Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency

April 6, 2003

E TIMORESE REFUGEES' PLAN AFFECTED BY CAPTURE OF EX FIGHTERS

He said that other former fighters also expressed their concern although most of them were not involved or listed as having committed serious crimes in East Timor in the post-referendum era in 1999.

Relatives of two former fighters held talks and would ask for their release, Ganif added.

The two former pro-integration fighters are Aje Pareira and Beni Ludji. The UN-PKF patrol arrested them in the Mato'ain-Batugade border area on Friday.

Beni got married and has a couple of children including a one-year-old baby. They live in a temporary camp in the district.

According to him, former East Timorese refugees in Belu also expressed their dissappointment with the capture.

Ganif thought the UN-PKF had problems in fulfilling their requests because the authorities in East Timor were looking for those who had committed serious crimes in the country.

"If they send a letter to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs asking for their release and followed up in the context of international coordination it might be fruitful," he added.

Indonesian military/police, the UN-PKF and other related groups in East Timor, or the Tactical Coordination Working Group meeting scheduled on April 17, 2003 in Maliana, East Timor.

East Timor was once an Indonesian province which seceded from the republic as the result of the pro-independence camp's victory in the UN-organized plebiscite in Ausgust 1999.

The territory obtained full independence from the UN in May 2002.

Back to April menu
March  
World Leaders Contact List
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu