E. Timorese protest against church incident

DILI, East Timor (JP): More than 300 young East Timorese took to the streets yesterday to protest what they described as an "insult to the Santo Yoseph Remexio church."

Unfurling banners with pictures of the Virgin Mary and carrying four large crosses, the protesters, who wore red badges in the shape of crosses, walked two kilometers from the Balide church to the governor's office to protest an incident which took place on late last month.

After a minor confrontation with police officers, who tried to block them from entering the office, the demonstrators were allowed to meet with Vice Governor Brig. Gen. Johanes Haribowo and East Timor Police Chief Sugianto Andreas.

Residence of the dominantly Catholic province have been enraged by an incident that took place in the church located in the Remexio village near Dili, in which two Armed Forces (ABRI) personnel were reported to have trampled on the host administered to them by the priest.

Witnesses said the incident angered the worshipers, who attacked the officers before they escaped. A witness claimed that the officers told the angry worshipers they were present at the mass under orders from superiors.

The two men, who were identified as privates Bakhrul Alum and Nurcahyo, are now reportedly in custody along with an officer.

Local Military Commander Col. Jhony J. Lumintang has apologized to Catholics in the province, saying that the ABRI men entered the church because they were drawn by curiosity. He said the Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Adang Rukiatna, whose territory includes Bali, Nusa Tenggara and East Timor, has asked him to deal with the two officers in accordance with the law.

During the meeting, the protesters presented the vice governor with a demand to be passed on to the central government. The text deplores the incident and calls for the trial of those involved. (yac/par)