Indonesia: A Little War Over Nothing in the Middle of Nowhere

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March 9, 2007: Police and troops on Sulawesi are finding that the religious violence has now become driven mainly by revenge, for earlier religious violence. Most of the bad feelings are still on the Moslem side, where radical clerics continue to preach holy war against infidels (non-Moslems). The government is reluctant to crack down on the radical clergy, because these preachers and teachers have large followings.

March 5, 2007: Supporters of East Timor rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado are holding loud demonstrations in the capital, demanding that Australian troops withdraw from their search for Reinado and his followers. Reinado represents regional differences in East Timor. The eastern part of the country considers itself more "East Timoran", and believes the westerners are too tainted by Indonesians who came to live during decades of Indonesian rule. Reinado represents the easterners, whom the westerners consider a bunch of country ruffians (or something like that).

March 4, 2007: Australian troops raided the hideout of rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado, but he escaped. Four of his followers were killed.

March 2, 2007: Australian troops have found, and surrounded rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado, in his hideout 50 kilometers south of the capital. Now Reinado wants to negotiate.

February 28, 2007: The East Timor government has asked Australian-led international forces to hunt down the rebel leader Reinado, and his supporters.

February 24, 2007: Two East Timorese died after being shot by Australian peacekeepers near the airport. The gangs have become more and more violent, and the peacekeepers were ordered to shoot if they believed they were in danger.

February 23, 2007: In the United States, a former Indonesian Marine Corps general pled guilty to attempting to provide weapons for Sri Lankan rebels (the LTTE). It has long been rumored that current and former Indonesian generals were supplying the LTTE with weapons, and arranging the transportation.

 

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