Violence shakes Dili once again

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)