DATE=4/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247784
TITLE=EAST TIMOR KILLING (L)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=LIQUICA, EAST TIMOR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A CONTROVERSIAL ATTACK BY A PRO-INDONESIAN MILITIA INSIDE
AN EAST TIMORESE CHURCH GROUND THIS WEEK LEFT UP TO 25-PEOPLE
DEAD, ACCORDING TO DILI'S BISHOP CARLOS BELLO. JENNY GRANT
VISITED THE SCENE OF THE SHOOTING AND FOUND EVIDENCE OF THE
MASSACRE.
TEXT: POOLS OF BLOOD HAVE DRIED ON THE BATHROOM TILES OF FATHER
RAFAEL'S HOUSE. BUT FLIES ARE STILL FLYING AROUND THE RANSACKED
ROOMS WHERE UP TO TWENTY-FIVE CIVILIANS WERE SLAIN THIS WEEK.
HUNDREDS OF BULLET HOLES ARE SPRAYED ACROSS THE CEMENT WALLS AND
PLYWOOD CEILINGS OF THE HOUSE IN LIQUISA. SURVIVORS SAY THE
MILITIA ATTACK LASTED FOR THREE HOURS. DILI'S BISHOP BELO SAYS
TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE DIED IN THE MASSACRE, BUT THE MILITARY
MAINTAINS ONLY FIVE DIED.
NUNS CLEANED THE VANDALIZED HOUSE THURSDAY UNDER ORDERS FROM
BISHOP BELO. BUT EVEN THEIR SCRUBBING DID NOT REMOVE THE SIGNS
OF THE BRUTAL ATTACK.
SISTER RANEZ HOLDS UP BULLET RIDDLED VESTMENTS BELONGING TO
FATHER RAFAEL. THE PRIEST IS NOW SLEEPING IN THE CAPITAL, DILI,
CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY.
A LARGE SPLASH OF BLOOD REMAINS ON THE BACK WALL OF THE CHURCH.
FROM THERE A 20-METER TRAIL OF BLOOD AND A TWISTED THONG MARK THE
PASSAGE OF THE VICTIMS WHO FELL TRYING TO RUN TO SAFETY.
ONE OF THE SURVIVORS IS 19-YEAR-OLD EMA, WHO HIDES NERVOUSLY
BEHIND A HOUSE NEAR THE CHURCH TO TELL HER STORY.
/// SPANISH ACT ///
EMA SAYS SHE WAS HIDING INSIDE THE CHURCH WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER
REFUGEES WHEN THE MILITIA ATTACKED. SHE SAYS SHE RAN OUT OF THE
CHURCH AND SAW PEOPLE BEING SHOT AND HACKED WITH MACHETES.
SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD RICCARDO SUFFERED A DEEP GASH ACROSS HIS FACE
AND NOSE IN THE ATTACK, HE HAS SIX STITCHES. RICCARDO SAYS HE
WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. THE MILITIA MEMBERS ONLY SLASHED HIS
FACE WITH THE MACHETE AND HIT HIM ON THE NECK WITH A GUN BUTT.
OTHER SURVIVORS RECEIVED BULLET WOUNDS AND SWORD SLASHES TO THEIR
BACKS AND THIGHS.
THE MILITIA THAT ATTACKED THE CHURCH GROUND SAYS IT WANTS EAST
TIMOR TO REMAIN PART OF INDONESIA. THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS
INDICATED IT MAY BE WILLING TO LET EAST TIMOR BECOME INDEPENDENT.
SOLDIERS SPENT THE DAY HELPING WASH BLOOD OFF THE WALLS AND
FLOORS OF FATHER RAFAEL'S HOUSE. THE NUNS SAY THE MILITARY WILL
RETURN TOMORROW TO MEND THE SMASHED WINDOWS AND BROKEN DOORS.
BUT CRITICS IN THE CAPITOL DILI SAY IF ALL EVIDENCE IS REMOVED IT
IS UNLIKELY AN INVESTIGATION WILL EVER UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT
THE ATTACK. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/LTD/RAE
08-Apr-99 8:55 AM EDT (1255 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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