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)