Three Timor students arrested

BOBONARO, East Timor (JP): Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said security authorities arrested three local students for bringing in forbidden books and `foreign items.'

The East Timorese, who pursue their studies in Java, were arrested on their arrival at 2 a.m Saturday in Dili, Abilio told The Jakarta Post after swearing in the new Bobonaro regent Guilherme dos Santos.

The students, identified as Arseno P. Bano, Barytolomeu Sexuira and Jose de Tafares, were later released on Saturday but were requested to keep in touch with the authorities until they got back to Java.

He said the authorities confiscated unspecified books published by the Jakarta-based Pijar (Glow) Foundation and items imported from abroad.

Abilio, who said he was just informed of the incident by East Timor police chief Andreas Sugiarto, declined to comment when asked why the books were banned in the province although the Supreme Court in Jakarta had not issued the ruling. (yac/pan)