Indonesia: March 17, 2003

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The army has ordered troops in West Timor to shoot on sight any armed militiamen trying to cross the border into East Timor. The refugee militias were formed in West Timor camps among Indonesians who lost their power and livelihoods when East Timor rebelled and became independent. The "militia" is not apparently large, perhaps a dozen armed men and several times more active but without guns. But the militias have been crossing the border and looting and killing. Perhaps a dozen East Timorese have died in the last three months.