Teenager dies in new clash in East Timor

Teenager dies in new clash in East Timor

DILI (JP): One more life was lost on Wednesday in East Timor
as pro-integration teenager Joanico Gomes, 18, was hacked and
speared to death when he and his friends went to save an abducted
friend from a group of anti-integrationists.

The latest violence occurred in Lisa Lara hamlet, Vatuvou
village in Liquica regency's Maubara subdistrict, some 45
kilometers west of here. A number of people have died since
Indonesia's latest controversial offer of prospective
independence for the troubled province.

Deputy chief of the East Timor military command Col. Mudjiono
cited "revenge" as the likely motive behind the latest clash
between villagers.

Some anti-integration supporters had extorted up to Rp 180
million from pro-integrationists and had promised to return it,
the officer said.

But with the recent political development over the disputed
territory, the pro-integration villagers had rejected the
blackmail and had demanded the return of their money.

The situation created friction, Mudjiono said.

Liquica Police chief Lt. Col. Adios Salova said the incident
began at 1 p.m. when some pro-integration villagers in Lisa Lara
hamlet were working their fields.

A group of 50 people claiming to be anti-integrationists, led
by a man identified only as Cesar, arrived and took away 23-year-
old Paulino da Silva to a post "for interrogation", Adios said.

Dozens of members of the village's recently set-up civilian
militia, the Besi Merah Putih (Red-and-White Iron), then went out
to look for Paulino.

They were attacked by the anti-integration group armed with
arrows, spears and machetes. Adios said Gomes was killed in the
clash. Paulino was beaten up and sustained stab wounds to his
shoulder and thigh, he said. Cesar managed to escape, he said.

Four anti-integrationists were also injured. Two were taken to
Liquica hospital and two others to the military hospital in Dili
along with Paulino. Fourteen more, including 10 pro-
integrationists, sustained light injuries from arrows, spears and
machetes. Adios said 18 men involved in the clash from both camps
had been arrested.

Later in the afternoon Gomes' body was buried at a local
cemetery following a procession attended by Liquica military
chief Lt. Col. Asep.

Meanwhile in Jakarta on Wednesday, a group of disabled
military veterans and widows of ABRI soldiers who died in East
Timor protested against the government's decision to consider
separation of the territory.

About 200 protesters, some in wheelchairs or with prosthetic
legs, discussed their grievances with members of the House of
Commission I for political affairs. A few of the legs were
displayed on tables while they delivered a statement urging that
Indonesia retain authority over East Timor, which it integrated
in 1976.

"We're shocked at President B.J. Habibie's intention to
separate East Timor from Indonesia since we fought for and were
disabled for the nation," Lt. Col. (ret) Subiyantono, an
organizer of the protest, said.

Also in Jakarta, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas
assured investors Wednesday that they would not lose out if East
Timor became independent and that the Timor Gap oil agreement had
to be renegotiated.

"If East Timor finally becomes independent, this matter would
have to be renegotiated because the Timor Gap is just south of
East Timor," Alatas told journalists at the state palace.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard had said Sunday that it
was possible that the Timor Gap treaty, which covers the control
of offshore oil and gas reserves, and to which Australia and
Indonesia are the main parties, may need reviewing if East Timor
becomes independent.

"Our own position is not dramatically altered by that but
there could be a need for change in negotiations," he said.

In December 1989, Indonesia and Australia signed an agreement
on the joint exploration of the Timor Gap where they have
overlapping border claims. (33/aan/prb)