Brynjar Nymo, the Norwegian spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force in Dili, says that as many as 150 militiamen in eight to 10 groups, each of five to 30 men, have managed to cross the 170-kilometre border from West Timor over the past few months. Last year, they were armed with pipe guns and machetes. Now they carry automatic rifles and hand grenades. Few people in the border areas doubt the militias are receiving support from the Indonesian military and powerful politicians in Jakarta. Most militia members appear to have had some training in basic guerrilla warfare.
Local villagers are scared.
Since last week's murders forced the pullout of UN aid workers from the refugee camps, border security has been tightened, with more Indonesian troops in West Timor, but the remote hills of East Timor's western region are no less tense. One 30-man militia group, the largest known, managed to reach Same in Sector Central. Thomae says militia activity near the border has increased markedly over the past few months. The UN wants to prevent the militias from reaching the local population. It seems to be working.