Belo threatens to cancel dialog

DILI, East Timor (JP): Following controversy over the death toll in the violence in Liquica, Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo threatened on Saturday to cancel the planned reconciliation dialog between prointegration groups and proindependence groups in East Timor.

Belo said his stance was a response to the chief of the provincial legislature, Armindo Soareas Marino, who insisted that only five people were killed in an attack on a proindependence group last Monday. The attack allegedly was carried out by the military-backed prointegration militia. Belo said at least 25 were killed, while Armindo's figure was the same as that quoted by the Armed Forces.

"The planned reconciliation dialog will be deferred until the East Timor legislature gives a detailed report on the true number of East Timorese killed in the incident," Belo said from his residence here on Saturday.

The dialog is scheduled to take place in the East Timor town of Dare this week.

The 1996 Nobel Peace prize co-laureate visited Liquica a day after the incident. On Saturday, he revealed he had the names of 24 victims.

"I stand by my earlier statement that 25 were killed in the incident. The reconciliation talks will be deferred until no gun fire is heard," he said.

However, he conceded no bodies had been recovered from the incident. He said he obtained the names of those who died from relatives.

He also said the pro-Indonesia United Forum for Democracy and Justice led by Dominggos Maria das Soares should be held responsible for the violence in East Timor, including the Liquica tragedy.

Asked to comment on the Armed Forces' recent refusal of the presence of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force in the province, the bishop said the military should guarantee security and order in East Timor.

On Sunday, Belo and his entourage, which included local and foreign journalists, reportedly were attacked by a prointegration group on their way back from Liquica to Dili. A taxi driver was injured while two cars were badly damaged.

Belo visited the riot-torn regency, 40 kilometers west of here, to help ease tension and lead a Mass.

The attack was launched by a number of armed members of the local Besi Merah Putih (Red and White Iron) group, which is affiliated with the East Timor civilian militia. At the time of the attack, Belo and his entourage were leaving the Liquica Police station en route to Dili.

The armed youths pelted the passing cars with stones. They halted some cars, searching for journalists whom they accused of discrediting their group.

The April 20 UN-sponsored tripartite talks between Indonesia and Portugal is expected to work out the details of a wide- ranging autonomy proposal for the province. The direct vote by the East Timorese on whether they wish to accept the offered autonomy or separate from Indonesia is to be conducted in July.

Tension

The situation in Liquica was tense on Sunday and armed proindependence members were on guard at all strategic sites in the city.

Locals stayed home for fear of fresh clashes between the prointegration and proindependence forces. Only about 1,000 people, mostly women, children and the elderly, turned up for Mass, many of them bursting into tears as soon as they saw Belo waiting for them in front of the church.

"This was the first time I came into a church and found no one inside," Belo said.

Belo urged the people and the government to resume their daily activities.

"Local people, including civil servants, should resume their daily activities. Children should go to school and teachers should not fear being terrorized and security personnel should do their duty and restore order and security in the regency," he said.

He called for patience and faith, especially among those who lost members of their families in the violence.

Separately, at least two separatist activists were injured and two cars and a number of magazines were confiscated when the military launched a raid on the Xanana Gusmao-led Falintil Separatist Movement (CNRT) in Hertitu village, Ermera regency.

Lt. Col. Mudjiono, deputy chief of the East Timor military district, said the injured victims were taken by their fellow rebels into the forest.

He said the military operation was launched hours after the shooting of Antoni Lima, a member of the Ermera regency legislature, by the rebels on Saturday.

Antara news agency reported that hundreds of prointegration supporters in East Timor on Sunday were attacked by CNRT rebels as they were on their way to Zulamai subdistrict, 202 kilometers south of Dili, to attend a mass gathering. (33/rms)