E. Timor probe continues

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Government-appointed investigators of last year's violence in East Timor have questioned six former officials from the former Indonesian province as witnesses.

Former East Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, Dili regent Domingos M.D. Soares, Bobonaro regent Guilherme dos Santos, Liquica's regent Leoneto Martins, head of Maubara district Jose Afaat and chief of Comoro village Victorino dos Santos Araujo have been questioned in connection with the bloodshed that followed the popular consultation on East Timor's future on Aug. 30, 1999.

Other witnesses, former deputy chief of the Integration Fighters Force (PPI) Eurico Guterres and former spokesman for the Forum of Unity, Democracy and Justice Basilio de Araujo, are scheduled to face questioning on Monday at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

As the witnesses reside in East Nusa Tenggara, they failed to answer the summonses in Jakarta since the investigation started in April.

Another investigation team is in East Timor to question several people from the pro-independence group, Kupang's team leader Putu Kusa told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. (bby)