Brawl in Bacau, one killed

Brawl in Bacau, one killed

DILI, East Timor: One person was killed and two cars were
burned in a fierce brawl in the village of Bucoli, Bacau Kota
district, 150 kilometers east of here, Friday.

Alsino da Costa, 29, was killed in the brawl which erupted
when the local Golkar group held a musical show in the village.

The death of Alsino angered hundreds of youths, who then set
light to official cars belonging to the chairman of the Bacau
legislative council and the head of the agriculture office. The
officials were attending the Golkar gathering at the time.

The youths visited the regent's official residence the next
morning, and demanded the officials be held responsible for
Alsino's death.

Alsino, a younger brother of a member of the Bacau military
district command, was allegedly beaten to death. Witnesses said
no stab wounds were found on his body.

The protesters dispersed after the police Mobile Brigade fired
warning shots. Pastor Rui Gomes of the local parish asked the
youths to go home.

Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said yesterday that Alsino
was not killed by the military or police officers. "He was
allegedly killed by a group of people who are against the
government, Golkar and Armed Forces," he said.

He confirmed that two men had been arrested over the fatal
brawl. "The men had hidden in the Bacau church, while the church
officials turned them into the police," the governor said.
(33/sur)