Portuguese envoy holds talks with E. Timor bishops
Portuguese envoy holds talks with E. Timor bishops
JAKARTA (JP): The head of Portugal's diplomatic post here, Ana
Gomes, on Sunday met with two leading East Timor bishops on her
second day of visit scheduled to end Tuesday.
Her arrival on Saturday came amidst another outburst of
violence when a priest was stabbed while helping a man being
assaulted by a pro-integration group in Maubara, 15 kilometers
west of Dili.
Gomes, who heads the post called the interest section here,
met on Sunday Baucau bishop Basilio Do Nascimento in Baucau. In
the morning she met Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate Dili Bishop
Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo after attending a morning mass.
AFP reported from Dili that many tried to shake her hand after
mass and she spoke to a few of them in Portuguese.
Sources in Baucau, Antara reported, said they were "confused"
as Gomes' visit was unexpected.
"She wanted to know latest developments and wanted to meet a
number of CNRT members regarding recent abductions allegedly
involving the organization," a source said, referring to the
National Council for an Independent East Timor.
From Baucau, she was to visit the Dili home of pro-
independence activist Manuel Carrascalao, where hundreds of
refugees have sought shelter following reported intimidation
against them since January.
From Dili, Antara on Sunday quoted Samsudin, a member of the
National Commission on Human Rights, as saying that Gomes' visit
aimed "to help people accept results of the tripartite meeting
regarding the province at the United Nations."
The talks in New York resulted in the agreement that a direct
ballot would be conducted among East Timorese to determine
whether they wanted autonomy with Indonesia or independence.
Also on Sunday AFP reported from Sydney, Australia that UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in an interview screened there
that the Indonesian government on Friday had reiterated its
commitment to release Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, chairman of
CNRT. "... I am hoping that he will be free before the actual
vote takes place," Annan said.
On Saturday bodies of a kidnapped Armed Forces (ABRI) soldier
and a civil servant were found near the Air Force base in Baucau.
The bodies of Sgt. Arie Fuddin and Robert Karorung were found
by local villagers. Two other ABRI soldiers, Sgt. Maj. Katimir
and Cpl. Nasikin, who allegedly were abducted on Sunday by a pro-
independence group while on a public bus traveling to Baucau from
Dili, remain missing.
In Maubara, priest Rafael dos Santos suffered stab wounds when
20 members of Besi Merah Putih (Red and White Iron) attacked a
public bus. Rafael was trying to rescue the bus driver, Felice
Berto dos Santos, who apparently was attacked for his support of
independence for East Timor.
The attackers stabbed Felice in the head and left hand when
Rafael, traveling in his car to a nearby village from Liquica,
came to the aid of Felice.
Both Felice and Rafael were admitted to Liquica General
Hospital. While Felice needed intensive medical care, Rafael only
received minor wounds and was discharged from the hospital.
Witnesses said the group of youths, most of whose parents
allegedly are civil servants or Armed Forces members, stabbed the
priest after he attempted to shield Felice from the attack.
"You are a Fretilin priest, we hate you Rafael," the youths
shouted at the priest. The youths then went on a rampage, burning
six houses in the nearby village of Gulolo, forcing the residents
to seek refugee in Maubara.
About 3,000 people marched to Liquica regent Leonito Martins'
official residence to protest the attack and demand that he
disband the pro-government group within a week.
Meanwhile, refugees from East Timor continue to flock to
Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara.
Belu military chief Lt. Col. Sigit Yuwono said on Saturday at
least 566 families comprising 2,322 people had arrived in Atambua
since January. More than 370 of the families are native East
Timorese while 186 families hail from East Nusa Tenggara.
(33/45/prb/anr)