Policeman shot in Kupang clash

Policeman shot in Kupang clash

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Six people, including Adj. Brig.
Imanuel, a member of the East Nusa Tenggara police Mobile
Brigade, were shot on Wednesday evening in a clash between
security officers and East Timorese refugees in front of the
local police headquarters.

Three of the five refugees shot in the incident were
identified as Fransiskus da Costa, Aloysius Maria and Tome de
Araujo, Sr. Comr. Edward Pakasi, spokesman of the Kupang police,
said on Thursday.

Imanuel is being treated at the Yohanes hospital, while the
five refugees are at a hospital in Soe.

Edward explained that the clash erupted when a group of
refugees went to the local police headquarters, demanding that
their belongings, in the form of tables and cocks, be returned
after being confiscated in a raid against gambling on Tuesday.

In the raid, the officers also detained 16 people for their
involvement in gambling at Kobalete stadium in Soe.

The refugees, who went to the police headquarters, turned
violent by breaking the office's windows, Edward was quoted by
Antara as saying.

The uncontrolled action ended up with the clash between the
refugees and the security officers, he said.

No information on who shot the victims was available. "We have
no idea whether that was done by the security officers or the
refugees. It is still being investigated," he said.