Dili under control after two days of violent rioting<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The provincial capital was stable but
\nstill tense yesterday, following two days of violent street
\ndemonstrations after an official reportedly insulted the Catholic
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
Shops, restaurants and marketplaces remained closed. The
\nstreets were largely deserted and security personnel were on full
\nalert in strategic locations.<\/p>\n
The state-run radio station, RRI, broadcast periodic appeals
\nfrom Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares' to citizens, calling on
\nthem to end the upheaval in the provincial capital.<\/p>\n
On Friday and Saturday, gangs of high school students and
\nother youths went on a rampage in the town, setting motorcycles
\non fire, smashing cars and harassing immigrants from other
\nprovinces. On Saturday an angry crowd burned down the Komoro
\nmarket, where immigrants dominate business.<\/p>\n
The protesters were infuriated by a remark reportedly made by
\njustice ministry official Sanusi Abubakar, who is said to have
\ndescribed Catholicism as a \"nonsense religion\" when addressing
\ninmates at the Maliana prison on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta yesterday, Armed Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen.
\nSuwarno Adiwijoyo called on the public to remain calm and to
\nrefrain from making comments which could worsen the situation.<\/p>\n
He warned that the unrest involved the delicate issue of race
\nand religion and could spread to other provinces if improperly
\nhandled.<\/p>\n
Suwarno said the authorities in Dili have already released
\nmore than 60 demonstrators. He added that 200 police
\nreinforcements have been brought into the town from East Java and
\nBali to help restore order.<\/p>\n
In a mass to commemorate Indonesia's 50th anniversary of
\nindependence in the Balide Church in Viqueque on Friday night,
\nBishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said the latest wave of
\nviolence was regrettable.<\/p>\n
\"Christianity rejects all forms of violent and destructive
\nactions,\" he told the large congregation in this predominantly
\nRoman Catholic province of 800,000 people.<\/p>\n
Belo was personally affected by the violent demonstrations
\nwhen his way to Viqueque was blocked with burning tires in the
\nBecora area, just east of here.<\/p>\n
The bishop's public announcement of regret was warmly welcomed
\nby chief of the Udayana regional military command, Maj. Gen.
\nAdang Ruchiatna, whose area of responsibility covers Bali, Nusa
\nTanggara and East Timor.<\/p>\n
Adang said that, as of Saturday night, the authorities in Dili
\nhad \"questioned and detained\" a number of people in connection
\nwith the protests but that there had been no deaths.<\/p>\n
According to Adang, the violence was incited by about 3,000
\nclandestine activists in favor of East Timorese independence in
\nvarious places, including Bali; Salatiga in Central Java; Malang,
\nin East Java; and Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"They have made the best use of sophisticated
\ntelecommunications technology,\" he said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Adang confirmed reports that Sanusi Abubakar had been arrested
\non suspicion of insulting a religion and was being detained at
\nthe East Timor police headquarters in Dili.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
\nSoesilo Soedarman said in Surabaya on Saturday that stern action
\nwould be taken against those involved in the violence.<\/p>\n
\"We will take action. But don't blow the issue out of
\nproportion...because many people hate to see East Timor secure
\nand prosperous,\" he told journalists.<\/p>\n
Asked what he meant by \"stern action,\" Soesilo said that would
\nbe determined by the police headquarters in Jakarta. \"The
\nheadquarters will decide if the police will set up a special team
\nto handle the case.\"<\/p>\n
Governor Abilio also threatened to take stern action against
\nthose involved in the protests.<\/p>\n
\"It's not only Bishop Belo who regrets the incidents. Anyone
\nwho loves peace in East Timor is opposed to such actions,\" he
\nsaid. (yac\/rms\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dili-under-control-after-two-days-of-violent-rioting-1447893297",
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