'Tiras' journalist attacked in Dili<\/p>\n
DILI (JP): A journalist was beaten unconscious Sunday night by
\nstrangers mistaking him for an intelligence officer in the East
\nTimor capital of Dili, a press report said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Gaudensius Mau, 30, who works for Jakarta-based Tiras weekly
\nand Dili's Suara Timor Timur, was on his way to a shop when eight
\nmen attacked him.<\/p>\n
Mau said at Dili General Hospital yesterday he could not
\nidentify the men. He regained consciousness hours after the
\nincident to find himself lying in a hospital bed.<\/p>\n
\"The strangers said I was a flat foot and they assaulted me
\nthere and then,\" said Gaudensius while still hooked to
\nintravenous devices.<\/p>\n
The assault occurred after calm had returned to Dili after
\nlast week's rallies by students and youths in support of Bishop
\nCarlos Felipe Ximenes Belo. The bishop has been in trouble for
\nallegedly accusing the government of treating the East Timorese
\nlike \"scabby dogs\" and \"slaves\".<\/p>\n
The reporter, who sustained injuries all over his body, said
\nhis attackers would not listen when he told them he was not an
\nintelligence officer but a journalist.<\/p>\n
Dili police precinct Chief Lt. Col. Beno Kalipong said the
\nauthorities were investigating the incident to capture the
\nalleged attackers.<\/p>\n
The police found Gaudensius lying unconscious, he said.<\/p>\n
The incident has drawn condemnation from the local chapter of
\nthe Indonesian Journalists Association who have called on the
\npeople responsible to give themselves up.<\/p>\n
The association's local branch chief Heri Yanto told local
\njournalists not to be discouraged by the incident and to continue
\ntheir jobs as usual. (03\/pan)<\/p>",
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