(2 Feb 1999) Eng/Indonesian
About 200 people from villages around East Timor's capital Dili were sheltering on Tuesday at the home of a pro-independence leader in the city.
They said they fled their homes after being harassed by pro-Indonesian armed groups.
An estimated 3-thousand villagers were also taking shelter in Suai, 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Dili.
They fled there after violence and threats between pro- and anti-independence groups.
Last week, Indonesia said it would consider granting independence to East Timor if its inhabitants reject a plan for greater autonomy now being discussed at U-N-sponsored talks.
Pro-Indonesian activists have warned of the possibility of civil war among rival East Timorese factions if Indonesia withdraws troops from the territory it invaded in 1975.
A 100-member delegation of pro-autonomy East Timorese, led by Governor Abilio Soares, will meet government officials in the Indonesian capital Jakarta over the next few days to protest Indonesia's surprise offer.
But separatists who drove in a convoy of cars and trucks through Dili said they would settle for nothing less than independence.
Families had come to take shelter in the house of Mauhunu, former separatist commander who has now taken the place of jailed East Timorese rebel leader, Xanana Gusmao.
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"We are here because of the army and the civilian people - they came on the 3rd of January and we found out two people got killed and eight people got injured so that's why I'm here."
SUPER CAPTION: Jamie Dejesus, Refugee
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Because on the ground we have many automatic weapons and in the high rank. In the ABRI (Indonesian military) for example, what do they say...they say that they are out of the political party that they do not support any kind of political party but in East Timor they give automatic weapons for the people, the group they support integration with Indonesia. It is a big contradiction. It is clear so I think they make not for peace in Timor but to continue with the war in Timor. "
SUPER CAPTION: Mauhunu, Separatist leader
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"So we are trying to convince the Indonesian government and President Habibie, there are still thousands of people trying to support and to protect integration."
SUPER CAPTION: Basilio Dias Araujo, Leader anti-independence campaign
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