Basilio Araujo of FPDK says the United Nations should oversee the disarmament of all armed groups in the territory as soon as possible. "The pro-independence groups are saying the whole of the East Timorese people want independence. And the paramilitary groups just want to show that that is not true, some [parts of the] population still want to be part of Indonesia. " 

8 March 

1,160 refugees trapped in the village of Sare near Haitola, Ermera district, fear for their lives as Indonesian army units and allied local militia groups move closer to their camp. The refugees fled into the mountains two weeks ago after shooting in the town of Guiso, near Maubara. A resident of nearby Hatolia said two men who tried to return to Guiso last Wednesday to find food were shot by Indonesian soldiers. One man died instantly and another was taken to Dili for treatment. The Catholic relief agency Caritas is trying to get food to the refugees. 

Shootings have been reported in the eastern towns of Los Palos and Baucau and along the waterfront in Dili.

Near the southwestern town of Suai, renewed paramilitary attacks in the village of Tilomar injured eight and forced 950 villagers to seek refuge in a church and a school.

9 March

Besi Merah Putih, under the command of Manuel de Sousa controls Maubara. Men armed with rifles, spearguns and knives patrol the streets. In the nearby town of Liquiça thousands of people from Maubara are staying in dozens of houses, school buildings and offices. Food is short. "I left because of the intimidation and the terror," says a stall owner. Asked who drove him out, he said: "Besi Merah Putih." A nun in a centre providing food says more than 2,000 people have come. "They believe if they return, they will die,'" said Sister Pascalia. 

Amnesty International issued a report saying the Indonesian armed forces and paramilitary units were continuing to be responsible for arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances and unlawful killings.

Three soldiers and a government official are abducted and later killed by Falintil near Baucau.

11 March

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced that Indonesia and Portugal had agreed on a "direct" ballot for the people of East Timor to decide whether they want autonomy or independence.

Xanana Gusmao and Joao Tavares said they had agreed to discuss East Timor’s future peacefully. Xanana agrees to simultaneous disarmament of resistance and Indonesia’s armed forces, including the "tim" paramilitaries trained by TNI to fight the guerrillas, but insisted on the immediate disarming of the militias that are attacking the civilian population..

15 March

Australian current affairs TV show Four Corners broadcasts "A Licence to Kill" which examines the activities of the militias in East Timor. (Copies of the show and the transcript are available from etiscaus@downunder.net.au) . Some comments from the show:

Col. Tono Suratman, East Timor TNI Commander says "it's not true that the Mahidi and other groups like Halilintar are intimidating the people. As the commander there, I guarantee they're not the ones responsible";

Militia member Januario Pereiro revealed "the promise is if you get everybody to support Indonesia, you will get four cows and a house. A brick house";

Interviewer Mark Davis talks to a group of pro-integrationists who are in Jakarta. The group's spokesman, Basilio Araujo is unabashed in declaring that they've come to Jakarta to ask for both money and guns and militia leader Eurico Guterres says "I was given guns not just to protect myself and other integrationists but to protect opponents of integration as well - the East Timorese generally".

16 March 

Besi Merah Putih surround a Carmelite convent in Maubara, some 60 kms west of Dili yesterday and remain in place today. The militia threatened "to kill any nun leaving the convent" because they were allegedly working for the resistance. A priest denied the charge, saying the nuns were providing aid to anyone in need "regardless of colour, ideology or religion."

A visiting Portuguese diplomat said in Dili that separate sources had told her the intelligence service (SGI) was disseminating instructions about how to produce bombs. A spokesman for military intelligence in Dili denied there was a plot to train anyone in terrorist techniques. He said the SGI forces were sent home from East Timor last year.

18 March

Eight truckloads of soldiers and militiamen went to the suburb of Becora in Dili and began firing into the air, injuring two civilians. They had opened fire in apparent revenge for last week's kidnapping deaths of four Indonesians in Baucau. The missing corpses of two of the soldiers were transported to Dili today. A military escort reportedly sprayed houses with gunfire over the entire course of the 110 kms separating Baucau from Dili.

