Trooper expelled for desecrating church

DILI, East Timor (JP): A member of the Armed Forces (ABRI) stationed in East Timor was expelled from the service yesterday and sentenced to 28 months imprisonment for desecrating a Roman Catholic Church in Dili last June.

The East Nusa Tenggara Military Court in Kupang said yesterday that second private Bakhrul Ulun acted immorally during a holy mass at a Santo Josef Roman Catholic Church on June 28.

Bakhrul, a Moslem, was inside the church during the mass. Another private took the host and threw it on the ground, stepping on it several times until the bread became pasty.

The second trooper is also on trial at the same court and a decision is expected later this week.

Their behavior prompted anger from the church congregation. The next few days saw thousands of people taking to the streets in Dili to protest against ABRI, creating unrest in the East Timor capital. An offshoot of this incident was a clash between students and troopers inside the East Timor university campus two weeks later.

The local military has made a public apology to the local church leaders and gave assurances that the two errand soldiers will be punished accordingly.

After the verdict, Bakhrul told the judge that he accepted the sentence. (yac/emb)