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Wednesday, October 14, 1998 Published at 23:32 GMT 00:32 UK

World: Asia-Pacific

East Timor leader doubts troop pullout

Mass demonstration against governor Abilio Soares - he was appointed by Indonesia

The imprisoned leader of the East Timorese independence movement, Xanana Gusmao, has said that the Indonesian authorities are lying about the number of troops withdrawn from East Timor.

[ image: Independence leader Xanana Gusmao - wrote to the BBC from his prison cell]
Independence leader Xanana Gusmao - wrote to the BBC from his prison cell
Mr Gusmao, who is serving a 20-year jail sentence, says he has asked the UN to monitor the size of the Indonesian military presence.

"Everyone should know that Indonedia's promise of troop reductions was just a lie," Mr Gusmao wrote in a letter smuggled out of his prison cell to the BBC.

Jonathan Head in Jakarta: "Gusmao says troop reductions a lie"
"The world community is still deaf to our protests," he added.

Following President Habibie's offer of limited autonomy for the territory in June, the army pulled out 1,400 soldiers, saying that there were no combat troops left.

But pro-independence activists have questioned the assertion, saying other soldiers were brought in secretly to replace the troops who were withdrawn.

UN mediation

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on Tuesday for a cessation of all military activity in East Timor, and a substantial reduction of the Indonesian military presence there.

But Mr Gusmao argues that the UN should set up a commission to observe the behaviour of the Indonesian military.

The UN does not recognise Indonesia's annexation of East Timor, and it has been mediating in negotiations between Indonesia and the former colonial power, Portugal, since 1983.

According to the state Antara news agency, the Indonesian foreign minister, Ali Alatas, is starting two days of talks with East Timorese groups in Bali on Thursday.

[ image: Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo - will not attend Bali talks]
Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo - will not attend Bali talks
Mr Alatas issued invitations to some 60 people, including Nobel laureate Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, but correspondents say many of the participants will not be able to attend, as they were given only 24 hours notice. Bishop Belo has already indicated that he would not be going to Bali.

The talks have been called following three days of demonstrations against East Timor's Indonesian-appointed governor, Abilio Soares, who had threatened to dismiss civil servants who did not support the government's offer of autonomy for the territory.