46 people arrested in Dili stampede

46 people arrested in Dili stampede

DILI, East Timor (JP): Police arrested yesterday 46 people
involved in a violent demonstration against an official's remarks
which allegedly insulted Catholicism.

Local police chief Col. Andreas Sugianto said the
demonstrators set fire to four motorcycles, attacked four cars
and burned down several houses. Up to eight people were reported
injured, some seriously.

Street demonstrations involving hundreds of people, mostly
high school students, occurred in various places throughout the
town.

Eyewitnesses said protesters stopped motorcyclists and
harassed immigrants. Timor Timur (East Timor) University, the
setting of numerous demonstrations over the past couple of years,
was heavily guarded by security officers.

The students were protesting insults to Roman Catholicism, the
predominant religion in the former Portuguese colony, allegedly
made by justice official Sanusi Abubakar on Monday, when he
addressed inmates at Maliana prison, 73 kilometers southwest of
here.

Sanusi, a Moslem, allegedly called Catholicism a "nonsense"
religion and insulted the Virgin Mary. Police said Sanusi was
arrested after the 24 inmates reported the remarks to the
authorities and the governor.

The waterfront town was tense throughout yesterday. Security
officers in anti-riot gear and carrying tear gas were seen on
high alert in several places, notably Timor Timur University and
the diocesan premises.

The rioting practically crippled business activities in the
town as shops and restaurants were closed. Student sources said
they planned to continue demonstrating this week.

Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said he deeply regrets the
incident. He stressed that the authorities will take tough action
against those who incited the violence. (yac/pan)