Asia: Indon claim no militia in camps but refugees can t leave

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-1999
Asia: Indon claim no militia in camps but refugees can t leave

Indonesia's new military commander in the West Timor border area, Lieutenant Colonel
DJOKO SUBIANDRO, says that the notorious militia gangs have abandoned the refugee camps.

He insists there is no militia in the refugee camps near the border with East Timor
that he estimates still hold 169,000 East Timorese.

He says the militia have disbanded.

But only yesterday morning, when a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees convoy
entered the refugee camp at Labur, 40 kilometres southwest of Atambua, militiamen, armed
with sticks and homemade guns, surrounded the trucks.

The UNHCR convoy had come to repatriate about 45 Timorese who wanted to leave, but
because of the militia it could pick up only 17,

Also, aid workers who visited the camp for the first time just three days ago, have
report seeing a militia training session in progress.

AAP RTV jrm/it/wz

KEYWORD: TIMOR MILITIA (ATAMBUA)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.