East Timorese youths face death penalty

East Timorese youths face death penalty

JAKARTA (JP): Two East Timorese youths may face the death
penalty if they are found guilty of attempting to topple the
government by committing terrorism, chief of East Timor's
Prosecutor's Office Fx. Martanto said Saturday.

Martanto said his office was still intensively questioning the
suspects and hoped that their dossier could be completed and
submitted to the local court soon.

"Both Constancio Costa dos Santos alias Aquito and Paulo Jorge
Perera will face subversion charges with a possible maximum
sentence of the death penalty," Martanto was quoted by Antara as
saying.

The two suspects were arrested when they arrived in Dili from
Semarang on Sept. 15. East Timor Military Commander Col. Salamat
Sidabutar said recently that they were caught red-handed carrying
20 homemade bombs produced in Demak, Central Java.

Police also seized from them 44 rounds of ammunition for M-16
rifles and 24 bullets for Colt 31 and FN 45 pistols.

"The bombs were produced using simple technology but were
powerful enough to demolish a high-rise building," Sidabutar
said.

The two allegedly planned to bomb several places in Dili,
including the venue where Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares was
to be sworn in for his second term by Minister of Home Affairs
Moch. Yogie S.M. on Sept. 17.

"As those two suspects may face more than five-year sentences,
the state is required to provide them with defense lawyers,"
Martanto noted.

Police arrested them in Dili after receiving information from
Central Java Police that they were carrying bombs from Demak.

Police were tracing the suspects after a homemade bomb
exploded accidentally on Sept. 13 in a house in Batursari, Demak,
Central Java.

The house had been rented since 1996 by four members of the
alleged terrorist group Associacio Socialista de Timor (AST).
They were identified as Constancio Costa dos Santos, who is a
student, Joao Carceres, Arlinda da Costa and Nuno Vicente Pereira
Saldanha.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan said
last week the group was financed by Avelino Maria Coelho da
Silva, 35, who is the secretary-general of AST.

"In May this year Avelino alias Dr. Shalar invited an
Australian instructor, identified only as Geoffrey, to train the
youths to produce bombs for one month," Wahab said.

Avelino and Nuno escaped to the Austrian Embassy on Sept. 19
under the pretext of applying for visas. Later they said they
were seeking political asylum in Portugal, claiming their lives
were in danger.

Avelino was accompanied by his wife Sabina, of Kalimantan, and
his two small children, identified as Adel Sea Maria Coelho da
Silva and Didina Maria Coeho da Silva.

Another youth who followed them to the embassy was identified
as Costodio de Yesus Belo.

The Indonesian government insisted that the Austrian Embassy
hand over Avelino and Nuno to local authorities because of their
involvement in terrorism.

"We have told the Austrian government that we cannot allow
these two people to leave for Portugal because it would mean we
protect criminals," Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said
last week. (prb)