U.S. embassy official in East Timor

DILI, East Timor (JP): An official from the United States embassy in Jakarta was here during the weekend to look into the demonstration at the East Timor University early this month.

The embassy's second secretary Phillip L. Anteweiler on Saturday met with Col. Jhony Lumintang, the chief of the East Timor military command, to discuss the July 13 incident.

Lumintang said he told his guest that the authorities stood by its policy of dispersing any demonstration which is illegal.

He pointed out, however, that the authorities used restraint in handling the demonstration and stressed there were no deaths.

He said that this could be verified by the local office of the International Commission of the Red Cross, whose officials witnessed the incident. (yac/emb)