In a show of reconciliation before today's historic referendum on the future of East Timor, a pro-independence guerrilla commander and a prominent leader of the pro-Indonesian militias publicly embraced each other before the world's press in the capital, Dili, and pledged to keep their armed followers under control during the voting.
The event, attended by Indonesian army and police chiefs, was described by both sides as a breakthrough, but many observers in East Timor were sceptical of the long-term effects, as earlier shows of reconciliation failed to end the violence by army-backed militias against people supporting independence.
Dili citizens in some outlying districts fled to the hills last night amid reports of fresh militia activity and a possible breakdown of the agreement only hours after it was signed.
However, a "relatively decent security situation" existed for today's vote, the chief of the international force, Mr Alan Mills of Australia, told the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, who is in Dili to observe the election as an EU representative.
"This is the generation which will make history," said Bishop Carlos Belo in a message read in Dili's 22 Catholic churches yesterday. One pro-independence protester remarked yesterday: "Tomorrow we will vote between heaven and hell, we will vote to end 24 years of the road to Calvary."
The declaration of peace by opposing commanders in Dili followed a secret meeting in the town of Bacau on Saturday which brought together leaders of the armed pro-Jakarta militias and the resistance movement, FAL ANTIL, which fought the Indonesian army for many years after the invasion. Under the plan, both sides ordered their forces not to carry or use weapons outside specified cantonments and called on the police to arrest armed people outside these locations. They also agreed to allow verification teams to visit each side.
The FALANTIL commander of East Timor's Third Region, Mr Falor Rete Laek, chatted amiably with his arch-enemy, Mr Eurico Gutterres, deputy commander of the militia umbrella organisation PPI (Troops for the Integration Struggle) and leader of the Atarak (Thorn) militia, when they were presented to reporters by the UNAMET head of mission, Mr Ian Martin.
Flanked by two deputies each, they put on a show of friendship, though the FALANTIL commander is believed to despise Mr Gutterres, who has directed death squads during some of the worst violence in Dili. At one point, all six put their arms round each other's shoulders for the camera.
AFP Adds: Huge crowds of East Timorese defied militia intimidation by descending on polling stations at today to vote. The polls opened on time at 6.30 a.m. (local time) in most of the 850 polling stations territory-wide, witnesses said.
UN commission to guarantee the true will of the people: page 13