E. Timor probe continues

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)