The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) are continuing to investigate what happened to 23 weapons that went missing during the 2006 crisis.
PNTL General Commander Commissioner Julio Hornai acknowledged that the weapons had not been recovered due to a lack of cooperation between police and local communities.
“Three pistols and 20 rifles have not been found because the community is uncooperative,” said Hornai in Dili.
However, he said intelligence police were still making efforts to locate the missing weapons.
He suspects the weapons are being hidden in communities and therefore urged anyone with information to contact the police.
The 2006 crisis began as a conflict between elements within the Timorese military.
After a petition by soldiers from the Timorese army (F-FDTL) claiming poor treatment was ignored, protests erupted and 594 petitioners were dismissed from the army. The conflict ultimately led to the fall of the government, violence and internal displacement of the population.
Meanwhile, national MP Jacinto Viegas Vicente has criticised intelligence police for failing to recover the missing weapons until now.
“What are they (intelligence police) doing?” he said.
He also expressed concern that the country’s stability could be affected unless the weapons were recovered and urged the PNTL to continue its investigations.
“People could take advantage if the conflict happens [again and] then use those weapons to shoot or kill other people, so it is better that we prevent this before it happens,” he said.
