Indonesian officials yesterday defended their recruitment of anti-independence militia members to a civilian force designed to ensure security for East Timor's August 8th self-determination referendum.
"Every single person has the right to take part [as individuals]," the police chief Col Timbul Silaen said of the recruitment drive for the "PAM Swakarsa" auxiliary. Col Silaen also said "a number of people" had been detained in connection with two militia massacres in East Timor this year.
According to a document seen by the UN mission in East Timor the militia chief Mr Eurico Guterres will play a major role in organising "the security" of the capital, Dili.