Tension prevails in Dili amid sporadic gunfire

JAKARTA (JP): Dili remained tense but largely quiet on Sunday, with witnesses reporting only occasional gunfire in some parts of the city.

However, several deaths were reported in the territory, including that of a German Jesuit priest. The flow of refugees was estimated to have reached some 120,000.

Catholic priest Sandyawan Sumardi, a member of the Jesuit order, which has an extensive network in East Timor, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that Father Carolus Albrecth Karim Arbie, 70, died late Saturday in an attack in the front yard of the Loyola residence in Dili.

His body was later taken to the military hospital for an autopsy, Sandyawan said.

However, staff at Wirahusada Military Hospital in Dili could not confirm on Sunday whether Arbie's body had been among three bodies taken late Saturday to the hospital.

"I can only say that three bodies were brought here, including the body of a 13-year-old girl," Pvt. Edi Purnomo told the Post by telephone from Dili.

Edi said Dili was quiet, but that sporadic gunfire was still heard on Sunday throughout the city.

"Electricity in some parts of the city, including in this hospital, continues to be cut off," he said.

East Timor has seen a wave of violence following the historic Aug. 30 ballot in which the province rejected Indonesia's offer of wide-ranging autonomy.

Jakarta imposed from midnight last Monday a state of emergency to clamp down on the violence.

Refugees

In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, authorities announced that as of Sunday evening at least 118,000 refugees had poured into 12 regencies throughout the province. Over half are located in the Belu regency, which is near the East Timor border.

Antara reported that tents, clean water and latrines were urgently needed.

"It is quite difficult to find a latrine and clean water so that we can cook," said Maria de Charvalho, 53.

"But the main thing really is that we could reach safety," she added.

Staff at the Professor W.Z. Johannes Hospital in Kupang said dozens of infants had been admitted suffering from respiratory problems and diarrhea.

Meanwhile, David Wimhurst, spokesman for the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), was quoted as saying by AFP in the northern Australian city of Darwin that Indonesian troops and militias had attacked on Sunday some 30,000 refugees massed around a seminary in Dare, nine kilometers south of Dili.

However, the deputy chief of UNAMET's public information office in Dili, Brian Kelly, said reports from the Indonesian military and its own sources in Dare indicated the mission town was calm on Sunday and that an attack had occurred on Saturday.

"In fact it is quiet in Dare and there are no reports at the moment of any attacks on the displaced people there," he said.

Head of the Security Restoration Operation in East Timor Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri said the military had, since the imposition of martial law, detained 25 people in Dili and seized 27 weapons, including fire arms.

"They were arrested for violating the martial law that bans the illegal possession of weapons," Kiki told the Post by phone from Dili on Saturday night.

He said two of the detained were members of the military and they were being questioned by military police.

Syahnakri also said the military was still trying to free the chief of the Soibada military sector, Capt. IGK Hartawan, who was allegedly being held hostage by the proindependence armed Falintil.

He said Hartawan was captured by Falintil members, who attacked the isolated area after the United Nations announced the result of the ballot on Sept. 4.

From Dili Antara reported that at least 12 police officers had been detained on Sunday afternoon after they were caught trying to rob the Bank Duta office in Dili.

Commander of the Dili sector Col. Deerham said the police officers were at the time wearing T-Shirts along with police issue brown trousers and police boots.

Syahnakri has several times pledged to take tough action against looters and other violators of the law, including military and police troops offenders. (byg/das/lem/yac)