Timor trader jailed for subversive act

Timor trader jailed for subversive act

DILI, East Timor (JP): A district court here yesterday
sentenced a 20-year-old man to 20 months in jail for
participating in an anti-government demonstration last April.

Rosalino dos Santos was found guilty of creating public
disorder and fueling separatist sentiments through his actions in
front of a hotel where foreign journalists were staying.

As soon as Judge AAGL Adhyana read the verdict, Rosalino, a
trader with only an elementary school education, said that he
could not accept the verdict.

"I'm not guilty so I reject the verdict," said the defendant
who never expressed his regret for the alleged anti-government
activities during the hearings.

The verdict said Rosalino helped plan the demonstration during
a meeting at the house of Pedro de Fatima, the day before the
demonstration took place on April 14.

The defendant also urged his friends to unfurl anti-government
posters in front of foreign journalists at Hotel Mahkota and
contacted foreign journalists who were staying both there and at
Hotel Tourismo seeking coverage.

Rosalino had earlier told the court that he hoped that the
coverage would attract foreign support for the independence of
East Timor.

The defendant also admitted that he was a member of UJETIL
(Juventude das Estudantes de Timor Leste), a subsidiary of the
Fretilin separatist movement.

The court, which was presided over by Yusna Maitysia, had
previously jailed other three demonstrators, Pantaleon Amaral,
18, Isak Soaresm, 22, and Miguel de Deus, 20.

In an earlier session, prosecutor Benedictus Suryo Husodo
asked the court to sentence Rosalino to 30 months.

The court will also hand down verdicts for the other two
defendants being tried for the same charge. (yac/prs)