The East Timorese resistance may boycott a vote on whether the Jakarta-occupied territory stays within Indonesia, if leader Xanana Gusmão is not released immediately. José Ramos-Horta was quoted in Portuguese newspapers as saying, “The resistance will not participate in this farce if Xanana is not freed immediately.” The Nobel Peace Prize winner, interviewed on Sunday on Portugal’s television, criticized Portugal for signing an accord with Indonesia on the holding of the ballot without first securing the release of Gusmão. Under the terms of the United Nations-brokered deal reached between Portugal and Indonesia, the East Timorese will vote on August 8 on an offer of sweeping autonomy within the Indonesian federation. If the Timorese reject this, Indonesia says it will grant them independence.