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)