TNI troops ordered to shoot refugee criminals
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang
Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Wellem T. da Costa has ordered soldiers to shoot East Timor refugees found committing violence against Indonesians living near refugee camps in West Timor.
"... I order all TNI members to shoot any criminal on the spot. I am ready to be sued over this decision," Wellem said.
The shoot-on-sight order was issued on Thursday after refugees, many struggling to survive since government aid was stopped on January 1, started terrorizing residents in a search for food.
The refugees, many armed with firearms, are also said to have often extorted and blackmailed locals, in some cases stealing animals and other belongings.
"I have instructed military personnel near Kupang and the West Timor border areas to shoot on sight refugees found involved in criminal acts," Wellem, who oversees security in the East Nusa Tenggara and Bali provinces, told The Jakarta Post.
The Indonesian Military (TNI) would also tighten security at refugee camps and surrounding villages to prevent the violence, he said.
"In an effort to smooth security patrols in West Timor, the TNI headquarters has provided 10 motorcycle units. Patrols will be conducted around the clock by troops equipped with firearms and live bullets," Wellem said.
He said he could understand the difficulties the estimated 128,000 refugees faced as they struggled to survive after aid was stopped.
However, despite the scarcity of food it was not tolerable they be allowed to freely terrorize, intimidate and rob local villagers, he said.
Wellem said the cash-strapped government was sticking to its earlier stance in dealing with the refugees. They had been offered the choice of staying in Indonesia under a resettlement program or returning home.
"At least 11,000 hectares of land in East Kalimantan has been allocated for the East Timorese refugees. Please go there. If they want to stay here, it is impossible because the space is so limited," Wellem said.
The refugees have said they would not leave their camps until after East Timor gains official independence in May 2002.
It remains unclear as to who will feed the refugees till May.
Elita Patipelohi, a priest at the Masehi church based at Tuapukan village in Kupang, said many residents had complained of high levels of crime in Tuapukan in recent weeks.
But they did not dare to fight with them because the robbers were usually armed with firearms, handguns, machetes or other sharp weapons, she said.
Since 1999, some of the 128,000 refugees have been housed at camps in the villages of Tuapukan, Noelbaki and Naibonat in Kupang. Many others are accommodated in North Central Timor, South Central Timor and Atambua bordering East Timor.
About 250,000 East Timorese fled carnage carried out by Indonesian Army-backed militias after East Timor voted to break away from Indonesia in August 1999.
Many of the refugees that remain in West Timor are linked to the former Indonesian regime and include ex militia soldiers. They are reluctant to return home despite assurances from East Timor leaders that they will be safe.