Retreat by Timor Government

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33933, 28 August 1975, Page 13

Retreat by Timor Government

(N.z.p.A.-Reuter—coptjright)

JAKARTA, August 27.

The three rival political factions battling for supremacy in strifetorn Portuguese Timor have forced the Portuguese authorities to transfer their Government offices from the Capital of Dili to the small island of Atauro.

The Indonesian Army newspaper, “Berita Yudha,” reports that forces of the Leftist Revolutionary Front for Independent East Timor (Fretilin) have again used aircraft to drop light bombs on positions held by its main rival, the Democratic Union of Timor (U.D.T.).

The control tower at Dili Airport, which had been held by U.D.T. forces, is reported to have been destroyed, and the fighting is now spreading from Dili to the interior of East Timor. About 200 refugees, including the staff of the Taiwanese Consulate, are said by the official Indonesian news agency, Antara, to have flocked to the Indonesian Consulate in Pili, where they are now hSRpg.

A new element to the fighting is the action of the third group, the pro-In-donesian party, Apodeti, which has joined the Fretilin in its fight against the U.D.T. forces and is said to have suffered heavy casualities, including 60 members killed. Government officials in Jakarta say that food supplies are on their way to Indonesian Timor, but they have again denied Australian radio and newspaper reports

that an Indonesian task

force of warships and freighters is ready to evacuate refugees from the Por-

tuguese part of the island. The Indonesian Government is, however, said to have received a request from the Portuguese authorities in Timor to open its border to refugees wishing , to enter the Indonesian part. The influential Jakarta daily newspaper, "Kompas,” says bluntly: “We are of the opinion that Indonesia should intervene to stop the bloodshed there. We have that much moral responsibility, and the United

Nations has been asked t Portugal to urge Indones to do so.

“The most important thing for the moment is to end the bloodshed.”

An official statement, released by the Macao Cabinet Office says that the transfer of the seat of Government to Atavro, was ordered by President da Costa Gomes, and that the freighter Macdili, which had arrived earlier to evacuate refugees from the bloody civil war, took part in the move, which was accomplished smoothly.' The communique added that a special Portuguese Government delegation was expected in the northern Australian port of Darwin shortly on its way to Portuguese Timor with full powers to hold talks with the territory’s political parties. .Reports from Canberra say that the Australian Prime Minister, (Mr Whitlam) has guarantied transport for the mission to the island.

The mission will be led by a former Portuguese Cabinet Minister, Mr Antonio de Almeida Santos, who was instrumental in securing peace in the independence struggle of the former Portuguese coplony of Mozambique earlier this year.