EAST TIMOR: GUSMAO RETURNS TO REMEXIO

(24 Oct 1999) Natural Sound

East Timor's charismatic 53-year-old independence leader, Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, returned on Sunday to his guerrilla movement's mountain stronghold in Remexio, about 19 miles (30 kilometres) south east of the capital Dili.

Gusmao was air lifted into Remexio by a Black hawk helicopter flown by Australian peacekeepers.

Local people cheered and clapped, some even cried, as Gusmao walked through the village surrounded by soldiers of his guerilla movement Falintil.

A young girl read Gusmao a poem praising his efforts to bring independence to East Timor.

There was also a traditional welcome from local tribesmen and women who sang songs and joined in a parade which wound it's way through the streets of Remexio.

Gusmao then inspected Falintil troops, who he praised for their courage and determination.

The youngest fighters, many still in their teens or 20s, have never seen Gusmao.

He was captured by Indonesian authorities in 1992 and has not been back among his soldiers since then.

But he remained the movement's mastermind during his long absence, first in prison and then under house arrest in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

From a distance, and during the independence struggle, Gusmao served as the key force among various factions inside and outside Falintil.

But now that may prove a more difficult balancing act.

Already, there are believed to be differences of opinion within the rebel command structure over dealings with the 16-nation peacekeeping force, which arrived in East Timor just over a month ago.

However the rebels are deeply indebted to the peacekeepers for stepping in and halting the rampage by anti-independence militias.

The militias who, in concert with Indonesian troops and police, laid waste to East Timor's towns and cities after the territory overwhelmingly voted for independence on August 30.

Gusmao himself is under the peacekeepers' protection, and says he is grateful.

But the Falintil rebels are wary of what they see as premature pressure to disarm.

Although the bulk of the anti-independence militias have retreated to neighboring West Timor, Falintil sees them as very much of a continuing threat.

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