Laksaur

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Members of Laksaur 1999

The Laksaur was one of the pro- Indonesian militias that terrorized the population in occupied East Timor in 1999 in the vicinity of the independence referendum .

history

Laksaur is held responsible for crimes between January 27 and December 15, 1999 in Cova Lima . The militia had around 500 men and 100 firearms. Their base was in Salele in the Tilomar sub- district . The militia was divided into five sub-groups, each led by a subcommander ( Danki ). These groups were spread across the Tilomar, Suai , Fatululic , Fohorem, and Fatumean sub- districts. Each group was again divided into individual units, each led by a commander ( Danton ).

The chief in command of the militia was Olivio Mendonça Moruk (also known as Alisio Mau ). The public works officer was formerly the Chefe de Suco of Foholulik (Tilomar Sub-District) but was fired for corruption and sexual abuse. Moruk's brother Egidio Manek (also Igidio or Izidio ) was deputy commander. He was also Danki from Tilomar. Other Danki were Maternus Bere (in Suai), Cosmas Amaral (Fohorem), Pedro Teles (Fatululic) and Henrikus Mali (Fatumean).

Among other things, Laksaur was involved in the Suai church massacre on September 6, 1999. Two days after the outcome of the independence referendum was announced , in which the clear majority of East Timorese voted for separation from the occupying power of Indonesia, the militia attacked the Nossa Senhora do Rosario church, according to a report by the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor in Suai , where several hundred refugees had gathered. The militia is said to have been supported by regular Indonesian soldiers . Only 26 victims buried on the other side of the border in Indonesian West Timor could be identified. According to eyewitnesses, the number of victims is significantly higher. It is assumed that up to 200 dead.

On April 23, 1999, violence broke out in Tilomar sub-district. Three supporters of independence were murdered and another disappeared from the village of Niquiir ( Nikir ). Indonesian military and Laksaur destroyed several houses in the village of Fatuc Metan ( Fatukmetan ) and tortured residents. 950 residents fled to a church and a school. The leader of the Laksaur militia there, Miguel Mau , was sentenced on November 26, 2003 to nine years in prison.

Moruk was murdered by former members of the militia on September 6, 2000 in West Timor a week after he was charged. He received a military funeral which was broadcast on Indonesian television. Soldiers, police officers and armed militiamen were present. It has been suggested that Moruk should be silenced so as not to incriminate high-ranking military officials. Seven men were later charged in Kupang .

Egidio Manek and 13 other members of the militia were charged in absentia in 2003 for 51 crimes including mass murder, murder, forcible displacement of thousands of Cova Lima residents, rape, torture, crimes against humanity, abduction and persecution. These include the Suai church massacre, the murder of 14 supporters of independence in the village of Lactos (Fohorem sub-district), the murder or disappearance of a further 52 civilians between April 12 and October 17, 1999, and torture and other inhumane crimes against 49 civilians between January 27 and October 30, 1999. The victims were all independence supporters. Several Laksaur militiamen were sentenced to several years in prison.

Maternus Bere was arrested in early August 2009 while visiting Suai from West Timor, where he now lived. He had attended a ceremony for his late father. However, at that time, Bere was already an Indonesian citizen and secretary of an Indonesian district, which is why the neighboring country protested the arrest. Only three weeks later, Bere was released and found refuge in the Indonesian embassy in Dili. Justice Minister Lúcia Lobato confirmed that the dismissal was for political reasons.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b ETAN, February 28, 2003, 3 New indictments filed at Dili Court
  2. ↑ a b c d Masters of Terror - Olivio Mendonca Moruk
  3. ↑ a b Indicment, DISTRICT COURT OF DILI, BEFORE THE SPECIAL PANEL FOR SERIOUS CRIMES, CASE NO: 09 / CG / TDD / 2003 (English; PDF; 480 kB)
  4. ↑ ETAN, December 22, 2003, 6 Indonesians Barred From US
  5. ↑ ETAN, February 21, 2001, Trial of Laksaur commander's murder case underway
  6. ↑ MSN news, September 8, 2009, ETimor militia leader's release a 'political decision': minister

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