08 January 2013

Indonesian military suspected of torturing and murdering East Timorese citizen in Oecusse

ETLJB 08 January 2013 In an incident with negative implications for relations between East Timor and its giant neighbour and former occupier, Indonesia, members of the Indonesian military are suspected of having tortured and murdered an East Timorese citizen in the border town of Naktuka in the enclave of Oecusse, according to a report in daily newspaper Suara Timor Lorosae yesterday, 08 January 2012.


The State Secretary for Security, Francisco da Costa Guterres said the Timorese Government is investigating the death and it is reported that the deceased man was believed to have been tortured.

“We have not yet identified the cause of our citizen’s death, but it is believed he was tortured before being killed,” he said.

Timor Post also reported that State Secretary for Security Guterres told journalists at the Police residence at Batugade in Bobonaro on 5 January that “We have sent police officers to investigate the case, but we have not yet obtained any further information and we are still discussing the problem as the deceased was suspected of being tortured by foreigners.”

According to Radio Televizaun Timor Leste, the elderly man from Naktuka village was tortured to death by unknown people in the end of 2012. According to the community in the area, the man was in his field farming when the foreigners came to torture him.

Related report: More shootings by Indonesian military at Timor-Leste citizens engaging in illegal trade 

See also Border between Timor-Leste and Indonesia closed following torture and murder of Timorese man by "foreigners"

Sources: Suara Timor Lorosae, Timor Post, RTTL. Edited by Warren L. Wright

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