Aitarak

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Aitarak
Leader	Eurico Guterres
Dates of operation	1999 (1999)–2000 (2000)
Country	East Timor
Motives	Prevention of East Timor's independence
Headquarters	Dili, East Timor
Active regions	East Timor
Political position	Right-wing
Major actions	Liquiçá Church massacre Manuel Carrascalão House massacre Suai Church massacre
Notable attacks	Timor-Leste Scorched Earth campaign
Status	Defunct

Aitarak (Tetun for 'thorn') was the name of one of the most feared pro-Indonesia militia groups 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]