DATE=2/18/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42637
TITLE=INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR / MILITIAS
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MILITIA GROUPS WHICH HAVE TAKEN OVER INFORMAL CONTROL OF
ROADS AND TOWNS ACROSS EAST TIMOR ARE NOW POSING A THREAT TO
PEACE IN THE TERRITORY. FROM JAKARTA JENNY GRANT REPORTS ON WHY
THE PARAMILITARIES ARE FIGHTING.
TEXT: EAST TIMOR FARMER MARCUS ALPHONSO HAS TAKEN UP ARMS TO
SUPPORT INTEGRATION WITH INDONESIA.
HIS GROUP, THE 2,000 STRONG RED AND WHITE IRON MILITIA, HAVE
TAKEN CONTROL OF THE ROADS AROUND MAUBARA, SOME 60 KILOMETERS
WEST OF DILI.
ARMED WITH SHARPENED BAMBOO SPEARS, SWORDS AND EVEN GUNS, THE
GROUP CHECKS ALL VEHICLES PASSING THROUGH THE AREA.
MR ALPHONSO SAYS HE IS PREPARED TO DIE FOR INDONESIA'S RED AND
WHITE NATIONAL FLAG.
// BEGIN ALPHONSO ACT, ESTABLISH AND THEN FADE UNDER //
WEARING A CAMOUFAGE MILITARY CAP AND CARRYING A TRADITIONAL
SWORD, MR ALPHONSO SAYS EAST TIMOR ALREADY MADE ITS CHOICE TO BE
INTEGRATED WITH INDONESIA IN 1975 AND IT CANNOT CHANGE ITS MIND.
THE 2,000 STRONG RED AND WHITE IRON IS ONLY ONE GROUP OF NEW
MILITIAS WHICH HAVE SPRUNG UP AROUND EAST TIMOR. THE MILITIAS ARE
CREATING A FIERCE DIVIDE BETWEEN CIVILIANS WHO SUPPORT AND REJECT
INDEPENDENCE.
INDONESIA INVADED EAST TIMOR IN 1975 AND ANNEXED THE TERRITORY A
YEAR LATER. AN ARMED GUERILLA MOVEMENT HAS FOUGHT AGAINST
INDONESIAN OCCUPATION EVER SINCE.
THE CURRENT WAVE OF VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR IS CAUSED BY JAKARTA'S
DECISION TO EITHER GIVE EAST TIMOR SPECIAL AUTONOMY OR
INDEPENDENCE BEFORE JANUARY NEXT YEAR.
THOSE GROUPS WHO SUPPORTED INDONESIAN RULE IN THE TERRITORY ARE
NOW UNHAPPY AT THE PROSPECT OF INDEPENDENCE.
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE OPPOSING CAMPS.
LOCAL RESIDENTS AND RESISTANCE LEADERS SAY THE MILITIAS ARE PAID
AND ARMED BY THE INDONESIAN MILITARY TO CREATE INSTABILITY.
BUT THE JAKARTA GOVERNMENT - CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN TALKS OVER EAST
TIMOR - SAYS THE MILITIAS ARE PART OF A LEGITIMATE NATIONAL
SECURITY PROGRAM.
IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL TOWN OF AINARO A MILITIA KNOWN AS THE "DEAD
OR ALIVE FOR INTEGRATION" (MATI ATAU HIDUP DEMI INTEGRASI) HAS
CREATED HAVOC AND CAUSED THOUSANDS OF VILLAGERS TO FLEE TO THE
NEIGHBORING TOWNS TO ESCAPE THEIR THREATS.
CORNELIO SOMMARUGA - THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
OF THE RED CROSS - SAYS THE RISE OF THE NEW MILITIAS IS CREATING
HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS.
// BEGIN SOMMARUGA ACT //
THEY HAVE AFFECTED THE WORK OF HUMANITARIAN INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE
OF SOME CASUALTIES..BUT PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE CIVILIAN
POPULATION IS SOMEWHAT AFRAID ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF SUCH GROUPS
AND HAS THE TENDENCY TO MOVE BY THEMSELEVES. AND EACH TIME THERE
IS A DISPLACEMENT OF POPULATION THIS CREATES HUMANITARIAN
PROBLEMS.
//ACT ENDS //
MR SOMMARUGA SAYS INFORMAL SELF DEFENCE UNITS HAVE TURNED INTO
SMALL ARMIES IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. HE WARNS THIS COULD ALSO
HAPPEN IN EAST TIMOR IF THE MILITIAS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ARMS AND
FINANCES.
JOSE - A TEACHER FROM MAUBARA - FLED TO THE CAPITAL DILI AFTER
THE LOCAL PARAMILITARY GROUP AND SOLDIERS CHASED AND KILLED PRO
INDEPENDENCE RESIDENTS.
// BEGIN JOSE ACT, ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER //
JOSE AND HIS WIFE ARE STILL HIDING OUT AT THE HOME OF MANUEL
CARRASCALAO IN DILI WITH TWO HUNDRED OTHER REFUGEES.
MR CARRASCALAO - WHO WANTS IMMEDIATE INDEPENDENCE - SAYS THE
PARAMILITARY GROUPS ARE TERRORIZING THE LOCAL POPULATIONS AND
FUELLING MISTRUST AMONGST THE POPULATION.
// BEGIN CARRASCALAO ACT, THEN FADE UNDER //
DILI'S BISHOP BELO AND RESISTANCE LEADER XANANA GUSMAO HAVE BOTH
CALLED FOR THE MILITIAS TO BE DISARMED SO THE PEACE PROCESS CAN
RUN SMOOTHLY.
BUT MR CARRASCALAO SAYS IT IS NOT IN THE MILITARY'S INTEREST TO
DISARM THE MILITIAS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP STIR A CIVIL
CONFLICT BETWEEN EAST TIMORESE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/PLM
18-Feb-99 4:43 AM EST (0943 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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