Rene Flipo, Maliana – The few people who greeted the first international peacekeepers to arrive in the devastated and deserted town of Maliana yesterday recounted tales of terror, massacres and forced deportations.

Some of the 15,000 population were killed on the spot, many others were forced to go to West Timor, where some were reportedly killed and the remainder fled to the hills, they said.

Every night, they said, soldiers and pro-Jakarta militias gathered people in the police station, blindfolded them, then killed them. There were at least 200 killings of the sort, the residents said.

They started on September 8, after about 500 Indonesian police, soldiers and militia members had carried out an investigation into which of the town's residents had voted for independence in the August 30 ballot.

Paulo Maya, 38, said he saw 20 people being killed in the city stadium, some as young as seven.

Many were deported to West Timor and slaughtered there, said people who emerged from the hills to greet the Australian peacekeepers on their arrival from Balibo.

Queried about the lack of bodies in the stadium and the police station, they said the bodies were taken by truck over the border.

Oliviu Reis Mendoza said he lost two brothers. Paulo Maya said he lost his father and mother in the killings. Humberto Alves, 34, said his mother, father, wife and three children were deported.

Many who turned out to greet the Australian troops waved banners and flags and gave clenched-fist salutes as they shouted: "Freedom or death – viva East Timor."

"We're very, very happy today," said Anakleto Moris, 25. "Now that Interfet has come to Maliana, I believe we'll get [independence]."

But Luciu Americu, 23, said: "I don't know why it's taken them so long to get here. There haven't been any militia here since September 22."

The ease with which journalists reached the town earlier this week has led to criticism that the Australian-led peace force has been too slow in securing outlying areas. Resistance leader Xanana Gusmao said yesterday the territory could set up a South African-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission to deal with the crimes of the militias.