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Journalism of Courage
East Timor rebels surrendered more than a dozen weapons to Australian peacekeepers on Friday, beginning a disarmament process seen as key to easing months of bloody unrest in the tiny nation.
Lt Cmdr Alfredo Reinado, who heads a rebel group that includes soldiers dismissed from the army earlier this year, was first to hand over to an Australian soldier his M-16 rifle with telescopic sight, and unload magazines of ammunition from his vest.
Then his soldiers, standing in a row in military fatigues, saluted him and turned in their guns. Reinado checked that they were unloaded and passed them on to the Australians, who noted down their type and serial numbers.
The rebels gave up 12 automatic rifles, four pistols and an unknown amount of ammunition in a low-key ceremony at a hilltop where Reinado set up camp after fleeing the capital, Dili, in April over a conflict with the government.
Fighting between the rebels and loyalist soldiers in April and May erupted into street violence which left at least 30 people dead and drove 130,000 from their homes. Foreign peacekeepers were called in to quell the unrest.
The rebels agreed to disarm after receiving an official request from revered President Xanana Gusmao, and the move is expected to create an environment for talks between stakeholders in the conflict.
Reinado said he had more weapons under his control that would be handed over in the coming days. Asked about how the former soldiers would protect themselves after disarming, he answered: 8216;8216;The president is my protection.8217;8217;
It was not known if the president made any promises in exchange for the weapons.
The weapons were to be stored in a large steel shipping container and guarded by Australian peacekeepers who have the only key to a single padlock protecting the door.
Another handover was also to take place in the rebel mountain base town of Gleno. Five automatic rifles and two pistols were being surrendered there, said Lt Gustao Salsinha, rebel coordinator in the western district of Ermera. In Dili, UN special representative Sukehiro Hasegawa called the weapons handover a 8216;8216;first step in the right direction.8217;8217;
8211;ROD McGUIRK
