Don Greenlees – Several hundred East Timorese militiamen handed over a motley collection of homemade pistols and rifles at a military-style parade in Dili yesterday in a symbolic gesture of compliance with agreements to disarm ahead of the August 30 ballot.

In the late afternoon sun at a football field, men wearing black T-shirts bearing the name of the Aitarak militia laid their weapons on the ground in front of officials from the UN, Indonesian military and a reconciliation commission.

But the weapons surrender appeared a token gesture: nearly all of the 230 guns were single-shot, made of wood and metal pipe. Indonesian police collected only five M-16s and five bolt-action, 1970s-era Mauser rifles. Dressed in a red-beret and combat fatigues, Aitarak commander Eurico Guterres said the handover was the "fulfilment" of the June 18 agreement between pro-Indonesia and pro-independence supporters to disavow violence and disarm.

"It is a sign of our respect and obedience with the agreement," he said. "I hope that we are able to create an atmosphere of peace and responsibility so there can be lasting peace in East Timor."

To cheers from the militia ranks, he called on the UN Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) and Indonesian authorities to ensure the pro-independence Falintil guerillas also laid down their arms. The weapons handed over yesterday were to be placed in a warehouse under the supervision of Indonesian police.

UN officials acknowledge the surrendered weapons represent only a tiny proportion of the firepower on both sides in East Timor. But they maintain such ceremonies – yesterday's was the fourth – can increase the pressure on police to arrest anyone displaying a weapon in public.