-Caveat Lector-
E.Timor Peacekeepers Kill Militiaman
By SLOBODAN LEKIC
.c The Associated Press
DILI, East Timor (AP) - International peacekeepers in East Timor clashed for
a second time in a week with pro-Indonesian militia forces, killing one
militiaman, a spokesman said Sunday.
Col. Mark Kelly, chief of staff of the Australian-led multinational force,
said the fight occurred Saturday afternoon near Alto Lebas village, some 65
miles southwest of Dili, near the border with the Indonesian territory of
West Timor.
It was the second firefight in four days between peacekeepers and militiamen
who have mostly withdrawn to West Timor and have been infiltrating back into
the southwestern regions of East Timor.
A five-man patrol of New Zealanders, observing the border area north of the
town of Suai, a former militia stronghold, was attacked by some 12-15
militiamen who had approached on foot from the direction of the border, Kelly
said.
The attackers spread out and adopted ``an aggressive posture'' as they
approached the observation post and the peacekeepers opened fire, he said.
One of the militiamen was shot to death in a brief exchange of gunfire and
the rest fled back in the direction of the border, just over a mile away.
``The actual contact at the observation post was short and sharp,'' Kelly
said. ``After the contact, the militia were withdrawing toward the border.''
No other casualties were observed among the militiamen. There were no
injuries among the peacekeepers who were soon joined by a quick reaction
force flown in by helicopter.
The body of the dead attacker was retrieved by the peacekeepers, Kelly said.
On Wednesday, a militia gang ambushed a squad of Australian, New Zealand and
British troops as they drove down a highway near Suai. The foreign soldiers
repelled that attack and shot two militiamen to death.
Two Australian soldiers were slightly injured in Wednesday's clash, the first
since the peacekeepers were deployed to East Timor on Sept. 20.
The commanders of the peacekeeping force announced Sunday they would triple
the strength of their contingent in East Timor's west to prevent further
militia incursions and provide safety for returning refugees and humanitarian
workers.
``We are going to ensure that innocent people in that region are not
intimidated and that they can live in peace and security,'' said Brig. Gen.
Mark Evans, commander of the newly established western border force.
The total peacekeeping force in East Timor consists of 6,500 troops from 15
nations.
Until now only 1,000 soldiers have been placed in the mountainous area along
the border with Indonesia. The region has been a hotbed of militia activity
in the past.
Evans said his force would be boosted to some 3,000 troops. It would also
include armored personnel carriers and transport helicopters.
Militia leaders in West Timor have repeatedly threatened to cross the border
to fight the peacekeepers.
``We are aware that there have been militia operations in the area,'' Evans
said. ``I will anticipate that some militia will cross the border.''
``We will be ready for anything,'' he said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations said it reached agreement with the Indonesian
government to gain ``safe access'' to refugee camps in West Timor.
``This is a very significant breakthrough,'' said U.N. spokesman Michel
Barton. ``We're looking forward to the return movement to pick up in the days
and weeks ahead.''
Anti-independence militia, who have been threatening refugees, ``will not be
present,'' he said.
U.N. officials will be allowed to register refugees in all camps in West
Timor. The Indonesian government says 260,000 displaced East Timorese have
fled to the western half of the island. Barton said earlier there could be
significantly more than that.
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