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)