Two killed in East Timor religious service
Two killed in East Timor religious service
DILI, East Timor (JP): Two men were killed when violence broke
out prior to a religious service Tuesday on top of Mt. Ramelau in
the Ainaro regency, 120 kilometers south of here.
The incident prompted Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo,
who was presiding over the service, to cut short the Mass
attended by more than 20,000 Catholics from East Timor and
neighboring East Nusa Tenggara.
Antara gave two versions of witnesses' account of the incident
that claimed the lives of Adelino da Silva, 36, of the Baucau
regency and Acasio de Oliveira, 17, of the Ainaro regency.
Some witnesses said that Adelino stabbed altar boy Acasio in
the chest after being reprimanded by the latter for attempting to
climb to a spot where Bishop Belo planned to place a statue of
the Virgin Mary.
The other altar boys then tried to catch Adelino, who resisted
and stabbed pilgrim Jose Pereira, 25, in the hand. Adelino was
mobbed to death.
Another version said a group unfurled a flag of the anti-
government rebel group Fretilin, disrupted the pilgrimage and
started a clash that killed two people.
East Timor police chief Col. Atok Rismanto said here yesterday
police were still investigating the incident.
"Those who have taken the law into their own hands will have
us to contend with," Rismanto said. "We are still investigating
who the offender was. I won't name any organizations yet because
the investigation is still underway."
Governor Abilio Osorio Soares deplored the violence which he
blamed on "certain individuals" attempting to exploit religious
affairs to further their own political interest.
"It was a religious affair. Furthermore, Bishop Belo was also
attending. How could they have exploited it? Nobody can accept
this," Abilio told the press in Dili yesterday.
Bishop Belo also deplored the violence and condemned those who
had provoked it.
Also attending Tuesday's service were Baucau Bishop Basilio
do Nascimento, legislator Mariano Lopez da Crus and Ainaro Regent
Norberto de Araujo.
"Of course, the Bishop deeply regrets the incident. He had
high hopes that the service could bind all East Timorese together
and bring peace like Mother Mary who people believe is the Queen
of Peace," Abilio said.
The deaths added to the number of casualties in connection
with the annual pilgrimage.
On Tuesday, at least 13 people (not 17 as earlier reported)
were killed, 31 seriously injured and six others slightly injured
when a truck carrying 50 Roman Catholic pilgrims home from Mt.
Ramelau plunged into a 25-meter deep ravine in Letefoho
subdistrict of Ermera regency, 90 kilometers west of here.
Police are still investigating the accident. (33/aan)