19 March

A group of about 20 armed and masked men raided the village of Ritabou, in the Maliana area 90 miles from Dili and opened fire on civilians. Pedro Assamali (30), Domingos Manomau (25), Joao Ruben Barros (11) and Fonseca Gomes (11) were killed. 5 were wounded. Witnesses reported that the Halilintar militia is responsible for these murders in a joint operation with the Indonesian military and SGI. A priest said the group targeted the village to punish some of its residents for their pro-independence beliefs. Joint Kodim, Police and Halilintar forces have isolated the Maliana area. Roadblocks have been set up and no one is being allowed in or out of Maliana and surrounding villages and hamlets. 

20 March

Two people were shot dead at Lacluta in the Viqueque district. They are Jeronimo Amaral, 18, and Jose de Andrade dos Santos. They were shot by a group of Makikit militia.

In the village of Dilor in the Viqueque district at least five people were wounded and 68 detained by 50 heavily armed militiamen and Indonesian military. The operation carried on into the nearby villages of Ahic and Laline. 

Saka militiamen in Baucau took a ritual oath to remain loyal to Indonesia.

21 March

A new paramilitary death squad has been formed. It is called Darah Merah (Red Blood) under the control of elements of SGI. It has announced it will launch "Operasi Sapu Bersih" (Cleaning Sweep Operation) in Dili on May 2 to "wipe out" pro-independence activists. Sources of the movement said they have enough weapons to "smash a number of cities in a matter of seconds." The new militia made the announcement in a letter signed by "commander-in-chief" Lafaek Saburai. The letter contains direct threats against CNRT and FALINTIL. 

In Suai at least eight East Timorese were detained near the village of Zumalai by Mahidi militia. Their current whereabouts are unknown.

23 March

The Indonesian military shoot dead three more civilians in Maliana. 800 people seek refuge in the Maliana church. 

Pro-independence leader Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Laureate, told a Portuguese parliamentary commission that Soeharto, "who has a lot of money," was primarily responsible for the current "destabilization campaign" carried out by anti-independence militias. He said funding for the paramilitary groups was being channelled through the military commander of the region, General Simbolon.

24 March

Indonesian soldiers from the district military command (Kodim) began shooting arbitrarily into crowds in the Baucau market, resulting in two deaths and numerous injured. They take a group of youths to the Baucau prison of Kai Sahe where shots are later fired at prisoners. 

Reports indicate that violence instigated by military-backed militia groups in the Loes region have resulted in scores of people, largely supporters of the pro-independence movement, fleeing across the border into Atambua, in West Timor.

25 March

A boy named Mariano Placido is killed in Viqueque. He was a junior high school student. His father was suspected by paramilitary and Indonesian army of working with FALINTIL. The boy was killed because his father escaped from military control.

26 March 

Three people were killed in Baucau when Indonesian soldiers opened fire while trying to catch a suspected killer in Baucau, police said. The suspect Faria and two passers-by, Ildefonso, 30, and Estefania, a 40-year-old woman, died at the scene. 

In Suai three young men were shot and wounded by Laksaur Merah Putih militia members. 

Bishop Belo said in recent days priests and male parishioners have been threatened with guns, and a catechist had his nails pulled out in the town of Zumulai by paramilitary forces.

27 March

Two new paramilitary groups have been formed: AHI in Ailieu, just south of Dili and Abelai in Same, towards the coast south of Dili.

28 March

At Maubara about 250 men present their homemade guns, bows and arrows, spears and machetes as they are inducted into the troops of Besi Merah Putih. TNI officers and police watch as the district Bupati inspects the troops.

31 March

Xanana Gusmao warns of a new bloodbath in his occupied homeland if the international community fails to put pressure on Jakarta to disarm pro-Indonesian militias.

In one of several reports for March, the Catholic Church's Peace and Justice Commission listed four confirmed deaths in Baucau area (three shot by military or militia groups) and nine people missing (eight of them believed killed). 

In an interview given in Dili General Damiri, Military Commander of the region, stated that the presence of a UN peace force is not necessary because TNI is capable of maintaining security in the territory.

