIAL RIGHTS WHILE ALLOWING IT TO REMAIN PART 
OF INDONESIA.  IF THE PLAN IS REJECTED EAST TIMOR WOULD MOVE 
TOWARD BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT NATION. 
CONTINUED FIGHTING BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENCE GROUPS AND THE 
PRO-INDONESIA MILITIAS HAS PROMPTED THE UNITED NATIONS TO PLEDGE 
TO SEND A CIVILIAN POLICE FORCE INTO EAST TIMOR TO HELP 
COORDINATE THE POLL. 
A LOW-INTENSITY CIVIL WAR HAS BEEN FOUGHT IN EAST TIMOR SINCE 
1975, WHEN THE INDONESIAN MILITARY INVADED THE FORMER PORTUGUESE 
COLONY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/FC/KL
28-Apr-99 7:08 AM EDT (1108 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.