DATE=4/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247899
TITLE=EAST TIMOR / ATTACK / L-O
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=LIQUICA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TIMORESE MILITIAS SUPPORTING INTEGRATION WITH INDONESIA
AMBUSHED THE MOTORCADE OF EAST TIMOR'S BISHOP CARLOS BELO SUNDAY,
INJURING ONE PERSON. FROM LIQUICA, JENNY GRANT REPORTS THE
ATTACK FOLLOWED AN EMOTIONAL RELIGIOUS SERVICE IN THE TOWN, ONLY
FIVE DAYS AFTER A MASSACRE.
TEXT: A GANG OF 30 MEMBERS FROM THE RED AND WHITE IRON MILITIA,
WAITING BY THE ROADSIDE FIVE KILOMETERS OUT OF LIQUICA, POUNCED
ON THE BISHOP'S 12-CAR CONVOY, AS IT PASSED.
THE MILITIAS THREW LARGE ROCKS AT THE DOZEN CARS TRAVELLING
BEHIND THE BISHOP. THE BISHOP'S CAR WAS NOT TOUCHED.
THE MILITIAS USED PIECES OF WOOD AND IRON BARS TO POUND THE CARS,
FORCING THE PASSENGERS TO DUCK FOR COVER AS GLASS SHATTERED
INSIDE AT LEAST THREE VEHICLES.
A TAXI DRIVER IN THE CONVOY SUSTAINED A DEEP HEAD WOUND AND WAS
LATER TAKEN TO THE WIRAHUSADA MILITARY HOSPITAL IN DILI. A ROCK
THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL WAS TOSSED THROUGH HIS WINDSCREEN.
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS IN ONE CAR NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING STABBED BY
A LONG IRON PIPE WHICH WAS THROWN LIKE A SPEAR INTO THE CAR,
SMASHING THE SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW.
ONLY AN HOUR BEFORE THE AMBUSH BISHOP BELO SAID MASS IN LIQUICA,
GIVING THE RESIDENTS THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO MOURN IN PUBLIC
AFTER A TUESDAY MASSACRE THAT LEFT AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE DEAD.
// SOBBING YOUNG GIRL ACTUALITY, IN AND UNDER//
WOMEN IN THE CHURCH WEPT FOR THEIR LOST FAMILY MEMBERS. ONE WOMAN
SAID SHE LOST HER HUSBAND IN THE ATTACK, WHICH HAPPENED INSIDE
THE PRIEST'S HOUSE BEHIND THE CHURCH.
MOST PEOPLE LOOKED SHELL-SHOCKED DURING THE ONE HOUR SERVICE.
MANY STARED BLANKLY INTO THE DISTANCE AND COULD NOT EVEN RAISE
THEIR VOICES TO SING.
IN A BRIEF SERMON TO THE 500 PEOPLE WHO GATHERED FOR THE OPEN-AIR
MASS, BISHOP BELO CALLED ON LIQUICA RESIDENTS TO REBUILD THEIR
LIVES AND RETURN TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND OFFICES.
// BELO TETUM / IN AND FADE DOWN //
BISHOP BELO SAYS -- ALTHOUGH LIQUICA IS IN CRISIS -- PEOPLE WILL
LOVE AGAIN AND BUILD A NEW TOWN. HE SAYS RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE
THE RIGHT TO FREE MOVEMENT AROUND THEIR TOWN.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO SCARED TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSES SINCE THE
MASSACRE.
THE PRIEST'S HOUSE WHERE THE MASSACRE TOOK PLACE WAS REPAIRED BY
SOLDIERS, MAKING A FUTURE INVESTIGATION DIFFICULT AND ANY
FORENSIC WORK IMPOSSIBLE.
// REST OPTIONAL //
ROOMS THAT WERE COVERED IN THICK BLOOD LAST WEEK WERE WASHED
CLEAN. WALLS THAT WERE RIDDLED WITH BULLET HOLES WERE PUTTIED
AND REPAINTED. SOURCES SAY SOLDIERS WORKED FOR TWO DAYS
ELIMINATING EVIDENCE OF THE MASSACRE. (SIGNED)
NEB / JG / DWJ / WD
11-Apr-99 5:49 AM EDT (0949 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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