Leader of 600 deserted soldiers Afredo Reinado Tuesday told
Xinhua that he was ready for a dialogue with Timor-Leste government
to find solution for the current crisis.
"We wait for the result of the government meeting," he said,
referring to the ongoing emergency meeting conducted by President
Xanana Gusmao and other ministers at the Presidential Palace.
"We are ready to have a dialogue. Since the beginning our
struggle has not been with weapons," he said.
Meanwhile, he denied any involvement of his people in the house
burning and property looting in recent days.
"My people have not been involved in (the house burning). That
is not my purpose. I am sad because of young people's implication
(in the house burning)," he said.
Such acts might be triggered off by grievance, he added.
Tension was high in recent days as some 600 people were sacked
from the 1,500-member military in April. The deserters were
believed to set fire on houses and exchange fire with Timor-Leste
soldiers since.
Later they moved to mountains, but rioters took to streets and
continued the violence.
More than 20 people have been killed and dozens wounded since
the open fight began in April.
Reports said that the current riots were triggered off by the
faction clashes within the military and the government and might
escalate into a civil war.
Timor-Leste became part of Indonesia after 1976 after centuries
of Portuguese control.
The country got independence in 2002 following a referendum in
1999.
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(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2006)
