The Jakarta Globe

August 15, 2009

Indonesian Arrested In East Timor Over Attack

by Eras Poke

Kupang, East Timor. Authorities in East Timor arrested an Indonesian on Sunday over his alleged role in a deadly attack at a church there during the upheaval experienced after the country’s vote for independence, an Indonesian official said while appealing to the central government for help in the case.

Richard Djami, an assistant to the governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), said on Friday that the provincial administration was planning to send a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta to ask the Indonesian Embassy in Dili, the capital of East Timor, to extend all necessary assistance to Martenus Bere, who was arrested during a family trip to the town of Suai near the Indonesian border on Sunday.

We basically back efforts by the Belu district administration to bring back Martenus Bere, who is still held by East Timorese police in Suai,” Richard said. “We hope that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will ask our embassy in Dili to help Martenus because the issue is a bilateral problem.”

Tens of thousands of pro-Indonesia militia members went on a bloody rampage in 1999 after the East Timorese overwhelmingly voted for independence from Indonesia in a UN-sponsored referendum, ending Indonesia’s occupation of the former Portuguese colony after more than two decades. The bloodshed forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes and take refuge in churches and military barracks.

On Sept. 6, 1999, dozens of Laksaur militiamen, armed with machetes, swords, knives and homemade firearms, attacked refugees at a church in Suai, Covalima district, killing at least 40 people, including three priests and more than a dozen women.

The violence also prompted hundreds of thousands of East Timorese to flee to Atambua in NTT, where they have lived in squalid refugee centers. While most refugees have returned to East Timor, more than 10,000 others are still living in Indonesia.

According to Richard, Martenus, a former member of the Laksaur militia group, was in Suai to attend a traditional ceremony in memory of his late father at the family’s home in Leogore, Suai.

The arrest was first made public by the former commander of the pro-Indonesia militias, Eurico Guterres, after receiving reports from Martenus’s family members.

Richard said Martenus was currently being detained in Suai and would be taken to Dili in the next few days. Foreign Affairs Ministry officials could not be reached for comment on Friday.

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The Jakarta Post [web site]

August 12, 2009

Govt told to issue protest notes against former militant's arrest

by Yemris Fointuna

Kupang

The Belu Regency has demanded the Indonesian government register an official protest with the government of Timor Leste after former anti-independence militant Maternus Bele was arrested by the Timor Leste police.

The former Laksaur commander, who is now secretary of Kobalima Timur district, was detained after he visited his sick relative and prayed at the Saui Church.

Local authorities suspect Maternus of involvement in a murder at the Suai Church after riots in 1999.

Belu Regent Joachim Lopez said the Indonesian Embassy in Dili must take firm action to free the former militant from imprisonment.

"Regardless of his past background as a militant, Maternus is now an Indonesian citizen and holds a position in the regency," Joachim said.

He added that the arrest would exacerbate the reconciliation process between East Timor residents living in refugee camps and pro liberty supporters staying in Timor Leste.

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