Tensions remains despite peace pact

DILI, East Timor (JP): Tension continued here one day after the signing of the historic peace pact between proindependence and prointegration groups, as economic activities resumed and children returned to school.

Several gunshots were heard as prointegration militia continued to patrol some streets and conducted ID checks on residents. One journalist reported being threatened by a prointegration group waving machetes.

While there were no reports of clashes in the provincial capital of Dili, security authorities were unable to confirm a foreign report that hours after the peace pledge on Wednesday, five people were killed in an attack by a prointegration group in Liquica, 30 kilometers west of here.

A police intelligence officer denied five youths were killed in East Timor within hours of the peace deal, Reuters reported.

"The situation in East Timor is calm and under control and we have not received any reports of renewed violence or clashes during the past 24 hours," the officer said.

AFP, however, quoted a proindependence member as claiming the military had conducted attacks on bases of rebel forces in two districts.

Head of the Region III command of Falintil, the armed wing of the East Timorese proindependence movement, Falur Ratelai, told the Solidarity for Peace in East Timor organization soldiers had attacked Falintil bases in Aileu and Manatuto districts.

He said the attacks were conducted by some 1,200 personnel from Army Battalion 301, which has been in the area since April 12.

Signatories of the pact from both warring parties pledged to lay down their weapons and support efforts for peace and reconciliation in the former Portuguese colony which has been rocked by factional violence in the past weeks.

East Timor Police chief Col. Timbul Silaen said on Thursday time was needed before the two parties could adjust to the peace pact, adding there were already encouraging developments.

He said the two groups stopped their blockades of several streets in Dili, including ones in riot-prone East Dili. He said more people were able to travel out of the city as public transport regained confidence in running their services.

"The agreement has shown positive impact on people's activities, which have been seriously affected by clashes between the two groups."

Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto has ordered all security personnel to uphold the agreement impartially.

"Familiarization of the agreement needs more time. It is natural if some of them have not been informed about the new situation," Antara quoted East Timor Military chief Col. Tono Suratman as saying.

He acknowledged one of the prointegration groups, Red-and- White Iron were still patrolling streets in Liquica regency and maintained check point posts along some streets. However, he said the group would stop their patrols soon.

Evidene

Meanwhile, potential evidence relating to the April 6 killings in Liquica, in which seven to 25 people were murdered, has been covered over. The site has been repaired and repainted.

A member of the National Commission on Human Rights who visited Liquica on Thursday, Koesparmono Irsan, said it was "no use" going to the church grounds where the killings took place, as potential evidence had disappeared.

"I was angry," Koesparmono said, referring to the members' visit to Liquica Police chief Lt. Col. Adios Salova.

"How could evidence be got rid of so fast?"

Commission members have started their investigation into the killings of civilians by armed militia at the house of local priest Rafael dos Santos and on the church grounds. Police in Liquica told the rights body they were still questioning witnesses, and that they had managed to take pictures before the site was reconstructed.

"The police chief said there was nothing he could do (to prevent the clean up of the site) as the orders came from the local military command," Koesparmono said.

Although legally the police should be in charge of such matters, the reality was different, he said.

Reporters said the church grounds bore no signs of the earlier violence.

The rights body also decided not to meet witnesses, "because we cannot guarantee their safety", Koesparmono, a retired police general said. A team from the commission will continue the investigation and meet witnesses at the end of this month, he said.

Police also told the commission that the five victims, the official toll, were buried with the help of the local administration because none of their relatives claimed the bodies. (anr/33/prb)