Militiamen warned to surrender arms

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has strongly warned militia members in West Timor to relinquish their arms or face strong action.

Susilo, however, would not say what sort of action the government was willing to take.

"If there are any who refuse to abide by the government's request to give up their arms, the police force will carry out their legal duties," Susilo told journalists on the sidelines of a seminar here on Wednesday.

The government, following strong international pressure, has pledged to disarm militias still hiding across the East Timor border in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province.

It gave until Wednesday for militias to hand in their arms, but there has been indication that some will continue to refuse.

"I haven't checked. We'll wait and see till the end of the day how the persuasive approach turns out," Susilo replied when asked by journalists whether any militiamen had refused to hand in their weapons.

"Of course, after that the police and Indonesian Military (TNI) will take the next needed measure," he added as quoted by Antara.

"The government's orders are clear: the weapons must be collected in an appropriate manner ... The TNI will back up the police to prevent the occurrence of undesirable excesses," he added.

Pressure from the UN Security Council and the international community has mounted on Jakarta to disarm the militia since three unarmed UN aid workers were hacked to death in the West Timor border town of Atambua on Sept. 6.

Meanwhile from Atambua, Reuters quoted militia leader Joao da Silva Tavares as saying earlier in the day that his men had already given up most of their weapons and would hand over the rest later on Wednesday.

"We do not have any more weapons," Tavares said. "If people do not believe this, just search the camps, frisk us. They can start with me."

Authorities say militiamen have handed in more than 1,000 guns, but they are mostly crude, handmade weapons. Very few sophisticated, military-issue weapons have been given up.

Atambua District Military Commander Lt. Col. Joko Subandrio was quoted by Reuters as saying that the government was ready to use force if necessary.

Asked if militiamen would be arrested if they did not disarm, Joko said: "We will do all of that ... in line with the procedures outlined by the government.

"Though we are hoping this will not happen, we will be a bit repressive if required. We may have to do that."

But there was no sign of a buildup by police or troops in Atambua on Wednesday. Although some residents were stockpiling food at the local police station, others did not expect any trouble on Thursday.

Joko and local police chief Supt. Simatupang said that on Thursday their men would begin searching the refugee camps in which the militias hide. (byg)