The captured weapon of Private Leonard Manning, the New Zealand peacekeeper killed by the militia on 24 July was returned to UNTAET’s Peacekeeping Force today by the Indonesian army in Suai, East Timor.
The Minimi Light Support Weapon was retrieved by the Indonesian army near Laktutus, on the border with East Timor, on 27 October.
The Minimi was handed over by Colonel Budi Heryanto, TNI commander of West Timor, to UNTAET Brigadier Ken Gillespie, the commander of Sector West of East Timor.
Armed militia stole the weapon from the body of Private Manning after the clash at Nanu, Suai, in which the peacekeeper was killed.
Acting Force Commander Major General Mike Smith welcomed the return of the weapon today. “I thank Major General [Kiki] Syahnakri [Commander KODAM IX] and the TNI for the action they have taken to recapture Private Manning's weapon from the militia,” he said. “It was the expressed wish of Private Manning's family that his weapon be returned and not used to kill or injure anyone else.”
Following the detention of militia suspects at Laktutus, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and the TNI have been involved in regular discussions to identify the origin of the weapon and to arrange for its return.
Private Manning was the first of two United Nations peacekeepers killed in action since the deployment of UNTAET’s Peacekeeping Force in February.
