April 16, 1999
The imprisoned East Timorese leader, Xanana Gusmao, says he'll order his fighters to end their military operations in East Timor in a bid to try to restore peace to the territory. Mr. Gusmao made the pledge in a meeting with the senior United States official Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth. Mr. Roth described the meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, as a very good discussion. He said Washington was extremely concerned by the escalation of violence in East Timor.
Correspondents say the Indonesian armed forces commander, General Wiranto admits he could disarm the controversial militias, but the implication is that he does not want to. The BBC Jakarta correspondent says without a more sustained diplomatic effort by the international community, the embryonic peace process may fail in a matter of months.
