(5 Jul 1999) Eng/Indonesian
Despite an upsurge in violence by anti-independence forces in East Timor, pro-independence leaders tried to build new bridges on Monday with their longtime enemy - Indonesia's military.
Imprisoned guerrilla leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, who is under house arrest in Jakarta, and visiting East Timor Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos Horta met military commander and Defence Minister General Wiranto for one hour.
After the talks, the latest in a series with senior Indonesian officials, they said they were "very happy" with a new promise by Wiranto that his forces would not interfere with a planned U-N -supervised referendum on the future of East Timor.
The meeting at Jakarta's main barracks, was held less than 24 hours after anti-independence militants attacked an aid convoy.
The militiamen also threatened U-N police officers and stoned their helicopter on Sunday.
The escalating violence raised fresh concerns about whether the vote could proceed as planned on August 21 or 22.
In the past both Gusmao and Ramos Horta have repeatedly accused Indonesia's military of arming and helping anti-independence militias to derail the peace process through terror and violence.
Wiranto has insisted that his troops have acted in a neutral manner.
Wiranto complained that pro-independence rebels, who have been waging a low-level insurgency against Indonesian troops since it invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975, have not yet turned over a single weapon.
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"We want to express our trust in the decision made by the Defence Minister that shows the neutrality of the Indonesian Army in the consultation process."
SUPER CAPTION: Xanana Gusmao, East Timor pro-independence leader
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"I can say that we walked out of the meeting room with confidence that sides will work together to resolve this conflict in East Timor. I want everyone to realise that small incidents will still take place. What is important is that all sides will work to create a more peaceful solution."
SUPER CAPTION: Xanana Gusmao, East Timor pro-independence leader
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We of course discussed the issue of the whole credibility of the T-N-I (Ministry of Defence), that it is at stake because of actions of the militias. The militias' actions in East Timor are in contrast to the position of the minister of defence. So it's obviously up to the minister of defence, T-N-I, to make sure the actions of the militias end so that the word of a military person, a military leader, can be trusted. I think this is a professional army. We are dealing with the top professional people and I believe they are sensitive to the criticisms and they will investigate and take actions. We are hopeful after the discussion that things can improve. On our side our president reiterated to Wiranto and as we have done, that on our side we will do whatever we can in order to also live up to our share of the responsibilities in the framework of the security and disarmament."
SUPER CAPTION: Jose Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Prize winner
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"The most important thing that they discussed with me is the process of disarmament for both sides. Why? Because the issue of security during the consultation process is the responsibility of the Indonesian government, which means it lies in the hands of army and police."
SUPER CAPTION: General Wiranto, Defence minister and military commander
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