One person dies, five injured in E. Timor shooting<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least one person was shot dead and five
\nothers were injured yesterday when security personnel fired on a
\nmob surrounding their vehicle, which was escorting three European
\nUnion ambassadors in Baucau, East Timor's second largest city.<\/p>\n
The dead man was identified as Orlando Marcellino, a 35-year-
\nold farmer.<\/p>\n
About 5,000 demonstrators had rallied in front of Baucau's St.
\nAntonio Cathedral to welcome the Jakarta-based envoys, who
\narrived in two vans.<\/p>\n
The ambassadors were scheduled to hold talks with Bishop
\nBacilio Do Nascimento.<\/p>\n
The situation, however, turned violent when a third van
\narrived with several security agents carrying automatic weapons.<\/p>\n
\"The people got angry because the security officials came here
\nwith guns,\" Vilidiu Gusmao, 32, a lay member of the church's
\nJustice and Peace Commission, was quoted by Associated Press as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
He said several shots were fired directly into a mob that had
\nsurrounded the vehicle and was pounding and kicking at its doors
\nand windows.<\/p>\n
It was the second death reported during the ambassadors' visit
\nto the province. On Saturday, a man was reportedly shot to death
\nin a scuffle between prointegration and anti-integration crowds
\nin the provincial capital.<\/p>\n
The three ambassadors -- Britain's Robin Christopher,
\nAustria's Viktor Segalla and the Netherlands' Paul Brouwer --
\narrived Saturday for the four-day visit.<\/p>\n
Their mission is unique since EU ambassadors, whose respective
\ncountries do not recognize the integration of East Timor into
\nIndonesia, do not personally go to the former Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
Their presence has sparked waves of demonstrations, both
\nprointegration and anti-integration, which have often ended in
\nclashes.<\/p>\n
Governor Jose Abilio Soares warned yesterday against anarchy,
\nsaying authorities would take strict action to maintain order.<\/p>\n
\"I'm sure that Bishop Belo will certainly agree with me to
\nrespect other people's rights and to take strict action against
\nall those involved in anarchic actions,\" he said as quoted by
\nAntara, referring to one of the province's two Nobel laureates.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. William T. da Costa, chief of staff of the Udayana
\nMilitary Command, yesterday blamed Fretilin guerrillas for the
\nshooting death of 21-year-old Manuel Marcus, killed in Manatuto
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"We have investigated it and the shooting must have come from
\nthe guerrilla group,\" he said in Dili yesterday.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the government again reiterated its stance against
\ncalls for a referendum in the province.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister of Justice
\nMuladi separately said yesterday the move would only cause more
\nsuffering to the people of the country's youngest territory.<\/p>\n
\"A referendum would not guarantee that problems would be
\ntotally solved. It would rather worsen disputes within East Timor
\nand could even lead to civil war,\" Alatas told journalists after
\nattending a plenary session of the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Designating the province \"a special province with larger
\nautonomy\", a status to be deliberated multilaterally instead of
\nbeing given unilaterally by the Indonesian government, would be
\nbetter than a referendum, he said. (rms\/aan)<\/p>",
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