DATE=5/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249031
TITLE=EAST TIMOR AGREEMENT REACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=DILI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A NUMBER PRO-INDONESIAN EAST TIMOR RESIDENTS, WHO FOR
MONTHS HAVE REJECTED PROPOSALS TO HOLD AN AUTONOMY BALLOT, ARE
NOW WELCOMING THE SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT ON SPECIAL AUTONOMY
FOR THE TERRITORY. AS WE HEAR FROM JENNY GRANT IN THE EAST TIMOR
CAPITAL, DILI, OTHER RESIDENTS ARE SIMPLY SAYING THEY HOPE THE
UNITED NATIONS-BROKERED PLAN BRINGS PEACE.
TEXT: EURICO GUTERRES, THE LEADER OF THE DILI-BASED AITARAK
MILITIA, SAYS ALTHOUGH HE STILL RESENTS THE PLANNED ARRIVAL OF
UNITED NATIONS POLICE, HE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THEM UNDER CERTAIN
CONDITIONS.
// ACT GUTERRES INDONESIAN //
MR. GUTERRES SAYS THE U-N FORCE MUST REMAIN NEUTRAL AND TREAT ALL
PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT WITH FAIRNESS. WHILE THE U-N AUTONOMY
PLAN CALLS FOR THE WARRING SIDES TO LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS, HE
SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO DISARM THEM IS TO CALL BOTH PRO-INTEGRATION
AND PRO-INDEPENDENCE LEADERS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND TREAT
THEM AS EQUALS.
THE STOCKY MR. GUTERRES SAYS HIS MILITIA, WHICH SUPPORTS
INTEGRATION WITH INDONESIA, WILL ONLY GIVE UP ITS WEAPONS IF THE
PRO-INDEPENDENCE FALINTIL GUERRILLA GROUP LAYS DOWN ITS GUNS
FIRST.
THE FEARED MILITIA COMMANDER SAYS HIS ESTIMATED 50-THOUSAND
MEMBERS WILL NOT TARGET MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS DELEGATION,
BUT HE SAYS HE CANNOT GUARANTEE THEIR SAFETY.
THE U-N HAS ALREADY SENT A DOZEN PEOPLE TO EAST TIMOR TO PLAN FOR
THE AUGUST 8TH BALLOT ON SPECIAL AUTONOMY. ANOTHER U-N GROUP IS
DUE TO ARRIVE ON MONDAY. IT IS STILL UNCLEAR IF PEACE KEEPERS
WILL BE DEPLOYED AT THIS STAGE.
AT A THURSDAY RALLY IN METINARO, 20 KILOMETERS EAST OF DILI, SOME
300 AITARAK MILITIAMEN, ARMED WITH BLUNT WOODEN STICKS, JOGGED
AROUND A HOT FIELD, IN A CEREMONY IN WHICH THEY PLEDGED THEIR
ALLEGIANCE TO INDONESIA.
THE RAG TAG GROUP OF FARMERS AND LOCAL UNEMPLOYED SANG THE
INDONESIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM - INDONESIA RAYA - AS THEY STUMBLED
THROUGH A POORLY REHEARSED MILITARY STYLE PARADE.
IN DILI, SOME 200 STUDENTS STAGED A BRIEF PRO-INDEPENDENCE
DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY OF EAST TIMOR THURSDAY, TO
CELEBRATE THE SIGNING OF THE U-N ACCORD.
POLICE ALLOWED THE STUDENTS TO LEAVE THE CAMPUS AND SPILL ONTO
THE ROAD WHERE THEY SHOUTED LONG LIVE XANANA GUSMAO -- THE
PRO-INDEPENDENCE REBEL LEADER -- AND UNFURLED INDEPENDENCE FLAGS.
DILI'S POOR RESIDENTS SAY THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE NEW YORK
AGREEMENT FOR AN AUGUST BALLOT ON THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE. , BUT
MANY SAY ALL THEY WANT IS PEACE SO THEY CAN LIVE THEIR LIVES
WITHOUT THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE.
DOMINGOS SEQUIERO CLEANS A PILE OF GREEN CABBAGES IN FRONT OF THE
OLD MARKET IN CENTRAL DILI. HE SAYS HE IS TOO SCARED TO TALK
ABOUT POLITICS, SINCE ALL THE VIOLENCE, AND NOW JUST WANTS TO
SELL VEGETABLES
MR. SEQUIERO SAYS INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL SHOULD HAVE SIGNED THE
AGREEMENT LONG AGO -- BEFORE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE SHOT.
INSIDE THE MARKET WHERE FATTENED PIGS AND NAKED TODDLERS RUN
AROUND TOGETHER, ECONOMIC MIGRANTS FROM OTHER PARTS OF INDONESIA,
WHO CAME TO THE TERRITORY SEEKING A BETTER LIFE, SAY THE EAST
TIMOR AGREEMENT MAKES THEM FEEL SAFER.
ADAM HANIF -- A BUGIS RICE TRADER FROM SOUTH SULAWESI -- SAYS THE
AGREEMENT MAY HELP TO CALM THE SITUATION.
SITTING ON ATOP A STACK OF 20 SACKS OF IMPORTED JAPANESE RICE,
MR. HANIF SAYS THE THOUSANDS OF JAVANESE AND SULAWESI TRADERS WHO
FLED THE VIOLENCE IN DILI MAY HAVE STAYED IF THEY KNEW A U-N
PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT WAS ARRIVING. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/FC
06-May-99 6:56 AM EDT (1056 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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