In a clinical white room in East Timor, 11 partly decomposed bodies are laid out for the police photographers. These were once fighters for a pro-integrationist militia killed in a reprisal attack by Falantil independence guerrillas and the CNRT independence party. Violence between the factions has been claiming new victims every day. In a disturbingly common scene, we meet a truck of armed militia youths donning the Indonesian flag. The people of the village on the road ahead have fled, taking shelter with the police. The refugees tell us they are seeking protection from the militias. The police chief intervenes, "they know nothing of politics," he says. According to him they are there to hide from Falantil guerrillas. After all, the militias are allegedly still acting on the orders of the Indonesian military, although it increasingly appears they have their own violent agenda. There is no doubt that the 300-strong foreign police force set to supervise the August 8th vote, has a very tough task ahead.

Produced by ABC Australia