The Jakarta Post, 1/9/2006 3:46:47 PM
Ex-militiamen rally against killing of comrades by East Timor
police
ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara (AFP): Around 1,500 protesters burned pictures of
East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao on Monday following the killing of three
former pro-Jakarta militiamen by East Timor police near the border with Indonesia.
Most protesters were fellow former militiamen or refugees who picketed a
parliamentary office at Atambua in Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara or
West Timor, demanding justice over the killings on Friday.
Wearing headbands in Indonesia's red-and-white national colors, they hoisted
placards condemning the shooting.
The three former members of the Red and White Iron militia took Indonesian
citizenship after East Timor voted for independence from Jakarta in 1999.
Local Indonesian military officials said they intended to fish in a river near the border
but had crossed 50 meters into East Timorese territory when they were killed by
border police.
Two other people with them managed to escape. East Timorese police had taken the
bodies of the three men to the town of Maliana.
"We are going to seal off the border line should our demands for compensation for
relatives of the three not be met by the East Timorese government," said protest
leader Dominggus Pareira.
The crowd disbanded peacefully and left for the nearby border town of Mota'on trucks
and motorcycles to pick up the bodies of the three men, which were due to be
returned from East Timor later Monday.
In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda described the incident as
"an excessive use of violence" and urged East Timor to prosecute the policemen who
carried out the shooting.
He said Jakarta and Dili may form a joint investigation into the incident.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also called for an investigation and hoped the
incident would not mar reconciliation efforts through a Commission of Truth and
Friendship, Hassan told reporters. (***)
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