Military denies fatalities in East Timor protest
DILI, East Timor (JP): The military denied reports yesterday that two people died when it broke up a demonstration of local youths Sunday during the visit of United Nations special envoy Jamsheed Marker.
"There were no fatalities," said Chief of East Timor police Lt. Col. Beno Kilapong. "We are not hiding anything about... Sunday's riot. We will let the National Commission on Human Rights investigate this case."
Commission member Clementino Dos Reis Amaral was in town yesterday after attending the launch of a book by Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.
Kilapong said half of the 48 youths arrested would be tried on criminal charges. The police seized 12 sharp weapons, 19 placards and a Fretilin banner from them.
Kilapong was asked to comment on the claim by a Dili Catholic leader that two people had died in the incident; one was shot and one was stabbed to death.
Florentino Sarmento, the leader of the Motael Catholic community, yesterday rejected the official account that eleven protesters had been hurt, because they had jumped through glass doors or were trampled by fellow demonstrators.
Sarmento said security forces had opened fire on the East Timorese youths, killing two and injuring 21. Seven had been shot and others beaten.
The youths forced their way into Hotel Mahkota Timor, where Marker was staying, to demand a meeting with him.
Marker arrived in Dili Saturday for a three-day fact-finding mission. He is now in Jakarta. He met members of the National Commission on Human Rights and Minister of Defense Edi Sudrajat separately yesterday.
Sarmento said the 21 injured youths had sought medical treatment at a clinic near the Motael church. "But several security officers rushed into the church, disturbing Sunday's mass," he said.
Procession
The Motael priest had canceled a traditional palm leave procession Sunday afternoon to protest the authorities' treatment of the youths, Sarmento said.
In Jakarta, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Slamet Supriyadi said yesterday the police would question 33 anti-integration East Timorese youths who had jumped over a back fence into the Austrian embassy Tuesday afternoon.
"They will be questioned once they leave the embassy compound," Supriyadi said.
The youths climbed over the embassy's fence and demanded to meet Marker. Hours later, three of them were taken to meet Marker at the UN representative office.
Supriyadi said there was a possible link between the youths' action and Sunday's clash.
Eleonora Windisch, the first secretary at the Austrian embassy, told The Jakarta Post yesterday the embassy was negotiating with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the fate of the East Timorese youths.
She denied speculation that the youths had sought asylum.
About 40 youths protested outside the embassy yesterday, denouncing the youths inside, witnesses said. Then about 20 students staged a demonstration to support Indonesia's integration of East Timor in front of the UN representative office.
One hundred and eight East Timorese have entered foreign embassies in Jakarta seeking political asylum since September 1995. (33/imn/amd)