Two killed in East Timor religious service<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): Two men were killed when violence broke
\nout prior to a religious service Tuesday on top of Mt. Ramelau in
\nthe Ainaro regency, 120 kilometers south of here.<\/p>\n
The incident prompted Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo,
\nwho was presiding over the service, to cut short the Mass
\nattended by more than 20,000 Catholics from East Timor and
\nneighboring East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
Antara gave two versions of witnesses' account of the incident
\nthat claimed the lives of Adelino da Silva, 36, of the Baucau
\nregency and Acasio de Oliveira, 17, of the Ainaro regency.<\/p>\n
Some witnesses said that Adelino stabbed altar boy Acasio in
\nthe chest after being reprimanded by the latter for attempting to
\nclimb to a spot where Bishop Belo planned to place a statue of
\nthe Virgin Mary.<\/p>\n
The other altar boys then tried to catch Adelino, who resisted
\nand stabbed pilgrim Jose Pereira, 25, in the hand. Adelino was
\nmobbed to death.<\/p>\n
Another version said a group unfurled a flag of the anti-
\ngovernment rebel group Fretilin, disrupted the pilgrimage and
\nstarted a clash that killed two people.<\/p>\n
East Timor police chief Col. Atok Rismanto said here yesterday
\npolice were still investigating the incident.<\/p>\n
"Those who have taken the law into their own hands will have
\nus to contend with," Rismanto said. "We are still investigating
\nwho the offender was. I won't name any organizations yet because
\nthe investigation is still underway."<\/p>\n
Governor Abilio Osorio Soares deplored the violence which he
\nblamed on "certain individuals" attempting to exploit religious
\naffairs to further their own political interest.<\/p>\n
"It was a religious affair. Furthermore, Bishop Belo was also
\nattending. How could they have exploited it? Nobody can accept
\nthis," Abilio told the press in Dili yesterday.<\/p>\n
Bishop Belo also deplored the violence and condemned those who
\nhad provoked it.<\/p>\n
Also attending Tuesday's service were Baucau Bishop Basilio
\ndo Nascimento, legislator Mariano Lopez da Crus and Ainaro Regent
\nNorberto de Araujo.<\/p>\n
"Of course, the Bishop deeply regrets the incident. He had
\nhigh hopes that the service could bind all East Timorese together
\nand bring peace like Mother Mary who people believe is the Queen
\nof Peace," Abilio said.<\/p>\n
The deaths added to the number of casualties in connection
\nwith the annual pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, at least 13 people (not 17 as earlier reported)
\nwere killed, 31 seriously injured and six others slightly injured
\nwhen a truck carrying 50 Roman Catholic pilgrims home from Mt.
\nRamelau plunged into a 25-meter deep ravine in Letefoho
\nsubdistrict of Ermera regency, 90 kilometers west of here.<\/p>\n
Police are still investigating the accident. (33\/aan)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-killed-in-east-timor-religious-service-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }