Three killed in clashes at East Timorese refugee camp<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three people were shot dead and two others
\nsustained injuries in clashes at a camp housing East Timorese
\nrefugees in Kupang, capital of East Nusa Tenggara, Antara
\nreported on Friday.<\/p>\n
Police investigating the violence have ruled out food
\nshortages following the Indonesian government's termination of
\nits aid relief operation, or political motives as being
\nresponsible for the fatal clashes at the Tuapukan refugee camp.<\/p>\n
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Brig. Gen. Jusuf Sudradjat
\nsaid group rivalry was the more probable cause.<\/p>\n
Police have deployed additional personnel to secure the area,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Two dead victims were identified as Melkianus Lilo, 24, a
\nlocal resident of the village and Antonio Soares, 60, a refugee
\nfrom Baucau regency of East Timor. The identity of the third
\nvictim was not known. The wounded victims were both East
\nTimorese: Jose Gomez, 37, who served in the Indonesian Military,
\nand Guido Soares, 18, from Baucau regency.<\/p>\n
WZ Johannes General Hospital said the victims were shot by
\nhomemade as well as standard military rifles.<\/p>\n
Refugees in Tuapukan said the clashes pitted two gambling
\nsyndicates managed by former servicemen from Viqueque and Los
\nPalos regencies in East Timor against one another.<\/p>\n
Following the clashes, Kupang Police Chief Lt.Col. Agus
\nKusnadi led a team to raid the refugee camp, taking several
\npeople for questioning and confiscating firearms from refugees.<\/p>\n
The Tuapukan camp has seen its share of troubles in the past.
\nMany of the remaining 20,000 refugees served in the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) units in Viqueque, Baucau, Los Palos, and Aileu
\nregencies of East Timor.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono challenged
\nthe United Nations to come up with proof to back up their claim
\nthat TNI was responsible for many of the problems along the East
\nTimor border.<\/p>\n
\"We have made our demands clear to the chief of UN
\nTransitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the
\ncommander of the UN peacekeeping forces to stop accusing the TNI
\nthrough the media. They have to give us proof of their
\nallegations,\" Juwono said.<\/p>\n
\"We can arrange cooperation between the troops to prevent
\nunnecessary conflicts along the border,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Air Force Chief of Staff, Marshall Hanafie Asnan, meanwhile
\nwarned the UNTAET against violating Indonesia's airspace.<\/p>\n
\"We will be stern. We will shoot down violators. We cannot
\nkeep lodging protests because they (UNTAET) have shown unfriendly
\nresponses,\" Hanafie said.<\/p>\n
TNI has claimed that UN peacekeeping forces in East Timor have
\ncommitted 16 border violations and two violations of Indonesian
\nairspace.<\/p>\n
The Air Force has intensified surveillance over the Attambua
\nand Kupang regencies.<\/p>\n
\"We will deploy more jet fighters at Kupang and improve our
\nability to monitor violations of our air space,\" he said. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-killed-in-clashes-at-east-timorese-refugee-camp-1447893297",
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