Rioting breaks out in Baucau

DILI, East Timor (JP): Twenty shops were burned down and three people injured in the latest rioting involving indigenous people and immigrants last week, eyewitnesses said.

Chief of the East Timor military command Col. Mahidin Simbolon said on Saturday he was aware of the incident but insisted there were no injuries.

The incident, which happened in the Kota Baru (New Town) area on Thursday, was sparked by unconfirmed news about the murder of a local by a Javanese migrant during a brawl.

Dozens of people attacked the shopping complex and set fire to kiosks before they took their protest to the Baucau military office.

After meeting with local military leaders, Baucau regent Virgilo Diaz Marcal said he deeply deplored the incident and called on migrants to refrain from being involved in violence against locals.

Legislator Manuel Carrascalao said one person was killed in the incident but he declined to name the victim. (yac/pan)