The Bali-based army commander claims that combat troops are being reduced now that armed resistance has 'ceased to be a threat'. The head of the Catholic Church in East Timor says this is untrue. At least one of these is there to fight the armed resistance. It is replaced every few months with fresh troops from various parts of Indonesia. Territorial battalions 'dedicated to road and village construction' spy on the population, ambush villagers and, when necessary, engage in combat.
Indonesian police are on duty throughout the country.
Regular troops of Kodim, the East Timor military command, are located in villages for intelligence gathering and control. Paramilitary forces known as hansip and ratih consist of East Timorese civilians trained as militia. A new force of 3,844 East Timorese has been formed and is now being trained. The standard of health of the East Timorese is very low. Nothing has been done by the Indonesians to break the cycle of poverty, malnutrition and disease.