Military denies fatalities in East Timor protest
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)