Two reported dead, 12 injured in fresh East Timor clash

DILI, East Timor (JP): Two proindependence activists were shot dead and at least 12 others were injured in a clash which erupted during a traditional mourning service on Wednesday in Becora, Dili.

A similar clash wounded five antiintegration youths on Tuesday in Liquica regency.

The body of 23-year-old Francisco do Conceao Hornae of Los Palos regency was taken to the Resistance Council for Free East Timor (CRNRT) by friends.

The other corpse was delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross office before being taken to a clinic near Motael church, witnesses said. They believed the victim was Joacim do Santos of East Timor University, although official identification is pending.

"I believe a dozen others were also seriously injured, but we are still counting victims," CRNRT activist Domingos Soares said.

Other witnesses said the violence erupted when Dominicus Berek, reputedly an intelligence officer, tried to provoke mourners at a service marking the death of a Becora resident several days ago.

Dominicus escaped to nearby military barracks.

"A group of military personnel then arrived, terrorized the villagers and also shot some of them," a witness said.

Police said the shooting occurred after the mob attacked a passing police officer. However, they did not reveal the parties responsible for the shooting and the number of victims.

Tension has escalated among the province's 800,000 people since President B.J. Habibie said in January he wanted to see a separate East Timor by early 2000.

Proindependence groups allege the Armed Forces (ABRI) is providing arms to prointegration civilian militia groups, including the official People's Security (Kamra).

ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Monday he would only disarm Kamra if separatist groups also gave up arms.

On Tuesday, an effort of local authorities to peacefully settle last week's incident which killed Joanico Gomes in Maubara, Liquica, ended in violence.

"I have received a report about the incident, but we still do not know about the victims," East Timor Police chief Col. Timbul Silaen said on Wednesday.

Maubara district chief Jose Afat and military district chief Sgt. Maj. Carlos Amaral invited the two conflicting parties for a meeting in Guisu village on Tuesday afternoon.

Quoting police spokesman Capt. Widodo, Antara reported the two hostile sides fired at each other using old or makeshift guns. Three people suffered serious injuries, including Juvito dos Santos and Alberto Afonco, both 27. They were rescued by their friends. (33/prb)