UN team begins probe into Atambua killing

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A special team led by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Inspector General Nicholas Morris arrived here on Tuesday to begin an investigation into the killing of three humanitarian staff members working for the international body in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara last month.

"Our team is probing the case by gathering information on the background situation at the time of the incident and the causes that led to the killing," Morris told the media after a one and a half hour meeting with Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri and East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika at Udayana Military Headquaters here.

Pastika further explained that the team would also gather facts from witnesses of the incident.

"They (the team) is here to look for clarifications from related military and police institutions so that everything is transparent and clear. We have already given them the description of the situation before and after the incident," Pastika said.

"I've also told Insp. Gen. Morris and his staff that earlier police had given four warnings to UNHCR staff to vacate their post since we'd heard reports of possible massive mass action toward their office," he said.

A mob attacked the UNHCR office in Atambua early last month allegedly after hearing the news that ex-militia leader Olivio Moruk had been murdered the previous night by unknown assailants.

Attorney General Marzuki Darusman revealed later that elements of the Indonesian Military (TNI) have been implicated in both the killing of the UN relief workers and that of the militia leader.

In remembrance of last month's incident, Pastika revealed that two police officers had been sent to evacuate the UNHCR staff prior to the fracas.

"But the three UNHCR staff members refused to leave the compound as they said their superior had not yet told them to abandon their office. Because of that 'stubborn' motion the three eventually got killed in a riot that was allegedly conducted by former members of militias early last September," Made explained.

Refugees

On his account of the refugee issue, Maj. Gen. Kiki said security forces had refused the UN's request to move East Timorese refugees residing in the neighboring NTT province by land transportation.

"The United Nations has asked for the refugees' repatriation process to be done overland. We refused this because it's too risky. We are thinking of moving them by plane, which is much safer."

"Imagine, the distance between Kupang (NTT's capital) to Los Palos in East Timor is very far and along the route there are still many pro-independence militias roaming around. This is dangerous as these (pro-independence) militias are likely to treat the refugees as enemies," Kiki said.

"The planned East Timorese refugee repatriation will be conducted for the first time after a protracted dispute in the border of NTT and East Timor, so it must be conducted in a smooth and secure way. If the plan fails, none of those refugees would be willing to go back to East Timor," Kiki said.

He added that the security level in the town has been brought back to normal.

The top security level had probably been imposed in Kupang and Atambua because of fear that the towns were not safe enough. (edt/zen)