Subject: 745th Batallion In East Timor Deserts
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 10:01:40 +0930
From: etiscaus@downunder.net.au745th Batallion In East Timor Deserts
LOS PALOS (MateBEAN, 7 December 98). All members of the 745th batallion have deserted
since mid-November l998. This was recently discovered when MateBEAN undertook an intensive
visit to a small town located 180 kilometers from the capital of East Timor, Dili.
The desertation of the 745th batallion, largely composed of indigenous East Timorese,
is a way of rejection the assignment to attack the Falintil who continue to control the
Alas District, Manufahi Regency, on the slopes of Mount Faluc Rihal. The members of the
745th batallion also demand immediate imporvement in the area of logistics and an increase
in the pay they have received thus far. Persuasion from Major (Inf.) Kemal, Commander of
the 745th batallion, and his deputy, came to a dead- end. In fact, some of the troops shot
at and held him and his deputy hostage. Fortunately, the two batallion chiefs, known for
their violent behavior in East Timor, were evacuated by helicopter.
The troops of the 745th batallion threatened to shoot whosoever approaches their base
in Los Palos. They demand that the Armed Forces Chief, General Wiranto and his staff come
to negotiate with them. "Aside from these people, we will shoot anyone who tries to
come near our headquarters," said a soldier as imitated by the MateBEAN source.
The 745th batallion is now led by an MP man with the rank of corporal. "We call
him Pak Alex. He is from Kupang. We appointed him our leader because he deserves our
respect," said a SiaR source, who had also deserted.
Although they seem frustrated and drink alcohol in front of their headquarters,
civilians living around the headquarters say they are not disturbed by them. "They
are our young man. They too understand that we are not their enemies," said a local
resident who helped MateBEAN to penetrate the road blocks thrown up by some of the
batallion troops.***
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