Refugees protest arms sweep

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Some 200 East Timorese refugees abandoned their shelters at a housing complex on the campus of the Indonesian Muslim University here on Saturday to protest a police sweep for firearms.

The refugees went to the city's police headquarters, where they set up a new camp.

"We left our camp for safety and to allow the police to check for themselves allegations that we were keeping automatic rifles there," said the refugees' leader, Alfredo dos Santos.

Police conducted the operation in response to a United Nations resolution urging Indonesia to disarm all East Timorese militias and civilians living in refugee camps.

One refugee was arrested during the operation.

In response to the protest, Makassar Police deputy chief Supt. Adrizal Adnan apologized to the refugees for the police's actions during the operation. He also said the East Timorese would be temporarily allowed to stay in the police compound. (27/lup)