Tension prevails in Dili amid sporadic gunfire<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Dili remained tense but largely quiet on Sunday,
\nwith witnesses reporting only occasional gunfire in some parts of
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
However, several deaths were reported in the territory,
\nincluding that of a German Jesuit priest. The flow of refugees
\nwas estimated to have reached some 120,000.<\/p>\n
Catholic priest Sandyawan Sumardi, a member of the Jesuit
\norder, which has an extensive network in East Timor, told The
\nJakarta Post on Sunday that Father Carolus Albrecth Karim Arbie,
\n70, died late Saturday in an attack in the front yard of the
\nLoyola residence in Dili.<\/p>\n
His body was later taken to the military hospital for an
\nautopsy, Sandyawan said.<\/p>\n
However, staff at Wirahusada Military Hospital in Dili could
\nnot confirm on Sunday whether Arbie's body had been among three
\nbodies taken late Saturday to the hospital.<\/p>\n
\"I can only say that three bodies were brought here, including
\nthe body of a 13-year-old girl,\" Pvt. Edi Purnomo told the Post
\nby telephone from Dili.<\/p>\n
Edi said Dili was quiet, but that sporadic gunfire was still
\nheard on Sunday throughout the city.<\/p>\n
\"Electricity in some parts of the city, including in this
\nhospital, continues to be cut off,\" he said.<\/p>\n
East Timor has seen a wave of violence following the historic
\nAug. 30 ballot in which the province rejected Indonesia's offer
\nof wide-ranging autonomy.<\/p>\n
Jakarta imposed from midnight last Monday a state of emergency
\nto clamp down on the violence.<\/p>\n
Refugees<\/p>\n
In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, authorities announced that as
\nof Sunday evening at least 118,000 refugees had poured into 12
\nregencies throughout the province. Over half are located in the
\nBelu regency, which is near the East Timor border.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that tents, clean water and latrines were
\nurgently needed.<\/p>\n
\"It is quite difficult to find a latrine and clean water so
\nthat we can cook,\" said Maria de Charvalho, 53.<\/p>\n
\"But the main thing really is that we could reach safety,\" she
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Staff at the Professor W.Z. Johannes Hospital in Kupang said
\ndozens of infants had been admitted suffering from respiratory
\nproblems and diarrhea.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, David Wimhurst, spokesman for the UN Mission in
\nEast Timor (UNAMET), was quoted as saying by AFP in the northern
\nAustralian city of Darwin that Indonesian troops and militias had
\nattacked on Sunday some 30,000 refugees massed around a seminary
\nin Dare, nine kilometers south of Dili.<\/p>\n
However, the deputy chief of UNAMET's public information
\noffice in Dili, Brian Kelly, said reports from the Indonesian
\nmilitary and its own sources in Dare indicated the mission town
\nwas calm on Sunday and that an attack had occurred on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"In fact it is quiet in Dare and there are no reports at the
\nmoment of any attacks on the displaced people there,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Head of the Security Restoration Operation in East Timor Maj.
\nGen. Kiki Syahnakri said the military had, since the imposition
\nof martial law, detained 25 people in Dili and seized 27 weapons,
\nincluding fire arms.<\/p>\n
\"They were arrested for violating the martial law that bans
\nthe illegal possession of weapons,\" Kiki told the Post by phone
\nfrom Dili on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
He said two of the detained were members of the military and
\nthey were being questioned by military police.<\/p>\n
Syahnakri also said the military was still trying to free the
\nchief of the Soibada military sector, Capt. IGK Hartawan, who was
\nallegedly being held hostage by the proindependence armed
\nFalintil.<\/p>\n
He said Hartawan was captured by Falintil members, who
\nattacked the isolated area after the United Nations announced
\nthe result of the ballot on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n
From Dili Antara reported that at least 12 police officers had
\nbeen detained on Sunday afternoon after they were caught trying
\nto rob the Bank Duta office in Dili.<\/p>\n
Commander of the Dili sector Col. Deerham said the police
\nofficers were at the time wearing T-Shirts along with police
\nissue brown trousers and police boots.<\/p>\n
Syahnakri has several times pledged to take tough action
\nagainst looters and other violators of the law, including
\nmilitary and police troops offenders. (byg\/das\/lem\/yac)<\/p>",
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