Paulina Quintao – The bodies of many victims shot dead by the Indonesian military during the Santa Cruz massacre 23 years ago remain missing.

12 November Commission president Gregorio Saldanha said finding the bodies was a difficult task. "We have identified some but many have not been found yet," he said.

"We will not stay quiet. We will continue searching until we find where they are buried and have them exhumed for DNA testing so their families can give them funerals."

He said the commission had been able to return the remains of 14 massacre victims to their families. The remains of 10 others, killed prior to the massacre, have also been returned.

Massacre survivor Eugebio Araujo said survivors would co-operate with the state in the search for victims' bodies.

Survivor Terezinha Jose de Araujo, who also lost relatives in the massacre, said she had faith that the missing victims would be found. "Many victims have not been found and there is no information, victims' families are still waiting," she said.

"We and the government will continue to look for them so we can give them back to their families for a proper funeral because they sacrificed themselves for this nation." She urged those who knew where bodies were buried to come forward.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/13064-santa-cruz-massacre-victims-remain-missing