Policeman fires on soldier

Policeman fires on soldier

DILI, East Timor: Local military chief Col. Mahidin Simbolon
confirmed yesterday reports of an armed clash between a police
officer and a soldier over a prostitute.

Simbolon said the incident, involving an officer of a mobile
police brigade and an officer of Army Company 744, occurred on
the night of Sept. 27 in a red light district in Komoro, about
four kilometers west of here.

While there has been no word of casualties, eyewitnesses said
the incident provided quite a spectacle for the locals. Details
of the argument between the two officers were not immediately
available.

Simbolon, meanwhile, told reporters that the episode was so
commonplace as to be unremarkable.

"It was a common thing. In Jakarta, such incidents happen
almost every day. You journalists should not make it look like
something new," Simbolon said.

Eyewitnesses said the incident started when a policeman opened
fire on an Army officer. The bullets fired reportedly missed the
officer. Shortly afterwards, a company of Army officers came to
the policeman's dormitory in connection with the dispute.

Bystanders said the situation was brought under control after
Simbolon and East Timor police chief Col. Andreas Sugianto
personally intervened. (yac/pan)