Tensions remains despite peace pact

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)