Riot mars New Year's Day in E. Timor
Riot mars New Year's Day in E. Timor
DILI, East Timor (JP): Around 200 East Timorese youths burned a market complex and destroyed dozens of houses in Baucau, a regency town east of here on Sunday, leaving scores of people injured.
The Armed Forces (ABRI)'s Information Center in Jakarta confirmed that a riot occurred in Baucau and said that 11 people, including security officers, sustained light injuries in the incident.
The Baucau Police Precinct was also damaged as were two transit vans, several restaurants and a car belonging to a senior regency official, it said.
There were no reports of arrests and the ABRI statement gave little details of the riot.
Local people had earlier given a higher casualty figure, including some deaths, but these could not be officially confirmed. They said that security officers sent to quell the riot met strong resistance from the protesters, some falling victim to the rocks being pelted by the youths.
The riot focused on a market complex situated between the old city and the new city in Baucau.
The riot had its origin in a minor feud between two Baucau residents, which then turned into a fight, according to the military statement. In the process, one of them, identified as 17-year-old Armando Ximenes, was stabbed and later died. His assailant, identified as 26-year old Cole alias Rusli, suffered head and facial injuries.
Local sources said Cole is a migrant from South Sulawesi.
News of Armando's death quickly spread, arousing anger in the local people. They took to the streets and their actions turned brutal and destructive, according to the military.
Order was restored later in the evening after the local officials moved to calm the angry protesters.
A similar riot with racial overtones occurred in Dili in November following the stabbing of an East Timorese trader by his neighbor of South Sulawesi descent. The riot went on for three days.
Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report said there was another riot on a smaller scale in Kuluhun near Dili on New Year's Eve.
Local sources said dozens of youths vented their anger by pelting houses after their New Year's party was dissolved by security authorities.
Fifteen youths were detained for questioning. They had not been released as of yesterday.(yac/rms)