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Disarmament – 2000

Falintil was not disarmed. According to a senior UN military observer, the bigger role for Falintil “could be a matter for negotiation. The leadership is extremely well-respected. But whether we can allow them to carry arms is another question. The INTERFET mandate specified disarmament of all irregular forces. So Falintil can only carry arms outside their cantonment zone if they are given some de facto regular status.”¹

1. “Old guard guerrillas give way to new generation in East Timor,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur, February 4, 2000.