[ppi] [ppiindia] Timor's rebels start to surrender

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http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/timors-rebels-start-to-surrender/2006/05/29/1148754937786.html


Timor's rebels start to surrender
  a.. 
 
Australian troops stand on a troop carrier in Dili yesterday, overseeing a 
crowd collecting rice from a warehouse. The capital grew calmer yesterday, as 
the death toll over the past week stood at 27.
Picture: AP


By Tom Allard, Dili
May 30, 2006
Page 1 of 2 | Single page 
AUSTRALIAN forces have detained and disarmed more than 130 rebel police and 
military personnel after negotiations that involved senior Australian military 
leaders and East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao.

The breakthrough was the first positive news after days of bloodshed and 
anarchy in the East Timorese capital, especially as it was accompanied by an 
agreement from military and police loyal to the country's embattled Prime 
Minister, Mari Alkatiri, to remain in their barracks.

But the situation remains extremely tense and violence could erupt again, 
particularly as marathon crisis talks between Mr Gusmao and Mr Alkatiri failed 
to reach a resolution yesterday.

Talks will continue this week and senior East Timorese Government sources said 
Mr Alkatiri's job appears safe for now.

However, The Age believes that Mr Gusmao and other senior East Timorese 
political and community leaders still want the Prime Minister to stand down.

The current thinking is that more effort should be made to disarm the feuding 
wings of the country's security services before considering the PM's future, 
and allow Australian, Malaysian, New Zealand and Portuguese forces to restore 
order and cool ethnic rivalries.

"Nothing will happen at the moment, but something may happen in a few weeks," a 
source who was at yesterday's talks told The Age when asked about Mr Alkatiri's 
future.

Even Fretilin hardliners - Mr Alkatiri's power base - want him to go, but the 
famously stubborn Mr Alkatiri is refusing to budge.

Mr Gusmao yesterday made his first public appearance since Dili's descent into 
mayhem, telling chanting supporters outside his offices, where the talks were 
being held, to return home.

Looking much healthier than earlier reports suggested, the revered figurehead 
of East Timor's independence struggle told the crowd: "You guys have to go back 
home to look after one another, east and west must be together in the villages. 
All of you together, if you see someone burning houses, tell them to stop."

Brigadier Mick Slater, Australia's military commander, said Mr Gusmao had been 
instrumental in the surprise decision of the rebels, most of whom were police, 
to give up their weapons.

By mid-afternoon yesterday, he said 130 had surrendered and handed over about 
250 rifles, shotguns and grenades. Military sources said more had given 
themselves up late yesterday.

They were being guarded by Australian troops at Dili's airport, the main base 
for the 2500-strong international force now deployed in Dili.

Brigadier Slater was upbeat there would be more surrenders.

"We have been in contact with the (rebel) soldiers with Major (Alfredo) Reinado 
and they expressed a willingness to co-operate fully with us," he said. "If 
they haven't handed in their weapons yet, I expect that to happen soon."

While Dili was more peaceful yesterday, there was chaos at food stores. At some 
sites, gangs and militias threatened those lining up as Australian soldiers 
struggled to restore order. There were also long and sometimes angry queues at 
petrol stations, which have been closed since Wednesday.

There were also sporadic clashes between gangs of youths. Four gang members 
were detained by Australian forces, but they were then released as required 
under the military's rules of engagement.

While there is widespread support for Mr Alkatiri's removal - he is blamed for 
the young country's deep economic malaise - Mr Gusmao is doing everything to 
get his agreement to stand down, rather than force the issue through a complex 
and lengthy constitutional process.

To compel Mr Alkatiri to leave, Mr Gusmao would have to declare a state of 
emergency, dissolve Parliament and then take control of the Government.

  a.. 


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