Four killed in attacks by armed gang in E. Timor<\/p>\n
Jose Belo, Associated Press, Dili<\/p>\n
Screaming \"We are coming back for you!\" a gang armed with
\nautomatic rifles raided two villages in newly independent East
\nTimor, killing four people and injuring eight, eyewitnesses said
\non Sunday.<\/p>\n
The fighting on late Saturday and on early Sunday in the
\nvillages of Tiarelelo and Laubonu - located about 60 kilometers
\n(37.28 miles) southwest of the capital - prompted President
\nXanana Gusmao and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to fly there on
\nSunday afternoon to meet with residents.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said they believed the 11 assailants belonged to
\npro-Indonesia militias, which wrought devastation in East Timor
\nwhen the half island voted for independence in a 1999 referendum.
\nIf their assertion proves true, the attack would be the most
\nserious of its kind by militiamen since the country became
\nindependent in May.<\/p>\n
Nearly 2,000 civilians in East Timor were believed killed in
\n1999 and 250,000 forced to flee their homes when Indonesian
\ntroops and their militia proxies launched a campaign of terror
\nbefore and after the referendum.<\/p>\n
East Timor gained full independence after a period of
\ntransitional rule by the United Nations following Indonesia's
\nbrutal 24-year occupation. Militia leaders have been put on trial
\nin Indonesia and East Timor, and militias have not posed a
\nserious threat since independence.<\/p>\n
But last month, East Timor's Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta
\nsuggested that pro-Jakarta militiamen were behind a one-day riot
\nthat left two dead and dozens of buildings destroyed in Dili.
\nAmong the buildings burnt down was the residence of Alkatiri.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Alkatiri suggested militias have became active in
\nthe country, though he stopped short of blaming them for the
\nattack on the two villages.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that pro-Indonesia militias are still active,\" he
\nsaid. \"They are not trying to invade the country like in 1975 but
\nthey are trying to destabilize it.\"<\/p>\n
Villagers said they had no doubt that the 11 men were pro-
\nJakarta militiamen. They said they recognized the men from the
\nfighting back in 1999 and said some wore Indonesian military
\nuniforms.<\/p>\n
Villagers said the men - all armed with automatic rifles -
\nstormed into Tiarelelo, shooting indiscriminately and robbing
\nvillagers of money and food. A 17-year-old man was killed and
\nthree children were injured, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
The gang then moved to the nearby village of Laubonu, where
\nthey killed the village head and his son, witnesses said. A
\nthird, unidentified villager was also killed, they said.<\/p>\n
Villagers told Gusmao that the gang had been active since
\nNovember in the area. They said the same gang robbed a nearby
\nvillage and kidnapped six people from another village. Only one
\nof the six has been released, they said.<\/p>\n
\"It is sad that so many people were killed,\" Gusmao said. \"But
\nthe killings will also serve to wake up the United Nations. Until
\nnow, the United Nations hasn't trusted the information that has
\ncome from the people. We have to stop these problems and bring
\nthese people to justice.\"<\/p>\n
Gusmao, who was joined by UN security officials, vowed to beef
\nup security in the area and investigate the killings.<\/p>\n
A United Nations spokesman could not be reached for comment.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/four-killed-in-attacks-by-armed-gang-in-e-timor-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }