Governor Abilio urged to send newcomers home
DILI (JP): A group of demonstrators demanded yesterday that East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares return newcomers, especially those from South Sulawesi, to their hometowns.
The demand was made following an incident at the Becora Inpres market in Dili on Saturday which led to the death of Mario Vicente, a local trader.
Reports compiled by the local administration state that the incident was sparked by a misunderstanding between Mario and Mokhamad Sakir, another trader at the market, who hails from South Sulawesi.
Sakir was reportedly envious of the prosperous business run by Mario, whose stall is more strategically placed than his. This jealousy led to a quarrel, which ended with Sakir stabbing Mario to death.
Sakir, who feared the killing would be avenged, immediately took refuge at the nearest police station.
Syarwan Hamid, spokesman for the Armed Forces, said on Monday that the incident enraged area residents. Some of them reportedly burned a number of kiosks, houses, shops and vehicles.
Syarwan said that others even demonstrated against the province's integration into Indonesia in 1976.
The demonstrations continued yesterday, when a group of protesters, displaying anti-integration posters, damaged another two cars near the complex of the University of East Timor.
They apparently did this to distract attention from the activities of the heads of state attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum's conference in Bogor, West Java. The event was being covered by a large number of foreign journalists, yesterday.
Chief of the East Timor Provincial Legislative Council Antonio Freitas Parada asked the local police to take stern action against anyone not heeding the government's call for calm following what he termed the "trivial incident" at the Becora Inpres market in Dili.
"As our country has its own laws, all problems taking place in the province must be processed in line with existing regulations," he said.
"The police officers have to be strict. Don't let demonstrators go on disturbing the peacefulness of other residents," he said.
Antonio said that demonstrations can no longer be tolerated because their actions have disturbed the people's tranquility.
Greater say
In a related development, U.S. President Bill Clinton told a press conference in Jakarta yesterday that the people of East Timor should have a greater say over their own affairs.
Speaking after the APEC meeting, he said that he will discuss the issue with Indonesian President Soeharto during his one-day state visit today.
Clinton said he had long believed "the people of East Timor should have more say over their own affairs".
Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Senator Gareth Evens told parliament on Monday in Canberra that Indonesia will start pulling troops out of East Timor next year.
Evans was quoted by UPI as saying that he received assurances to this effect from his Indonesian counterpart Ali Alatas during talks the two ministers held in Jakarta in advance of the APEC meeting.
"Indonesia will start pulling out troops from East Timor next year," Evans told the Australian parliament.
"It looks like it is going to flow through next year," he said. "We had all hoped that it might be rather sooner than that."
He said the Indonesian government recognized the validity of arguments for political autonomy for East Timor.
"The Indonesian government realizes that the problem is an intractable one.
"It is not going to go away unless some efforts of reconciliation of this kind have occurred," Evans said.
Evans comments came as around 50 East Timorese protesters scuffled with police when they attempted to storm the Indonesian consulate on Monday in Sydney.
The protests at the Consulate in Sydney coincided with the APEC meeting.
The activists tried to prevent cars from leaving the consulate and threw dozens of eggs at the building.
They tried to scale the fence into the consulate grounds and one man climbed onto the roof of the building before being coaxed down.
There were no arrests. (yac/hhr)