Police attackers admit guilt

Police attackers admit guilt

DILI, East Timor: Three men believed to be involved in the
recent ambush on a police mobile brigade in Bairro Pite village,
west of Dili, admitted the guilt and said they were acting under
the instruction of a certain Julio, a former pier worker here.

Fransisco da Silva (22), Jose dos Santos (20), both pier
workers, and Fransisco Soares (19), said here yesterday they
attacked the police office on the eve of polling day last
Thursday.

They said the operation took them about 20 minutes.

Santos said that earlier on Thursday Julio promised him some
money after the ambush. Santos, who was arrested in Hudilaran on
the same day, said Julio and another person by the name of Cosmy
Belo brought two rifles and a short machete with them.

Da Silva said Julio promised to give him Rp 50,000 (about
US$24) if he joined the ambush, but had not received the money.

"I have never participated in any attack before and never been
arrested," da Silva was quoted by Antara as saying.

He admitted he fled from Bairro Pite village to Hudilaran,
where he was arrested after the attack.

The other attacker, Soares, named the other 10 attackers. They
were Cosmy Belo, Gusmao, Mario Lopes, Gaspar, Pereira, Agostinho
Soares, Fernando, Carlito and Pedro. Five of the aggressors were
shot dead. (33/swe)