EAST TIMOR: REBELS LOOK FORWARD TO INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM

(20 Jul 1999) Indonesian/Nat

Pro-independence rebels in East Timor say they are looking forward to the upcoming August referendum that would allow East Timorese the chance to choose whether to become independent or gain autonomy within Indonesia for the first time in 24 years.

The former Portuguese colony was invaded by Indonesia in 1975, and rebel guerrillas have been fighting the military ever since.

With the ballot date approaching and the presence of a United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) supervising the proceedings, rebel activity against Indonesia has subsided in an attempt to prevent any further delay.

The East Timorese Falintil rebel group has been hiding in the jungles for more than two decades.

Many in the group have spent most of their lives fighting the Indonesian army since its brutal invasion 24 years ago.

Since then, the former Portuguese colony has been wracked by violence between the Indonesian military and East Timorese guerrillas.

Many predict the ballot in August will finally resolve the dispute, giving new hope to those who have lost so much in their struggle.

32 year-old rebel commander Izino Neves is one such person who has dedicated his life to fighting for an independent East Timor.

He's been a guerrilla for sixteen years, during which time he lost all of his seven brothers and sisters who had also joined the group to fight the Indonesian army.

APTN was able to interview the rebel leader of the Laga region on Monday.

SOUNDBITE: (Tetum)
"I came to the decision to resist when I saw how the people of East Timor were suffering in the fight for Indonesia."
SUPER CAPTION: Izino Neves, Rebel Commander in the region

The upcoming referendum will give the East Timorese the opportunity to choose whether to remain part of Indonesia as an autonomous region or break away altogether.

As a result, the Falintil guerrillas were finally willing to call a truce and start negotiating a definitive ceasefire earlier in July.

SOUNDBITE: (Tetum)
"I'm so very happy. It's a miracle because the people of east Timor has been waiting for 23 years for this chance and UNAMET are finally enabling it to happen."
SUPER CAPTION: Izino Neves, Rebel Commander in the region

So far Anti-independence militia leaders have been accused of waging a terror campaign to derail the referendum and reportedly have tried to steer discussions away from the vote causing its initial delay from being held in the beginning of August.

But Neves insisted his fight wasn't against all Indonesians.

SOUNDBITE: (Tetum)
"I don't want revenge because the Indonesians and the East Timorese are brothers and the struggle over the different ideals will be over."
SUPER CAPTION: Izino Neves, Rebel Commander in the region

The U-N has warned the Indonesian government to provide adequate security and ensure that the votes are carried out without further intimidation from opponents to the referendum.

Meanwhile many rebel groups are anxious to see the return of their jailed leader, Jose Alexander "Xanana" Gusmao.

Gusmao was jailed in 1992 and has been under house arrest since March but is now awaiting to register in Jakarta on Tuesday in order to be eligible for voting in the August referendum.

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