E. Timor Rebels Hand In Guns
Guerrillas who waged a 24-year battle for East TimorÂ's independence came down from the hills and handed over weapons Thursday, as British Gurkhas arrested two pro-Jakarta militiamen that forcibly held more than 4,000 civilians at a port.
Three vehicles crammed with Falintil rebels drove into Dili and surrendered a truckload of weapons to the International Force for East Timor (Interfet), witnesses and military officials said.
It was the first arms handover since the Australian-led multinational force arrived in devastated East Timor on September 20.
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Defense Secretary William Cohen on Thursday accused the Indonesian military of Â"aiding and abettingÂ" militia violence against civilians in East Timor. After meetings with Indonesia's top leaders he said he was encouraged that they understand the consequences of failing to cooperate with international peacekeepers.
Â"They are committed to seeing the success of the peacekeeping mission,Â" Cohen told reporters after talks with Gen. Wiranto, the chief of the Indonesian military, and President B.J. Habibie.
On a cautionary note, however, Cohen said Washington will watch to see if the Indonesians carry through on their expressions of good will by disarming the militias in West Timor who ravaged East Timor after an Aug. 30 vote for independence from Indonesia.
Â"We will see,Â" Cohen said.
The militiamen arrested by the Gurkhas were part of a group in the eastern town of Com preparing to move the 4,000 people out of the territory, military sources said.
The two men were in the custody of the Gurkhas.
Thousands are thought to have been killed by pro-Jakarta forces since East Timor overwhelmingly voted for independence in last month's referendum.
Hundreds of thousands have fled the territory, many of them forcibly removed by pro-Jakarta militiamen acting wit the support of elements of the Indonesian military.
Most of the territory remains beyond Interfet control, but in Los Palos on the eastern tip of the East Timor, hundreds of cheering people greeted the first aid convoy to reach their devastated town. Signs and banners welcomed the troops.
Â"The presence of Interfet is the end of genocide in the far land of East Timor,Â" said one message. Â"Welcome Interfet, your presence is our life,Â" said a banner strung from swaying trees.
Meanwhile, Australia said Interfet would be allowed to enter West Timor if actively engaged in a firefight with militia but would have to return to East Timor once the militia ceased fire.
Defense Minister John Moore, noting reports of a buildup by pro-Jakarta militia in West Timor, said Interfet's mandate enabled it to respond in a limited way to cross-border raids.