In the last few days, the symbols of Fretilin, especially the RDTL flag, have been used by certain groups to create trouble and to deceive the people into carrying out demonstrations, violence and other undesirable actions.
On 7 December 1975, when the Indonesian Armed Forces invaded our country, Fretilin’s Central Committee appealed to the international community to intervene to prevent the killing of our people and to defend the rights of the Maubere people for self-determination and independence. [The communique went on to name the men and women who had died for the struggle and said] our right to independence was finally recognized. The international community - may be late or early in fulfilling its duty -restored our nation to international legality and established mechanism for our independence.
Thus, UNTAET and the international community’s presence in East Timor are consistent with what we had been doing. The administration of UNTAET is a result of the 24 years of Resistance of the Maubere people. Naturally, the presence of thousands of other nationals with different religions and culture in our land can create cultural shock and misunderstandings, This may seem a heavy price to pay for our determination to be independent. However, the solution to these problems is permanent dialogue, not violence, or destruction.
See these items on the CPD-RDTL:
Mar 17 SMH: UN fears sabotage
of ETimor elections News
"The UN memo says CPD-RDTL supporters had clashed with members of the
East Timorese pro-independence Fretilin party on Atauro on February 22,
the same time as the seven Indonesians [suspected spies] were seen there.
Last week, Mr Gusmao warned of links between senior RDTL officials and
shadowy Indonesian army intelligence agents." Mark Dodd, Herald Correspondent
in Dili
Mar
15 STL: Bishop Belo: Do not choose party that destroys Timor
News from ETimor
“I have met with Fretilin, UDT, and even
with CPD-RDTL (Aitahan Matak, Fil Fernandes and Feliciano). I said to them
that I would only support parties in Timor that work for peace, democracy
human rights justice, social peace, tolerance. The church supports pluralism
and democracy in East Timor." Bishop Belo
Mar 12 TP: Fretilin Declaration:
Do Not Commit Violence News from ETimor
"In the last few days, the symbols of Fretilin, especially the RDTL
flag, have been used by certain groups to create trouble and to deceive
the people into carrying out demonstrations, violence and other undesirable
actions." Lu Olo (president) and Mari Alkatiri (vice-president) of Fretilin
Mar
9 STL: Fretilin Not Behind CPD-RDTL News from ETimor
"Their [CPD-RDTL] actions on Wednesday
were criminal in nature. They are using the Fretilin flag without our agreement.
And we have reminded them umpteen times to stop using Fretilin symbols,
but to no avail,” Mari Alkatari, Fretilin Vice-President
Mar
7 CNRT/CNP: A Threat on the life of the President Press
Conference summary of events
"Commissioner Costa e Souza [of CivPol]
ended his report by stating that he has no doubt that this was a planned
action designed to disturb the meeting between President Xanana Gusmão
and the students and that given the
level of violence it was also designed to threaten the life of the President."
National
Council of Timorese Resistance/Congresso Nacional Presidency (CNRT/CNP)
Portuguese:
Feb
12 OTL: Movimentos e partidos Pró autonomia: evolução
desde o referendo Report
"No interior de Timor
Leste, um grupo radical confronta-se, por vezes violentamente, com o CNRT
e a Fretilin. Reclama-se da República Democrática de Timor
Leste (RDTL), proclamada pela Fretilin em 1975, mas o seu dirigente e a
sua prática ligam-no a Abílio Araújo, defensor da
autonomia na Indonésia aquando da campanha do referendo." Observatório
Timor Leste
Feb
12 ETO: Political Movements and Parties: pro-autonomy
Report
"Inside East Timor, a radical Timorese
group is opposing, sometimes violently, the CNRT
and Fretilin. They are calling for a return of the Democratic Republic
of East Timor (RDTL), proclaimed by Fretilin in 1975. However, there are
links between the RDTL’s leader and activities and Abílio Araújo
who, at the time of the referendum, advocated autonomy within Indonesia
for East Timor."
East Timor Observatory
Feb
12 Xanana: Symposium on “Reconciliation, Tolerance, Human Rights and Elections”
Speech
"the CPD-RDTL, made up of lunatics and
incipient politicians that has already been disturbing the population in
certain places. CPD-RDTL has demonstrated an ability to mobilize young
people, many of whom were not a part of the clandestine organizations,
to act violently in some places of the territory. In Dili, they have been
promoting young people towards violence and towards the disrespect of law
and order." Xanana Gusmão, President CNRT/NC
Jan
30 SMH: Community radio fights campaign of fear News
"Already one political party, a breakaway
faction of Fretilin, has been involved in violent clashes in the district.
RDTL, a Portuguese acronym for Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (East
Timor), is accused of receiving cash from Indonesian sources to support
the cause of integration, according to the East Timor independence leader,
Mr Xanana Gusmao. RDTL's ability to organise in remote rural areas has
taken many East Timorese and senior UN political officials by surprise.
Mr Deligia said: "They have been very dynamic in the last two or three
months. There have been a series of small incidents appearing on an almost
daily basis." " Mark Dodd
Jan
15 IPS: Road to Nationhood neither Straight nor Short
News
"The fears of CNRT officials lie in what
they say is a campaign, ahead of political season, of ''misinformation''
by pro-Indonesian groups like one called the Council for the Popular Defense
of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (CPD-RDTL). The group is said
to be linked to former Indonesian armed forces chief Wiranto and military
officials involved in the violence after the September 1999 vote." Johanna
Son