Violence shakes Dili once again

DILI, East Timor (JP): At least one person was killed and three others injured in the latest violence targeted at the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) on Wednesday.

A volunteer at the Motael polyclinic, Lucia Chaves, told The Jakarta Post Jorges Francisco Bonaparte, 19, a resident of Manatuto, some 60 kilometers east of here, died of a gunshot wound to his neck.

The Philippine national said Bonaparte died shortly after reaching the clinic. "He was brought alive and medical staff tried to resuscitate him, but unfortunately he died of blood loss." Witnesses said people also hacked the victim.

The three people injured in the violence are being treated at the polyclinic. It is still unknown who shot the four people.

A UNAMET staff member who requested anonymity told the Post he saw a group of armed militia members firing into the perimeters of the mission's headquarters.

"We do not know the origin of the violence, but we heard gunfire and explosions. They were also throwing rocks but it seems to have stopped," he said.

About 400 people, including some 300 UNAMET staff members, students and journalists sought refuge in the building.

The UNAMET staff and journalists were evacuated hours later under police guard, UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst said.

He said at least two nearby buildings were set on fire during the afternoon violence, which marked the beginning of the vote count for Monday's direct ballot on the future of East Timor.

Five trucks carrying members of the National Police's Mobile Brigade were sent to Matadora subdistrict, the site of the incident. They blocked off the street heading to UNAMET headquarters, keeping a throng of journalists at bay.

"It's at your own risk if you insist on entering the scene," one of the policemen said. After a gunshot was heard the journalists were ordered to leave the area.

A resident told the Post he saw a group of people dressed in black shirts beat a foreign journalist. "There were around six men beating and threatening the journalist."

It was also reported that Jonathan Head of BBC sustained a broken arm during the incident. Ten BBC crew members have been moved to Mahkota Hotel.

Hera district, some 15 kilometers east of here, was also tense. A group of proindependence supporters patrolled the streets with sharp weapons and rifles, and blocked some roads with wooden poles and stones.

Hope

Hundreds of members of the Aitarak proautonomy militia earlier in the day attended a funeral for a militia member who was stabbed to death in a clash on Sunday with proindependence supporters in Becora subdistrict, east of Dili.

Aitarak commander Eurico Guterres presided over the funeral of Placido Menejes, 41, who was buried in a field near Komoro Airport. An Aitarak member said the field would serve as a graveyard for proautonomy strugglers.

Proautonomy figure and provincial legislative chief Armindo Soares, a member of the proindependence Falintil, Mahudu, and popular singer Renny Jayusman were among the mourners.

The presence of Mahudu gave hope to reconciliation talks between proindependence and pro-Jakarta factions. UNAMET unveiled on Wednesday the 25-member lineup of the Consultative Commission, whose task is to facilitate peace and reconciliation in the territory.

The commission includes proindependence and prointegration leaders and activists. Among the members are Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, Jose Ramos-Horta, Mari Alkatiri, Maria Domingas Alves, Abilio Araujo, Basilio dias Araujo, Joao Carrascalao, Mario Carrascalao, Francisco de Carvalho, Francisco Lopez da Cruz, Herminio da Costa da Silva, Anicetto Guterres, Taur Matan Ruak, Joao Mariano Saldanha, Florentino Sarmento, Domingos Soares, Salvador Ximenes Soares and Joao Tavares.

Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and Baucau Bishop Basilio do Nascimento have been named the commission's honorary advisers.

UNAMET deputy spokesman Yasuhiro Ueki said only six of the commission members attended the first meeting on Tuesday. The next meeting is scheduled for next week.

In Jakarta, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar Sianipar said in anticipation of postballot violence, a Mobile Brigade unit was deployed from Kupang to Atambua, bordering East Timor and East Nusa Tenggara. If necessary five units will be sent to the province, he said. (bay/byg/amd/ylt)