DATE=4/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247878
TITLE=EAST TMOR/VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EAST TIMOR'S SENIOR BISHOP CARLOS BELO HAS DELAYED
RECONCILIATION TALKS OVER THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY UNTIL A
CEASEFIRE. FROM DILI, JENNY GRANT REPORTS THAT DESPITE THE CALL
TO PUT DOWN ARMS THERE WAS MORE VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR ON
SATURDAY.
TEXT: BISHOP BELO SAYS HE HAS DELAYED RECONCILIATION TALKS
BETWEEN CONFLICTING PARTIES DUE TO THE VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR
THIS WEEK.
BISHOP BELO SAYS 25 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A MASSACRE BY PRO
JAKARTA MILITIAS IN A PRIEST'S HOUSE IN THE TOWN OF LIQUICA ON
TUESDAY. OTHER SOURCES SAY MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE DIED FROM
GUNSHOT AND MACHETE WOUNDS. THE MILITARY CLAIMS ONLY FIVE PEOPLE
DIED. MILITARY SOURCES SAY THE BODIES OF THE FIVE WERE BURIED
IN THE TOWN OF MAUBARA.
IN A ONE PAGE STATEMENT, BISHOP BELO SAYS HE HAS PUT THE
RECONCILIATION TALKS ON HOLD UNTIL ALL GUNS FALL SILENT FOR THE
MONTH OF APRIL.
THE BISHOP HAS BEEN MEETING WITH GROUPS SUPPORTING AND REJECTING
INTEGRATION WITH INDONESIA TO TRY TO SETTLE DIFFERENCES BEFORE A
BALLOT IN JULY.
IN THE STATEMENT, BISHOP BELO ACCUSES THE MILITARY OF TRYING TO
DIVIDE EAST TIMORESE, WHO HE SAYS ONLY WANT PEACE. SOURCES SAY
THE MILITARY IS PROVIDING WEAPONS AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO THE
PARAMILITARIES.
DESPITE THE BISHOP'S CALL, THERE WAS MORE VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR
ON SATURDAY. UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN SHOT DEAD LOCAL PARLIAMENTARIAN
ANTONIO LIMA IN THE TOWN OF GLENO 30 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF
DILI.
THE COMMITTEE FOR THE DISAPPEARED HAS CALLED FOR A CENSUS IN THE
TOWN OF LIQUICA TO ESTABLISH JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED IN THE
MASSACRE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THEIR
HOMES.
RUI LOURENCO FROM THE COMMITTEE SAYS THE INDONESIAN MILITARY --
OR "ABRI" -- HAS ALREADY REMOVED THE BODIES OF THE DEAD MAKING A
PROPER INVESTIGATION DIFFICULT.
// ACT RUI LOURENCO //
WE HAVE TO DO A CENSUS BECAUSE ABRI (THE ARMED FORCES) HAS
ALREADY CLEANED OUT THE VICTIMS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND OUT THE
TRUE NUMBER OF VICTIMS.
// END ACT //
TWO AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMATS VISITED THE SITE OF THE MASSACRE IN
LIQUICA SATURDAY AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR FACT FINDING MISSION INTO
THE MILITIA ATTACK.
SOURCES IN LIQUICA SAY THE MILITARY HAS CLEANED UP ALL EVIDENCE
OF THE MASSACRE INSIDE THE HOUSE WHERE THE KILLINGS TOOK PLACE --
INCLUDING BLOOD STAINS AND BULLET HOLES. THE HOUSE HAS ALSO BEEN
REPAINTED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ANY FORENSIC WORK TO BE
CARRIED OUT.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF THE RED CROSS SAYS IT IS
CONCERNED ABOUT MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THE INJURED, AND ALSO ABOUT
THE FOOD SITUATION FOR THOSE LEFT BEHIND IN LIQUICA.
IT SAYS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLED FROM THEIR HOMES INTO THE
MOUNTAINS FOLLOWING THE RAID.
LIQUICA IS NOW CONTROLLED BY MILITIAS BACKED BY THE MILITARY,
WHICH IS PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THE AREA. ON SUNDAY
BISHOP BELO WILL CELEBRATE A MASS IN THE CHURCH BESIDE THE HOUSE
WHERE THE MASSACRE TOOK PLACE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/DWJ/GE
10-Apr-99 8:43 AM EDT (1243 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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