4 April

At 4pm about 18 members of Besi Merah Putih militia came to Dato village on the western side of Liquiça, beat up the village head and destroyed his house because they knew that the villagers support independence. The villagers then attacked the militia force and caused them to flee. The militia hid at the military headquarters (Koramil) in Liquiça. The Liquiça priest Father Rafael dos Santos organised a reconciliation meeting to be held in Dato village the next day. 

5 April 

Around 7am Besi Merah Putih unexpectedly launched major attacks on Dato village and throughout the Liquiça district from two directions - from the village of Liquiça and from the Maubara district. During the attack the militia forces were in the front row and behind them were members of TNI. The militia attacked with arrows, machetes, blocks of wood, samurai swords and stones. Whoever they found was tortured and gashed. TNI started shooting randomly at the resisting community from behind the militia. Four people were killed: Julio, 25, of Dato, Felisberto dos Santos, 27, of Dato, Francisco, 25, of Fatuvou, and Paulino Ribeiro, 28, of Manumeta. At least seven people were wounded by gunshots and scores of others were injured by traditional weapons. Youths ran toward the town of Liquiça. But all over the town at 1pm the sounds of gunshots could be heard. It was the Liquiça KODIM and the police command [polres] doing the shooting and it went on for about one hour. Laurindo, 40, head of the government fisheries office for Liquiça was killed by members of the Maubara command (Koramil) in his home. More than 2000 people fled into the church for refuge. After the shooting, the BMP entered Liquiça, shouting and went to the compound of the Liquiça KODIM. The Battalion Commander of BMP, Manuel de Sousa, said that his troops would occupy Liquiça until those who were wanted by his group surrender themselves to BMP.

Liquiça is completely isolated with overland access difficult and telephone lines cut off.

Xanana Gusmao states "the international community’s passivity is forcing me into a decision to authorise the Falintil (Timorese armed resistance) to take all the necessary steps to defend the population… and to authorise the people themselves to start a generalised popular uprising against the armed militias that have been killing the civilian population with impunity".

6 April

The Emergency Aid Post for Internal Refugees has confirmed that due to attacks throughout East Timor this year there are now nearly 11,000 displaced people in the territory: 1022 persons in Dili, 2518 persons in Liquiça, 1300 persons in Suai, 1149 persons in Maliana and 4838 persons in Ermera who have come from Maubara. In Maliana 1149 persons.

At 4pm Besi Merah Putih and security forces from BTT 143, Kodim 1639 Liquiça, Koramil Liquiça, Police from Liquiça and Brimob (Special police) surrounded the Liquiça church. The police shot tear gas into the church and gunshots into the air which gave a chance for BMP to enter the church grounds and shoot at the people in the church. The people sprayed by the tear gas ran outside of the church with their eyes closed then BMP began to massacre the people with arrows and spears. An eyewitness said "they shot and hacked at people as though they were killing animals. Even when people were raising their arms to surrender, they were still shot and hacked". The names and ages of the 54 victims killed in the church was later compiled by Dili based Yayasan HAK (the Foundation for Legal and Human Rights). They are: 

Antonio Do Santos, 24, Hatukesi 
Jacinta Da Conceicao, 34, Dato 
Joni Mausoko, 28, Dato 
Evangelina Goncalves, 14, Dato 
Juvelina, 16, Dato 
Salvador, 13, Vatubou 
Santiago, 12, Vatubou 
Herminio, 17, Hatukesi 
Francisco, 30, Dato 
Rafael Maria, 18, Dato 
Paulo de Fatima, 53, Daruleten 
Erminho do Santos, 35, Maumet
Fernando da Costa S., 29, Dato 
Antonio Marcos, 27, Hatukesi 
Elidio do Santos, 20, Hatukesi 
Abel Ballo, 26, Vatubou
Julito Maria, 18, Metabou 
Filipe, 17, Metabou
Americo Marcal, 40, Darulete 
Rudolfo do Santos, 15, Darulete
Loubato do Santos, 16, Darulete 
Floriano Santos, 30, Vatuboro
Joanico, 35, Dato 
Abrao, 37, Hatukesi
Francisco do Santos, of Guguleur
Jose Ribeiro, Guguleur
Julio, of Vatubou 
Manuel da Costa, 30, Dato
Thomas de Jesus, 26, Hatukesi 
Tito Afonso, 29, Gugleur
Alsino Goncalves, 45, Gugleur 
Tiago dos Santos, 17, Liquiça
Afonso, 35, Dato 
Rita, 36 
Sejario, 25, 
Leopa Custori, 31 
Alsino, 25, Leopa
Antonio Goncalves, 25, Liquiça
Jose Mosquita, 25, Leopa
Agusto dos Santos Mausinho, 36, Liquiça
Paulino Voavida, 22, Villa
Adios Thomas de Jesus, 26, Hatukesi 
Alsino Fernandes, 28, Leopa

