INDONESIA: EAST TIMOR'S RIVAL FACTIONS SIGN DEAL

(18 Jun 1999) Indonesian/Nat

East Timor's rival factions have signed an agreement, aimed at stopping violence ahead of the planned August 8 referendum on the troubled territory's future.

Although short on details, Friday's agreement calls for a ceasefire and disarmament.

The deal was reached after three days of talks that also included U-N officials and the Indonesian Human Rights Commission.

Another step toward a peaceful referendum on independence for East Timor was taken in Jakarta Friday.

East Timor's rival factions signed an agreement meant to stop the violence there before an August 8 referendum on the troubled territory's future.

The deal which was reached after three days of talks that included officials from the U-N and the Indonesian Human Rights commission calls for a cease-fire and disarmament to begin this Sunday..

It remains unclear how effective the agreement will be.

A similar communique, signed in April, did not address disarmament, considered
one of the thorniest issues.

Attempts to take weapons away from anti-independence forces have been viewed as cosmetic by activists and outside observers.

Fighting between rival groups in the former Portuguese colony, which was invaded by Indonesia in 1975, has increased with the approach of the referendum that will give the East Timorese a choice between independence and autonomy within Indonesia.

Meanwhile Gusmao, the face of the independence movement held an unprecedented news conference with Indonesian armed forces chief General Wiranto.

Asked at a news conference how disarmament will be guaranteed, the Indonesian military chief said

SOUNDBITE: (Bahassa)
"It is the moral responsibility of all sides because they have agreed and signed the agreement."
SUPER CAPTION: General Wiranto, Indonesian Armed Forces Chief

For his part, Gusmao was reservedly optimistic about the deal when asked if he thinks it will work.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I do ...all parties not just both sides, all parties in East Timor "
SUPER CAPTION: Xanana Gusmao, Jailed Timorese Rebel Leader

But on Friday a UN spokesman in the East Timorese capital Dili accused the Indonesian military of complicity in a recent violent incident.

Wiranto denied the charge.

SOUNDBITE: (Bahasa Indonesian)
"That's just an old story. Nothing happened today. We already knew that CNRT and Fretelin on Mr. Gusmao's side and there are FMOK and militia in the pro-integration side, they fight each other. But it's got nothing to do with the police or the Indonesian Army."
SUPER CAPTION: General Wiranto, Indonesian Armed Forces Chief

Although Gusmao looked less than convinced with Wiranto's explanation, he
shook hands with the general.

Gusmao has tried to play up reconciliation and cultivate sympathy from the international community.

His strategy appears to have succeeded leading up to the referendum.

However, Gusmao and others remain worried that continued violence could
undermine the ballot.

It was signed jointly by East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, currently serving a 20-year sentence under house arrest in Jakarta; Leandro Isaac, leader of a pro-independence umbrella group; Joao Tavares, head of an anti-independence militia; and Domingos Soares, a local government leader who opposes independence.

In a joint communique, they called for an end to any activity that could lead to disturbances ahead of the ballot, including "every form of hatred, intimidation, violence, terrorism and acts of misinformation."

It's still unclear how effective the agreement would be.




Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...