Prointegration figure confirms murders in Suai

Prointegration figure confirms murders in Suai

DILI, East Timor (JP): A string of murders has occurred in
Suai, Covalima regency, in the past week, prointegration leader
Rui Emiliano Treixeira Lopes said on Monday.

He did not mention figures but said that "several" bodies of
people killed from last Saturday to Friday were dumped in the
Salele River in Suai. Rui quoted local sources in Suai, where he
is based, but said he was in Jakarta at the time of the alleged
crimes.

About 1,000 residents have fled to the mountains where the
Falintil proindependence militia is based. Prointegration members
also have sought safety in the mountains from the killings which
were motivated by personal revenge, Rui told reporters.

People identified as proindependence and prointegration
supporters were among the victims, he said.

On Saturday a local legal aid office, the Hak Foundation, said
two died and 30 went missing since Saturday. Local priests have
declined to talk to journalists and the authorities maintain
there have been no incidents.

"I deeply regret the killings," Rui said, adding that members
of the Laksaur prointegration militia might be involved. The
number of deaths remained under investigation, he said.

"Even crocodiles won't eat the dumped bodies in Salele River,"
he said.

Rui, who with two village heads in Covalima reported the
killings to ambassador-at-large Lopez da Cruz, said those
involved in the violence were former demonstrators at the Santa
Cruz cemetery in 1991 who since went over to the prointegration
camp.

The coordinator of the CNRT proindependence group here, David
Dias Ximenes, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that he urged an
independent team to immediately investigate the incidents in
Suai.

"Even if we mention figures, the government would not believe
us," he said. "We really hope that the authorities will be honest
and not manipulate facts, that the law will be upheld and that
the East Timorese who died will be respected."

Ximenes has since gone into hiding.

The Commission for Peace and Justice under the Dili Diocese
received reports of at least 11 missing persons as of noon on
Monday.

A staff member said the commission received reports of an
average of 10 missing persons a day since November, when nine
were killed and hundreds went missing in Alas, Manufahi regency.

"One report often consists of up to 10 missing relatives,"
said Rio.

Commission members said recently the missing persons were
reported by their families to have been abducted, often by
militia and the military.

On Monday reports included five missing people in Laclubar
district in Manatuto. Relatives identified them as Vicente
Soares, Antonino Pinto, Marcelino Soares, Antonio and Adelino
Soares.

They were allegedly taken from their homes by soldiers of the
local 741 infantry battalion and members of the Manatuto Military
Command on Saturday.

"They were not told what their offense was," a relative said.

"They were tied up and beaten at a post," an incident
witnessed by many people, she said. Witnesses saw them being
taken away in a van. The relatives also reported that three other
people were in intensive care at the local health community
center for gunshot wounds.

The motivation, another relative said, was revenge following
the death of second class Sgt. Belarmino Lopes da Cruz when he
was transporting supplies to Laclubar last Friday. Falintil is
suspected of involvement in the killings, but relatives said
those shot and abducted on Saturday were not members of the
group. Many residents have fled to the forests following the
shooting and kidnapping, the relatives said.

Also reported missing since Saturday were three residents of
Hera village in East Dili. Relatives said kidnappers were members
of the Dili-based Aitarak militia.

Relatives said they avoided reporting the incidents to police
out of fear. "We could be arrested," one said. Another said
police often dismissed reports of missing people.

On Saturday, Dili Police chief Col. Timbul Silaen said he
ordered all police precinct chiefs to take action against further
legal violations following the signing of the Wednesday peace
pact between proindependence and prointegration camps.

The commission on Monday also received reports of three
refugees from Maubara district in Liquica who sought shelter at
the home of proindependence figure Manuel Carrascalao. His house
was attacked last Saturday and 67 of 124 refugees at his home
have since been sheltered by the Dili Police.

A woman who requested anonymity said her missing relatives --
Lucio Carion, Francisco Boabida and Antonino Boabida -- were not
with the police. The military said bodies of 11 of 13 people
killed at Manuel's home were delivered to their families in
Liquica. (33/anr)