Indonesian Military vows to get tough with militia groups

Indonesian Military vows to get tough with militia groups

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI)
leaders have ordered their troops to disarm East Timorese
proautonomy militia groups who crossed the border here along with
thousands of refugees fleeing violence in the territory.

The chief of Udayana Military Command overseeing Nusa Tenggara
and Bali, Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, told representatives of the
National Committee on Indonesian Youth that all TNI personnel
under his command were ordered to restore law and order.

"We won't let them do what they did rampantly in East Timor,"
Adam said, referring to pro-Jakarta militia members who were
found carrying guns before and after people in the territory
chose independence in a United Nations-supervised ballot on Aug.
30.

Adam was responding to youths who demanded the military seize
weapons of militiamen. Armed militia members remained visible
around refugee camps on Monday, causing fear among refugees and
local residents.

"I have ordered my troops to take measures against those who
break the law," Adam told the youths.

He denied allegations that the military backed the pro-Jakarta
militia groups and allowed them to cause a forced exodus.

Governor Piet A. Tallo, who was also present at the meeting,
praised the youths for their humanitarian assistance to the
refugees despite their own limited resources.

Amid the influx of aid, the head of the provincial health
office, Agus Borek, said three babies from the East Timor area of
Ambeno died in a refugee center in North Central Timor regency.

He denied they died from lack of food.

"They suffered from various diseases and did not receive
proper medical treatment before they entered the province," Agus
said.

In Jakarta, Minister of Communications Giri Suseno said Komoro
Airport in Dili was ready for airplanes carrying humanitarian aid
for East Timor's displaced people, who are in refugee camps or
hiding in the hills.

Speaking after a ministerial meeting, Giri said humanitarian
aid from foreign countries and international organizations would
start arriving on Wednesday and be immediately flown to East
Timor's capital of Dili and the East Nusa Tenggara towns of
Kupang and Atambua.

He also said the government would eventually build permanent
residences for the refugees.

The Ministry of Health and TNI have sent medicine to heal
ailing refugees in East Nusa Tenggara and dispatched a medical
team to conduct an immunization program.

The number of refugees flowing into the province was nearing
130,000 on Monday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said on
Monday her staff in Jakarta would start flying the aid to East
Timor and East Nusa Tenggara on Tuesday.

Robinson did not give details of the aid.

"First of all we must save lives. We must secure enough food,
enough water for people who are frightened and starving,"
Robinson said after a meeting with the National Human Rights
Commission in the capital.

Calm

Dili remained quiet on Monday, with head of the Security
Restoration Operation Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri noting the "much
reduced number of gunshots heard".

He spent the day in Baucau, where he met with Bishop Basilio
dos Nascimento. "He told me he did not seek refuge. We shared a
lot of laughs," Kiki told The Jakarta Post.

Kiki also said shops were beginning to reopen in East Timor's
second largest town.

Nascimento fled his residence following attack from a
prointegration militia group. He injured his arm as he tried to
prevent militiamen from assaulting refugees.

Kiki also confirmed the death of a German Jesuit priest Father
Carolus Albrecth Karim Arbie, who was killed late on Saturday.
Another priest told Kiki that he saw a man walking near the
Loyola Jesuit order's residence.

Kiki dismissed the possibility that his troops were involved
in the attack on Arbie. "I checked all guns used by soldiers near
the site shortly after the incident and none of them smelled of
ammunition."

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said the situation in East
Timor was gradually improving.

"The military authorities have restored order on commercial
routes linking Dili, Manatuto and Viqueque. Telephone,
electricity are functioning," Sudrajat said.

"Everything is under control now."

With the improved security situation, the UN Mission on East
Timor plans to evacuate more staff from Dili on Tuesday. Antara
reported that 10 staff members will remain. (06/yac/rms/lem/emf)