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New policing fears as militias amass arms

Source
South China Morning Post - August 6, 1999

Vaudine England, Dili – Pressure to increase the number of UN civilian police officers is increasing in the wake of persistent reports of pro-integration militias preparing for conflict.

"We've had reports about the stockpiling of arms," said Randall Garrison, of the International Federation of East Timor, an independent monitoring group accredited as observers of the UN ballot on autonomy for East Timor.

"We've spoken to people who have seen the arms in Maubisse, Maliana and elsewhere," he said, referring to towns in the western part of East Timor where militarisation is highest, near the border with West Timor. The numbers we heard were of 400 to 800 in [the town of] Same alone," he said.

"In the Ainaro region, local sources reported to federation observers that the [Indonesian armed forces] and the police were telling people there will be much bloodshed if the pro-independence option wins in the upcoming ballot, and they have tanks and warplanes waiting," said a statement by the federation.

"The local police chief has even stated that the police have 100 automatic weapons in storage, in preparation for future needs," it said.

David Wimhurst, spokesman for the UN Mission for East Timor (UNAMET), confirmed that talks were continuing in New York on the possibility of increasing the size of the civilian police detachment.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also called for a larger civilian police presence during his trip to the troubled territory a week ago. Diplomatic sources suggest that such an increase is possible – at least after the ballot scheduled for August 30 – in lieu of an armed peacekeeping force.

All sides involved in the consultation process in East Timor fear what will happen after the ballot, in which East Timorese will vote on Indonesia's proposal for comprehensive autonomy.

A variety of sources confirm serious fears of score-settling, or even large scale reprisals, after the vote. "Our concern is that we can still accommodate each other after the ballot," said Basilio Araujo, leader of the Forum for Unity, Democracy and Justice, the political wing of the pro-integration militias.

"Power-sharing arrangements are now out of the question, because we are having a democratic vote – the winner should take all."

Asked about the possibility of reprisals, he said: "We have prepared for the very worst. We have experience of 1975, of civil war – we are even prepared for that. We have started collecting spears, machetes and sticks. We can use the stones - but only for defence. We hope we are not provoked."

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