Dili under control after two days of violent rioting
Dili under control after two days of violent rioting
DILI, East Timor (JP): The provincial capital was stable but
still tense yesterday, following two days of violent street
demonstrations after an official reportedly insulted the Catholic
religion.
Shops, restaurants and marketplaces remained closed. The
streets were largely deserted and security personnel were on full
alert in strategic locations.
The state-run radio station, RRI, broadcast periodic appeals
from Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares' to citizens, calling on
them to end the upheaval in the provincial capital.
On Friday and Saturday, gangs of high school students and
other youths went on a rampage in the town, setting motorcycles
on fire, smashing cars and harassing immigrants from other
provinces. On Saturday an angry crowd burned down the Komoro
market, where immigrants dominate business.
The protesters were infuriated by a remark reportedly made by
justice ministry official Sanusi Abubakar, who is said to have
described Catholicism as a "nonsense religion" when addressing
inmates at the Maliana prison on Sept. 4.
In Jakarta yesterday, Armed Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen.
Suwarno Adiwijoyo called on the public to remain calm and to
refrain from making comments which could worsen the situation.
He warned that the unrest involved the delicate issue of race
and religion and could spread to other provinces if improperly
handled.
Suwarno said the authorities in Dili have already released
more than 60 demonstrators. He added that 200 police
reinforcements have been brought into the town from East Java and
Bali to help restore order.
In a mass to commemorate Indonesia's 50th anniversary of
independence in the Balide Church in Viqueque on Friday night,
Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said the latest wave of
violence was regrettable.
"Christianity rejects all forms of violent and destructive
actions," he told the large congregation in this predominantly
Roman Catholic province of 800,000 people.
Belo was personally affected by the violent demonstrations
when his way to Viqueque was blocked with burning tires in the
Becora area, just east of here.
The bishop's public announcement of regret was warmly welcomed
by chief of the Udayana regional military command, Maj. Gen.
Adang Ruchiatna, whose area of responsibility covers Bali, Nusa
Tanggara and East Timor.
Adang said that, as of Saturday night, the authorities in Dili
had "questioned and detained" a number of people in connection
with the protests but that there had been no deaths.
According to Adang, the violence was incited by about 3,000
clandestine activists in favor of East Timorese independence in
various places, including Bali; Salatiga in Central Java; Malang,
in East Java; and Jakarta.
"They have made the best use of sophisticated
telecommunications technology," he said, as quoted by Antara.
Adang confirmed reports that Sanusi Abubakar had been arrested
on suspicion of insulting a religion and was being detained at
the East Timor police headquarters in Dili.
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
Soesilo Soedarman said in Surabaya on Saturday that stern action
would be taken against those involved in the violence.
"We will take action. But don't blow the issue out of
proportion...because many people hate to see East Timor secure
and prosperous," he told journalists.
Asked what he meant by "stern action," Soesilo said that would
be determined by the police headquarters in Jakarta. "The
headquarters will decide if the police will set up a special team
to handle the case."
Governor Abilio also threatened to take stern action against
those involved in the protests.
"It's not only Bishop Belo who regrets the incidents. Anyone
who loves peace in East Timor is opposed to such actions," he
said. (yac/rms/pan)