Three more killed in East Timor

DILI, East Timor (JP): At least three people died and eight sustained bullet wounds and slashes from sharp weapons during attacks by armed groups in the capital on Monday.

One victim with shot wounds was taken to the local Motael Clinic but no identity documents were found on him. Other bodies were taken to Wira Husada Military Hospital, clinic staff said.

Residents at the site of the attack in the Santa Cruz subdistrict, East Dili, told The Jakarta Post that two others died, identified as Abito and Ano, and were taken away by Red Cross personnel.

The cause of Monday's attack by prointegration militia began at 11 a.m.. The reason for the attack was not clear but militiamen seemed to be seeking out proindependence supporters. They raided homes and attacked male inhabitants, witnesses said. Three or four homes were set on fire while others were vandalized. Shots were heard until nightfall and many residents took shelter at military posts.

"No police officers are around," a resident requesting anonymity said late Monday.

"It is very quiet" apart from the shots, he added.

Among those treated for gunshot wounds at a local clinic were Rogerio Sousa, 27, Salvador Carvalo, 22, and Lucio Alves, 18. Dili Police chief Col. Timbul Silaen identified five others treated for various wounds.

Timbul also said one victim died in violence on Sunday between prointegration and proindependence supporters, bringing Sunday's death toll to two.

Prointegration militia also attacked East Timor University and shattered several windows. They left when they found the campus empty. A demonstration in the morning was dispersed when students learned that militiamen were heading for the city.

Militiamen arrived from Liquica regency in 10 trucks on Monday night and were seen gathering at the headquarters of the Aitarak prointegration group. Aitarak leader Eurico Guterres said they needed to protect themselves from proindependence supporters who attacked them in Dili on Sunday.

In the morning, more came in five trucks and a jeep.

Separately, UN representative Om Rathor said reports that the first batch of civilian police would arrive on Monday were incorrect, saying they would arrive in the next few weeks.

The only local daily, Suara Timor Timur, received another threat and will not publish on Tuesday. "We will resume publishing on Wednesday," a reporter said.

A police officer assigned to guard the office since it resumed publishing on May 3 received one of two calls, the reporter said.

"The police requested that none of us remain in the office," he said.

The daily was attacked on April 17 and has just installed new equipment. It was not clear which of its articles sparked the ire of which party. On Tuesday, the daily carried as its lead story the presentation of arms by prointegration militia.

A similar ceremony took place in Baucau regency attended by authorities, in which they pledged support for autonomy.

In front of the governor's office in Dili, the parked car of Joao Bosco, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction was destroyed by militiamen for unclear reasons.

Delay

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas warned that failure to prevent continued violence in the province might result in mounting pressure from Portugal and other Western countries for the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping forces, and even the delay of a direct vote, scheduled for Aug.8.

"What is important is that we show to the world, especially to the UN, that we can uphold security and order," he said after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace.

He said the situation in the 27th province would be a test for Indonesian security personnel regarding "whether the trust given to us to keep the peace and order is well-founded."

The minister implied that jailed rebel Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao was closer to regaining his freedom after Indonesia's May 5 agreement with Portugal regarding the ballot on autonomy.

"We will consider amnesty on Xanana Gusmao as part of a comprehensive solution (on East Timor)," Alatas said. (33/prb/anr)