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)