Seven more people were shot dead on the upper floor of the parish house by the army and Brimob. They included Jacinto da Costa Conceicao Pereira, 47, the village head of Dato, Agustinho, 42, from Darulete, Victor, Leovigildo (a junior high school student) and Lucio. 

An eyewitness hidden with others in the church said that around 6.45pm they saw six Hino trucks taking bodies away from the church. The bodies were thrown on top of the trucks and taken to a destination that remains unknown.

After the massacre at Liquisa. A couple comforting eact other in the lounge room of local parish priest, Father Rafael.

Another five -Americo, 28, Afonso, 26, and Manuel Lisboa, 40, from Dato and Mautersa, 22, and Secar do Carmo, 21, from Vatuboro all died from wounds on 6 April in Dato village. Plus Laurindo da Costa, 45, died in the village of Maumeta/Mercado

At the same time, about Rp. 8 million belonging to the Liquiça Catholic school and money for alms was also looted. The BMP took a motorcycle belonging to the church and several other cars and took them to Maubara. The contents of the vicarage were destroyed. 

The thousands of refugees who had been taking refuge in the church scattered. Liquiça city is inaccessible. All along the main road of Tibar village up to the town of Liquiça the Indonesian flag is displayed. According to one villager, anyone who didn’t hang a flag ran the risk of being hacked to death by the army or BMP. Those against the Red and White were forced to flee to the forest or outside of Liquiça.
 
 

A ‘great number’ of heavily armed Indonesian soldiers disembarked in Dili harbour.

7 April

The latest news from Liquiça is that security forces and BMP are still launching attacks on civilians and are no longer discriminating between pro-independence and pro-autonomy civilians.

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Downer, urged the Indonesian armed forces to disarm East Timorese paramilitary groups in the wake of reported killings in Liquiça.

Members of the International Committee of the Red Cross set out to visit Liquiça but turned back after encountering paramilitaries armed with swords, axes, spears, machetes and bows and arrows. 'They believed they were in danger and so decided not to risk continuing into the town,' a spokesperson said.

An Indonesian army spokesman offered no explanation for the Liquiça massacre beyond saying that "five separatists were killed after opening fire at soldiers" and that the army was ready to face any threat from Mr Gusmao's forces in East Timor.

Xanana Gusmao denied he had declared war on Indonesia two days before,  explaining that he expected the resistance fighters to help  people defend themselves.

8 April

Two truck loads of paramilitary gang members careered up and down the streets in Dili, waving their rifles and spears in the air and doing everything they could to frighten the population. 

Military commander Colonel Tono Suratman flew to Maliana to attend a show-of-strength by pro-integration forces.

USA State Department spokesman James Rubin said US officials were "deeply concerned about violence in East Timor, including the latest reported clashes."

9 April 

Five students from the University of East Timor (UNTIM) who were carrying out their compulsory social work in Suai, were attacked and severely injured by members of Laksaur Merah Putih and Mahidi. 

10 April

Armed mainly with spears, machetes and home-made guns, some  2,500 militiamen from all over East Timor rallied in Viqueque, some 90 km east  of Dili. During a traditional ceremony, the militiamen sacrificed a dog and four people drank its blood as representatives of the militias. Asked why they are attending villagers said because they had been paid.