| Subject: AFP: Indon army
captain released by rebels in East Timor Indonesian
army captain released by rebels in East Timor
DILI, East Timor, Oct 27 (AFP) - An Indonesian army captain
held captive for almost two months by pro-independence guerrillas has been released,
clearing the way for the last Indonesian troops to leave East Timor, the UN said
Wednesday.
"Captain Hartawan of the TNI was released by Falintil
and handed over to UNAMET for return to the Indonesian authorities on 26 October, 1999,
" the UN Transitional Authority for East Timor (UNTAET) said in a statement.
He had been in Falintil hands since September 7.
"The TNI captain was tired but in good physical
shape," it said.
The UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) chief military
liaison officer, Brigadier General Rezaqul Haider, went to the Falintil cantonment at
Remexio and met with Falintil guerrilla chief Xanana Gusmao to effect the handover, the
statement said.
"He was then brought to UNAMET headquarters in Dili
and dressed in a TNI uniform. Captain Harawan was officially handed over to authorities of
the Indonesian task force."
The release of Hartawan paves the way for the withdrawal of
around 1,000 Indonesia troops still based in Dili. Officers had reportedly told UNAMET
they would not leave until Hartawan was safely in their hands.
Guards at the TNI headquarters here could not confirm
whether Hartawan was still in Dili Wednesday but in Jakarta the state Anatra news agency
said the captain would return to Indonesia with the remaining troops.
Colonel Mark Kelly of the international force Interfet
could not give a firm date for the departure of the Indonesian troops.
"We are wating for final confirmation, and there are
indications it will be soon," he said.
Kelly said preparations for the final departure were
continuing and that a large amphibious Indonesian ship had removed heavy equipment in the
past few days.
Discussions were underway over the possibility of some
simple ceremony to mark the departure of the last Indonesian troops, he added.
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