Journalist's attackers arrested

Journalist's attackers arrested

DILI, East Timor: Police have arrested four of the five people
suspected of beating up Gaudensius Mau, a journalist from the
Jakarta-based Tiras weekly and Suara Timor Timur daily, a report
said yesterday.

Chief of East Timor police Col. Yusuf Muchram said police
first arrested two suspects. Working on the tip from the two,
police then arrested another two suspects, whose identities
Muchram refused to divulge.

Police had said earlier that eight people attacked the
reporter.

Muchram said the four suspects have admitted to attacking Mau
on Nov. 17 because the tone of voice he used to ask them a
question offended them.

Mau is being treated in Dili General Hospital and is still
unable to speak to police.

Muchram was quoted by Antara as saying that if the victim's
health improved, police would cross-check his account of the
attack with that of the attackers. (ste)