EAST TIMOR: GUERRILLA LEADER TAUR MATAN RUAK INTERVIEW

(3 Aug 1998) Portuguese/Nat
On the eve of talks at the United Nations on troubled East Timor, the island's guerrilla leader has called for direct U-N involvement in its future.
In an exclusive interview with APTV, Taur Matan Ruak branded recent Indonesian troop withdrawals a \"publicity stunt\" and vowed to fight on for independence.
They may be small in number but the Falintil guerrillas - East Timor's resistance army - show no signs of weakening in their 23-year battle.
It's a low-level war, one of ambushes and sniper attacks.
Even so, they continue to tie down thousands of Indonesian troops on East Timor.
Now some believe there is real hope for change.
Jakarta's new government is talking of a new deal and, with great ceremony, has already begun reducing its forces.
But guerrilla leader Taur Matan Ruak remains sceptical.
In a rare interview - his first since becoming commander - he claims the troop withdrawals are a grand illusion and calls for international monitoring.
SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese)
\"This is possibly just a publicity stunt. Until now Indonesians have never shown good faith when it comes to withdrawing their troops. It would be better for Indonesia to accept the presence of the U-N and U-N observers, and that the withdrawal was done under their supervision. It shouldn't be left to the Indonesians alone.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Taur Matan Ruak, Commander of Falintil Army
The guerrillas took up arms in 1975, after Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony.
Thousands of East Timorese have died since then under the brutal and widely-condemned occupation.
Forty-one-year old Ruak took charge of the guerrillas in March.
His succession dove-tailed with the fall of Suharto.
Hatred of the former dictator is still strong - the birds in this cockfight are called Falintil and Suharto, and when Suharto loses there is great jubilation.
As for his successor, President B-J Habibie, Ruak is surprisingly positive, but still cautious.
SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese)
\"You can see there are still political prisoners throughout Indonesia and East Timor. There are still many problems to resolve, but we should be very happy with the amount of freedom of expression, freedom of association and a free press decreed by Habibie.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Taur Matan Ruak, Commander of Falintil Army
Even so, there's no ceasefire and the struggle goes on.
The troops are armed and dressed with equipment taken from dead Indonesian soldiers.
There is some contact between the two sides.
Ruak claims ordinary Indonesians are increasingly sympathetic to their cause.
But his scepticism overrides everything and talk of new deals and U-N talks fail to douse his defiance.
SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese)
\"We've never lost hope. We will stand firm. We'll fight on until the independence of East Timor is won.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Taur Matan Ruak, Commander of Falintil Army
The coming months could prove pivotal for this troubled land.
They could decide whether peace can be achieved, or whether Falintil will stay in the jungles of East Timor.

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