Dili – The commander of a pro-Indonesia paramilitary force in East Timor, Joao Tavares, said Thursday that autonomy within Indonesia was the only course that would avoid a new civil war in the territory.

Tavares, who said his force numbered 2,400 men, told Portuguese journalists in Dili that he would continue fighting for integration into Indonesia even if Jakarta withdrew its forces from East Timor. He added that he would not accept the result if the East Timorese people reject a proposal for special autonomy status within Indonesia.

Portugal and Indonesia are expected to agree on final details of the consultation on autonomy at the next UN-sponsored ministerial talks on East Timor, scheduled for April 22 and 23 in New York.

Rejection of the proposal opens the way to independence for the territory.

Pro-Indonesia paramilitary groups have unleashed a wave of violence in East Timor since Jakarta announced in January that it was willing to consider independence for the half-island it has occupied since 1975.