DATE=4/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248239
TITLE=EAST TIMOR/SHOOTING, UPDATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: (EDS: UPDATES EARLIER GRANT CR #2-248231)
INTRO: AS MANY AS 30 PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN PRO JAKARTA MILITIAS
BEGAN SHOOTING IN THE EAST TIMOR CAPITAL, DILI, ON SATURDAY.
FROM JAKARTA, JENNY GRANT REPORTS THAT THE MILITIAS VIOLENTLY
ATTACKED THE HOMES AND BUSINESSES OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE
INDEPENDENCE OF THE FORMER PORTUGUESE TERRITORY.
TEXT: EAST TIMOR'S MILITARY COMMANDER, COLONEL TONO SURATMAN,
SAYS THE PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN MILITIA GROUPS ATTACKED THE HOME
OF PROMINENT PRO INDEPENDENCE FIGURE, MANUEL CARRASCALAO.
MR CARRASCALAO HAD BEEN GIVING SHELTER TO A GROUP OF MORE THAN
100 REFUGEES.
COLONEL SURATMAN SAYS MR CARRASCALAO'S SON, MANUEL, WAS KILLED IN
THE ATTACK, /// OPT /// AS WERE 12 OF THE REFUGEES /// OPT ///.
HE SAYS POLICE ARRESTED SIX MEMBERS OF THE RED AND WHITE IRON
MILITIA AND ARE BLAMING THEM FOR THE MASSACRE.
/// OPT /// RESISTANCE SOURCES SAY 30 PEOPLE WERE SHOT DEAD IN
THE DAY'S ATTACKS. /// OPT ///
SOME 800 MILITIA MEMBERS SWEPT THOUGH DILI ATOP TRUCKS AFTER A
PARAMILITARY RALLY IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
ONE PARAMILITARY LEADER DIRECTED THE CONVOY OF MOBS TO ATTACK
HOUSES BELONGING TO PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE.
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WERE ALLOWED TO WITNESS TO THE ATTACKS, BUT
WERE FORCED AT GUN POINT TO LEAVE THE CARRASCALAO HOME BEFORE THE
MASSACRE.
MR CARRASCALAO AND HIS DAUGHTER ARE HIDING OUT AT THE HOME OF
DILI'S BISHOP CARLOS BELO.
CHURCH SOURCES SAY BISHOP BELO HAS CANCELLED A PLANNED OUTDOOR
MASS ON SUNDAY BECAUSE HE IS REPORTED TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THE
MILITIA ATTACK. THE SERVICE WAS TO BE OPEN FOR PARAMILITARY
MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
/// OPT /// DOZENS OF HOUSES, CARS AND MOTORBIKES WERE BURNED IN
ATTACKS. PART OF THE OLD BECORA MARKET WAS ALSO BURNED BY THE
MILITIAS.
THE OFFICE OF THE VOICE OF EAST TIMOR NEWSPAPER WAS RANSACKED AND
LOOTED BY AROUND 30 MILITIAS. INTEGRATION CRITICS SAY THE
NEWSPAPER HAD BEEN INCREASINGLY LEANING TOWARDS SUPPORTING
INDEPENDENCE. /// END OPT ///
EYEWITNESSES SAY POLICE AND MILITARY STOOD BY ON FOOTPATHS AND
WAVED AT THE PASSING CONVOYS AS THEY BEGAN THEIR ATTACKS.
THEY SAY HALF THE PARAMILITARY MEMBERS CARRIED HOME MADE GUNS,
WHILE OTHERS CARRIED LARGE WOODEN STICKS AND MACHETES.
WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THE LACK OF ACTION FROM THE MILITARY IN
CONTROLLING THE SWEEPING ATTACKS SHOW THE COMPLICITY OF THE
INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES IN HELPING THE MILITIAS.
/// REMAINDER OPT ///
VIOLENCE HAS BEEN ESCALATING SINCE THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT
AGREED TO ALLOW A UNITED NATIONS-SUPERVISED REFERENDUM ON THE
FUTURE OF EAST TIMOR.
INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL ARE DUE TO MEET FOR TALKS IN NEW YORK NEXT
WEEK TO DISCUSS PLANS TO GIVE EAST TIMOR AUTONOMY.
ANALYSTS SAY THE VIOLENT ATTACK SATURDAY HAS THREATENED THE
FUTURE OF THOSE TALKS AND THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/GE
17-Apr-99 10:51 AM EDT (1451 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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