Salemba – Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, President of the CNRT, participated in the three-day meeting of the Peace and Stability Commission (PSC) that was concluded in Jakarta today. The following points were adopted during the PSC meetings:

• an Appeal to Peace and Stability in East Timor, signed by Xanana Gusmao, President of the CNRT, Leandro Isaac, member of the CNRT National Political Commission, by Domingos Soares and Joao Tavares of the FPDK (Forum for Unity, Democracy and Justice);
• accepting and rigourously enforcing the Code of Conduct regimenting the entire process, as of today, during the campaign, and up to the vote;
• accepting and rigourously enforcing the Code of Conduct established by the PSC, to which the mechanisms of a cease-fire and disarmament will be annexed later;
• given the fact that the disarmament is not the responsibility of Polri (Indonesian Police), the PSC and the UN will later decide which instance will be in charge of overseeing the disarmament process.

Following the PSC meeting, the participants went to the Ministry of Defense to meet with General Wiranto, Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces.

The President of the CNRT, Xanana Gusmao, emphatically reiterated in both meetings the necessity to close down all the military posts spread throughout the territory, and for TNI to be confined to barracks as necessary conditions for the implementation of the disarmament.

In spite of the fact that these meetings constitute a significant first step towards the creation of a peaceful environment in East Timor, the CNRT President considers that its implementation on the ground will be arduous. It is up to TNI and Polri to abide by the promises of neutrality made by General Wiranto. The credibility of both the Indonesian Minister of Defence and the government of the Republic of Indonesia as a whole are at stake.