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Indonesian Military Operations to Disarm E. Timorese Militias Extended
Indonesian security forces are stepping up the weapons sweeping operations in West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara province) following the decision by the National Police to extend the operation for another 15 days.
"The police have decided to extend sweeping operations for the next 15 days to thoroughly clear the area of any illegal weapons,"National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro was quoted by the Jakarta Post Monday as saying.
Bimantoro said the action was needed to ensure that security in the area returns quickly to normal.
"This is part of the effort to show the country's seriousness in handling the problem," he said, adding that after the deadline the police would take other actions to restore peace and law and order in the area, including routine intelligence operations.
Indonesian security forces started operations to disarm East Timorese militias in West Timor on Thursday. Belu police chief Superintendent S.M. Simatupang earlier said that the search for weapons would continue until Saturday.
In Kupang, capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, three companies of joint police and military personnel searched the house of influential ex-militia leader Eurico Guterres on Saturday following reports that the former Aitarak militia commander still concealed weapons.
At the time of the search, Eurico reportedly was in Jakarta to answer the Attorney General's summons for questioning about atrocities committed following East Timor's autonomy ballot in August last year.
"On Saturday Eurico surrendered an FN-45 pistol along with 74 bullets and three magazines at East Nusa Tenggara Police headquarters, but we suspect that he has more weapons at his home, " Chief of East Nusa Tenggara Police Operation and Control Senior Superintendent Jefry Kusnafi said.
Eurico admitted that he still had an M-16 semi-automatic rifle in his house at Atambua, a border town in West Timor.
"I've already asked my men to hand it over to Belu Police Precinct," he added.
Indonesia has promised the United Nations Security Council to disarm the militias, which have been blamed for the killing of three U.N. relief workers and of terrorizing more than 130,000 East Timorese in refugee camps in West Timor.
The East Timorese militia and many refugees entered Indonesia last year in the wake of a U.N.-sponsored direct ballot during which most of East Timorese voted in favor of independence from Indonesia.
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