ABC AUSTRALIA, Monday, February 19, 2007. 11:22pm (AEDT)
Indonesian Army 'armed E Timor militia'
By Geoff Thompson
A former East Timorese militia commander has publicly admitted the Indonesian
military provided his men with weapons in the lead-up to 1999's independence
referendum.
Before the first session of the Indonesia and East Timor Truth and Friendship
Commission, Mateus Carvalho said his Aitarak militia was monitored by the
Indonesian military from a distance.
Mr Carvalho said he once had 1,500 militia men under his direct command in the
militia, which was run by Eurico Guterres in 1999.
He said he asked the military for weapons, including M16s, because his men needed
to protect their security and the security of their families.
Earlier, former Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas said security for the 1999
referendum was controlled by the police and not the military.
Mr Carvalho said that as a former soldier, it was easier for him to get weapons from
the military and not the police.
© 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
