---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Dengan mengClick banner sponsor anda menyumbang Rp. 1000,- untuk HomePage IndoNews. ---------------------------------------------------------- East Timor bishop calls for disbanding of armed groups DILI, East Timor, Feb 4 (AFP) - East Timor's Nobel Peace Prize winning bishop, Carlos Ximenes Felipe Belo, on Thursday called for the disbanding of civilian groups armed by the military in the troubled territory. "We should all strive to lay down our weapons. We are arming Timorese to fight against Timorese, this is not a way to draw the sympathy of the people," he told a press conference here. "We already have the police, batallion 744, 745 and other batallions, various other soldiers, do we still need Wanra (People's Fighters). They should no longer be needed," Belo added. Belo is the latest personality to criticise the armed groups accused by church and human rights activists of causing at least six deaths in the last week. Jailed East Timor rebel leader Xanana Gusmao said this week the militias were the biggest problem in the territory, where tension has mounted since Indonesia made concessions over independence demands. There are several armed paramilitary groups such as Wanra, Garda Paksi, the Mahidi and the Saka but Belo said "they should be eliminated." He said there were enough Indonesian soldiers to assure security in East Timor and the presence of armed civilian groups could only mean the army "has no confidence in itself." "A solution of East Timor is not a solution (reached) through weapons, through force, and it will also not be a military solution. Therefore, there should be a diplomatic solution," the bishop said. Refering to the violence that caused thousands of people to seek refuge in churches in Suai sub-district last week, Belo said even pro-independence rebels have never been able to force the evacuation of so many people. The Indonesian army has denied having distributed new arms to civilians in East Timor saying the groups had been armed for a long time and placed under the military command to assist in assuring security. Belo said the Indonesian government's announcement that it may consider independence for East Timor if the territory's people reject an offer of autonomy had losses and advantages. The 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner did not elaborate but said "the two alternatives (autonomy or independence) should be faced camly and with a cool head. "For me, there is no other way out than through peaceful negotiations. Let us all sit together and face these two matters with full understanding and ready to face all risks," he said. However, he said that so far he could not see pro-autonomy or pro-independence factions were prepared to hold a dialogue in the best interest of East Timor. "The groups are only defending their own position," he said. While pro-independentists have been holding street rallies in Dili and had prepared a government list to take over when the territory become independent, pro-autonomy activists have sought arms from the military. Some officials have flown to Jakarta to lobby against independence. He said his call for dialogue was directed at those supporting an independent East Timor and those in favor of autonomy within Indonesia. Indonesian troops invaded the former Portuguese colony of East Timor in 1975 and Jakarta declared the territory its 27th province the following year, though Indonesian sovereignty is not recognized by the United Nations. The UN secretary general is currently sponsoring dialogue between Indonesia and Portugual over Jakarta's autonomy proposal. Their foreign ministers are to meet in New York this weekend. str-bs/tw ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 5 Feb 1999 jam 04:57:39 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
