According to Kompas (12 January 1998), the military authorities claim to have shot dead two members of the armed resistance during an encounter with an armed group of 25 people. The incident occurred on 9 January in Buatete Kampung, Hatolia sub-distrcit. in the district of Ermera. The district chief said that the other members of the group fled.

The military claim to have captured a Kenwood handy-talky, ammunition and two horses. They said the armed resistance have now taken to travelling around the region on horseback. They claim that the horses were 'stolen' from local inhabitants who use horses a lot to get around.

The two men shot dead are named as: Marininho alias Manas and Crispin Masa.

In another part of the territory, the army claims to have arrested two members of the armed resistance, Domingos Babua Lete alias Ameon, and Salestino while out on patrol in the village of Kaboge, sub-district Bobonaro. The two men had medical equipment in their possession, including equipment to measure blood-pressure, a packet containing blood and a roll of film.