The multinational force in East Timor (Interfet) was wise to avoid a firefight earlier this week with members of the resistance force, Falintil, by backing away from demands that the guerillas surrender their weapons. This is a directive that must be backed by the resistance leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao, if loss of life and suspicion of Interfet among East Timorese is to be avoided. But Interfet is right to insist that Falintil must be disarmed. Mr Gusmao argues that the guerillas were never involved in acts of terrorism and should be treated as "an army of liberation and not as a band of bandits". He has his constituency to think of – fighters who against all odds have stayed loyal to the cause of East Timor's independence, in some cases for 24 years, and ordinary East Timorese who fear for their lives if left to the mercy of pro-Indonesian militias. But the reality is that after an extremely reluctant start, the international community has accepted responsibility for the protection of his people. In the overall interests of peace and stability, Interfet must have a monopoly of force for the foreseeable future.

It shouldn't be hard to thrash out a compromise on this issue with Mr Gusmao. Falintil rightly points that about 1,500 armed Indonesian troops remain in East Timor. These are the remnants of an army of occupation and oppression. While they are there, Interfet doesn't have a monopoly of force and the resistance has a strong case - symbolically, emotionally and politically – for remaining armed as well. But the disarmament of Falintil can be tied to the Indonesian withdrawal. When the last Indonesian soldier has left East Timor, the rationale for the guerillas remaining a fighting force will be gone as well. It is then that Falintil should hand over its weapons.

This can be done in a way that preserves the dignity and honour of the guerillas. The militias have been involved in cowardly attacks on unarmed civilians. It is right that they should be treated as thugs and criminals, and unceremoniously stripped of their weapons. Falintil, by contrast, will be voluntarily disarming and there is nothing to stop this being an occasion for celebration and conducted in a fashion conducive to that outcome.

Moreover, disarming doesn't mean disbanding, and the distinction is an important one that should be preserved. Falintil is more than likely to form the core of an indigenous police force when circumstances in East Timor permit. It is sensible to keep its units intact, even perhaps to think about training them into the role of civilian law enforcers. And just because Falintil is disarmed doesn't mean it has no role to play in the interim. Falintil has expertise and credibility among the East Timorese which Interfet may find useful even if, in the interests of neutrality, it should avoid a formal association.

Much has been asked of the East Timorese in the struggle to secure their national rights. Much more may be asked of them before those rights finally are secured. The same is true of Mr Gusmao. As the likely first leader of independent East Timor, what is asked of him now is that he takes decisions in the interests of all East Timorese.

That doesn't mean turning a blind eye to the atrocities of the recent past. It does mean, on the disarmament issue, recognising that the phase of armed struggle against Indonesian occupation is over and that Interfet's job to restore law and order in the territory is hard enough without it having to make exceptions for his fighters. Mr Gusmao says he is willing to discuss the role of Falintil with Interfet representatives. When he does, he should be prepared to compromise with them as well.