Riot mars New Year's Day in E. Timor<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): Around 200 East Timorese youths burned
\na market complex and destroyed dozens of houses in Baucau, a
\nregency town east of here on Sunday, leaving scores of people
\ninjured.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces (ABRI)'s Information Center in Jakarta
\nconfirmed that a riot occurred in Baucau and said that 11 people,
\nincluding security officers, sustained light injuries in the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
The Baucau Police Precinct was also damaged as were two
\ntransit vans, several restaurants and a car belonging to a senior
\nregency official, it said.<\/p>\n
There were no reports of arrests and the ABRI statement gave
\nlittle details of the riot.<\/p>\n
Local people had earlier given a higher casualty figure,
\nincluding some deaths, but these could not be officially
\nconfirmed. They said that security officers sent to quell the
\nriot met strong resistance from the protesters, some falling
\nvictim to the rocks being pelted by the youths.<\/p>\n
The riot focused on a market complex situated between the old
\ncity and the new city in Baucau.<\/p>\n
The riot had its origin in a minor feud between two Baucau
\nresidents, which then turned into a fight, according to the
\nmilitary statement. In the process, one of them, identified as
\n17-year-old Armando Ximenes, was stabbed and later died. His
\nassailant, identified as 26-year old Cole alias Rusli, suffered
\nhead and facial injuries.<\/p>\n
Local sources said Cole is a migrant from South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
News of Armando's death quickly spread, arousing anger in the
\nlocal people. They took to the streets and their actions turned
\nbrutal and destructive, according to the military.<\/p>\n
Order was restored later in the evening after the local
\nofficials moved to calm the angry protesters.<\/p>\n
A similar riot with racial overtones occurred in Dili in
\nNovember following the stabbing of an East Timorese trader by his
\nneighbor of South Sulawesi descent. The riot went on for three
\ndays.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report said there was another riot
\non a smaller scale in Kuluhun near Dili on New Year's Eve.<\/p>\n
Local sources said dozens of youths vented their anger by
\npelting houses after their New Year's party was dissolved by
\nsecurity authorities.<\/p>\n
Fifteen youths were detained for questioning. They had not
\nbeen released as of yesterday.(yac\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riot-mars-new-years-day-in-e-timor-1447893297",
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