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)