Aitarak

Aitarak
LeaderEurico Guterres
Dates of operation1999 (1999)–2000 (2000)
CountryEast Timor
MotivesPrevention of East Timor's independence
HeadquartersDili, East Timor
Active regionsEast Timor
Political positionRight-wing
Major actions
Notable attacksTimor-Leste Scorched Earth campaign
StatusDefunct

Aitarak (Tetun for 'thorn') was the name of a pro-Indonesia militia group in East Timor during the late 1990s. On April 17, 1999, the group conducted 12 murders at the Manuel Carrascalão House massacre in Dili. That same month members took part in the Liquiçá Church massacre. At its height, the group was led by Eurico Guterres.[1][2]

  1. ^ "Eurico Barros Gomes Guterres". Masters of Terror. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  2. ^ "SPECIAL DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE TAKES UP QUESTIONS RELATED TO EAST TIMOR AND WESTERN SAHARA". United Nations. Retrieved 2023-09-14.