Three rioters tried in Dili

Three rioters tried in Dili

DILI, East Timor: Three youths, aged between 16 and 19, went on trial on Wednesday for their involvement in the September rioting which extensively damaged public facilities.

Armindo da Costa, Jose da Costa and Kristovao Paicao pleaded guilty to charges of assault and causing damage to public facilities.

Prosecutor Bambang Sutoyo said Armindo and his schoolmates threw stones at police officers, a number of kiosks and a mosque at Komoro Market, West Dili.

Bambang said several police officers were injured in the attack.

Armindo, a Roman Catholic, said his involvement with the riot was spontaneous. He said he became outraged over a statement by a Moslem prison warden denigrating Catholicism.

"Nobody told us to commit violence," Armindo said. "Once we heard of someone desecrating our religion, we all left the classroom to riot," he said.

In a separate trial of cases from the same riot, the Dili District Court tried East Timor University student Gil Fernado da Costa for allegedly beating a police officer, and 18-year-old Marselino Nunes for allegedly threatening to kill a bus driver.

Both youths also pleaded guilty. The court session was adjourned until Monday for further hearings. (yac/swe)