SCMP -- Revealed: the plot to crush Timor
scmp.com
ANNEMARIE EVANS in Macau
[...]
Tomas Goncalves, 54, the former head of
the 400-strong PPPI (Peace Force and
Defender of Integration) militia said the
killings had been agreed at a meeting on
February 16 in the East Timorese capital,
Dili. He said the talks were organised by
the head of the SGI, the secret
intelligence organisation of the
military's Kopassus special forces.
The head, Lieutenant-Colonel Yahyat
Sudrajad, called for the killing of
pro-independence movement leaders, their
children and even their grandchildren, Mr
Goncalves said. Not a single member of
their families was to be left alive, the
colonel told the meeting.
[...]
[ Chain on command details leading back to Jakarta omitted ]
[ date of killings, startup omitted ]
[...] survivors fled to churches and priests'
houses for protection.
On March 26, Governor of East Timor Abilio
Soares gave orders at a meeting, again
attended by Mr Goncalves, that the priests
and nuns should be killed.
Mr Goncalves said: "I could not stand it.
I told them I have no problem fighting the
[pro-independence] guerillas, but as a
Catholic I could not kill priests and nuns
and attack the Church."
Because of his stand, Mr Goncalves came
under suspicion. He fled Jakarta on April
18 and is now in Macau.
[...] |
