TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A total of 13,000 militia or former pro-Indonesian fighters living in East Nusa Tenggara are threatening to close the border of Indonesia-East Timor. They said they would be forced to take this action if their demands are not granted by the Indonesian government.
"We will hold a protest and block the border area until our demands are responded by the government," former militia Angelino da Costa told Tempo on Wednesday, September 20.
Da Costa said that they would also occupy the East Nusa Tenggara's governor's office.
According to da Costa, there are two groups of former East Timorese living in East Nusa Tenggara. The first is the general public, who has received government's attention and assistance.
The second group is composed of the militia community, who have been in Indonesia for 18 years and never received the government's attention. They plan to hold protests over to have their voices heard and their demands granted.
The protest and border blocking will be held this Friday on September 25.
"We estimate some by 35,000 militia and their families will take part in the protest," he said.
Da Costa questions the lack of government attention to them. He compared their situation with that of the separatist groups in Aceh, whom he said are given full attention by the government.
He lamented the fact that separatists are noticed, while militias who defended the country are ignored.
Da Costa said that they had informed the protest plan to the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Defense Affairs as well as to the Regional Police of East Nusa Tenggara.
