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DATE=4/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248749
TITLE=GUSMAO-EAST TIMOR  (L)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE JAILED LEADER OF THE EAST TIMOR'S INDEPENDENCE 
MOVEMENT SAYS HE IS WILLING TO DISCUSS DISARMAMENT OF HIS 
FOLLOWERS, BUT ONLY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.  IN AN INTERVIEW 
WITH VOA, XANANA GUSMAO SAID HE WILL ONLY SURRENDER WEAPONS TO 
UNITED NATIONS MONITORS.  VOA SOUTHEAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT GARY 
THOMAS TALKED TO MR. GUSMAO AND FILES THIS REPORT.
TEXT:  IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW FROM HOUSE ARREST IN JAKARTA, 
XANANA GUSMAO WELCOMED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUGUST EIGHTH AS THE 
DATE FOR THE EAST TIMOR REFERENDUM.  HE SAID HE IS  NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT THE DATE, BUT ABOUT WHETHER SECURITY CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT 
IN EAST TIMOR FOR THE VOTE.
EAST TIMOR HAS BEEN WRACKED BY VIOLENCE FROM PRO-JAKARTA 
MILITIAS, WHICH MR. GUSMAO AND HIS FOLLOWERS SAY ARE BACKED BY 
THE INDONESIAN MILITARY, KNOWN AS "ABRI."
MR. GUSMAO SAYS HE IS WILLING TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE DISARMAMENT OF 
HIS MOVEMENT, BUT THAT IT DEPENDS ON SECURITY CONDITIONS IN EAST 
TIMOR.  HE SAID HE IS ONLY WILLING TO GIVE UP WEAPONS TO UNITED 
NATIONS MONITORS, NOT TO ABRI.
                        // GUSMAO ACT //
         IT IS A VERY SENSITIVE QUESTION.  WE ALWAYS DEMAND THAT 
         ABRI HAS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM EAST TIMOR.  AND WE WILL 
         SURRENDER OUR WEAPONS TO A U-N MONITORING BODY.  BUT IF 
         ABRI IS STILL THERE IN A GREAT NUMBER, IT IS VERY, VERY 
         UNREASONABLE TO GIVE UP OUR WEAPONS TO WHOM WE FOUGHT 
         AGAINST DURING 22 YEARS.  AND I BELIEVE THAT THE 
         QUESTION WILL BE MORE DISCUSSED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
                          // END ACT //
INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL, THE FORMER COLONIAL RULER OF EAST TIMOR, 
ARE TO SIGN A PACT IN MAY ON THE EAST TIMOR VOTE.  MR. GUSMAO 
SAID HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT SECURITY MEASURES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR
THE BALLOTING.  WHILE WELCOMING THE NEWS THAT INTERNATIONAL 
POLICE WILL BE SENT TO EAST TIMOR, HE SAID PEACEKEEPING TROOPS 
MAY STILL BE NECESSARY.
                        // GUSMAO ACT //
         IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SITUATION. IF 
         ABRI CONTINUES TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE VIOLENCE THERE, I 
         THINK IT IS VERY NECESSARY TO SEND A U-N PEACEKEEPING 
         FORCE THERE.
                          // END ACT //
MR. GUSMAO ALSO WELCOMED THE PUBLIC COMMITMENT BY PRESIDENT 
HABIBIE TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT IN MAY AND TO ABIDE BY WHATEVER THE
TIMORESE DECIDE IN THE AUGUST EIGHTH VOTE.
                        // GUSMAO ACT //
         WE COULD HEAR THAT HABIBIE COMMITTED HIMSELF AND HIS 
         GOVERNMENT TO ABIDE BY, HONOR, THE DATE OF THE 8TH OF 
         AUGUST. BECAUSE WE WERE VERY AFRAID BEFORE THE MEETING 
         THEY WOULD DELAY AND DELAY MORE AND MORE THE PROCESS.  
         AND ALSO THE COMMITMENT THAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE 
         DEMOCRATIC AND FAIR, AND THAT THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT 
         WOULD RESPECT THE WISH OF THE EAST TIMORESE PEOPLE.
                          // END ACT //
HOWEVER, MR. GUSMAO SAYS HE BELIEVES ARMED FORCES CHIEF GENERAL 
WIRANTO HAS LOST CONTROL OVER THE MILITARY AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO
REIN IN THE HARDLINE ELEMENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO DERAIL THE EAST 
TIMOR PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC
29-Apr-99 7:55 AM EDT (1155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.