One killed, 86 homes burned in latest East Timor's riot
One killed, 86 homes burned in latest East Timor's riot
DILI, East Timor (JP): One person died and 86 houses and six
vehicles were burned when a frenzied mob of 6,000 Ambeno regency
residents went on a rampage yesterday over a slight against a
local priest.
Mahmud Abuh, aged 30, was stabbed to death, according to
Regent Filomeno Da Costa Misquita. The regency is 200 km west of
here.
The unrest started at about 6 a.m. local time and lasted until
well into the afternoon. The predominately Catholic community was
reportedly enraged over what it perceived as an insult against
priest Lazaurus Mau of the Ambeno parish during a post-Idul Fitri
gathering Wednesday.
The regent said that during the gathering held at the Ambeno
military district base, guests, that included civilian, military
and religious leaders, were served lunch in boxes.
The priest, however, was reportedly given a box containing
leftover food. He returned the box, but not before a parishioner
saw it and took offense.
Stories about the incident quickly circulated among the
Catholic community, even in villages far removed from the capital
of Ambeno, Pantai Makasar.
On Thursday, a number of people started to protest against the
insult, but security forces were able to control the crowds.
Yesterday, however, the number of protesters swelled to more
than 6,000, according to Filomeno. The protest deteriorated into
a riot and an assault on the migrant Moslem Bugis community from
South Sulawesi.
It was only contained after the priest himself went out and
calmed the rioters.
"The unrest stopped after the priest told the rioters to go
home," Filomeno said. "The security officers had not been able to
control the masses. The rioters ignored the officers.
"The priest helped us restore the situation. Right now, the
city of Pantai Makasar is back to normal. We are calling on the
public not to create any more unrest. Ambeno had always been safe
up to now."
The local military and civilian leaders met yesterday to
discuss the unrest, and agreed to work together to ease the
tension. The police began to investigate the incident
immediately.
Officials at the Ambeno military command refused to discuss
the situation. Neither East Timor Police Chief Col. Yusuf
Mucharam nor Ambeno Police Chief Maj. Gusti Made Putu could be
reached for comment. (33/swe)