DATE=5/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249146
TITLE=EAST TIMOR VIOLENCE / L-O
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=DILI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN THE EAST TIMOR CAPITAL, DILI, SUNDAY
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT ON SPECIAL AUTONOMY. FROM DILI, JENNY GRANT REPORTS ON
THE LATEST ATTACK BY PRO-INDONESIA MILITIAS, WHICH KILLED AT
LEAST ONE MAN.
TEXT: AS NIGHT FELL, DILI RESIDENTS POURED OUT FROM THEIR HOMES
ONTO THE STREETS. THEY BURNED AUTOMOBILE TIRES ON THE ROADS TO
BLOCK THEIR AREAS FROM ATTACKS BY MILITIA GROUPS.
IN AN UNUSUAL DISPLAY OF DEFIANCE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS SANG
INDEPENDENCE SONGS OUT ON THE ROADS.
HUNDREDS OF POLICE GUARDED THE AREA NEAR THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND
IN THE SUBURB, BECORA. SHOTS CONTINUED TO RING OUT ACROSS THE
NIGHT.
THE OUTPOURING OF EMOTION WAS CAUSED BY A MILITIA ATTACK ON THE
MARKET, ONLY HOURS EARLIER.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE ANTONIO WAS AT THE MARKET, GAMBLING
WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER MEN, WHEN A PRO-JAKARTA MILITIA GROUP
BEGAN TO ATTACK.
// ACTUALITY ANTONIO INDONESIAN, FADE UNDER //
ANTONIO SAYS THE MILITIAS -- ARMED WITH TRADITIONAL SWORDS AND
HOMEMADE GUNS -- BEGAN FIRING INTO THE CROWD OF GAMBLERS AND
SHOPPERS.
HE SAYS THE MILITIAS SEIZED MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED THE
GAMBLING TABLES.
AT LEAST ONE YOUNG MAN DIED FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE EYE.
ANOTHER MAN UNDERWENT EMERGENCY SURGERY WHEN HE WAS SHOT IN THE
STOMACH AND HAND.
MOST PEOPLE FLED FROM THE MARKET, BUT THE REMAINING YOUTHS
GATHERED TO CONFRONT THE MILITIAS.
POLICE ARRIVED AND BEGAN SHOOTING INTO THE CROWD TO BREAK UP THE
DEMONSTRATORS.
MILITIAS SURROUNDED THE CAR OF ONE GROUP OF JOURNALISTS AND
THREATENED THEM WITH SWORDS. OTHER JOURNALISTS WERE CHASED AWAY
FROM THE MARKET AND ROCKS WERE HURLED AT THEM.
RESIDENTS SAID THEY EXPECTED ANOTHER MILITIA ATTACK DURING THE
NIGHT. THE LOCAL AITARAK MILITIA GATHERED OUTSIDE THEIR BASE AT
THE TROPICAL HOTEL, ARMED WITH GUNS.
IT WAS THE FIRST UNREST IN DILI SINCE INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL
SIGNED AN AGREEMENT LAST WEEK ON SPECIAL AUTONOMY. EAST TIMORESE
WILL VOTE AUGUST EIGHTH TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO ACCEPT
SPECIAL AUTONOMY, UNDER INDONESIA.
A UNITED NATIONS TEAM IS ASSESSING THE SECURITY SITUATION FOR THE
BALLOT. SOME 250 INTERNATIONAL POLICE ARE TO ARRIVE IN EAST
TIMOR DURING THE NEXT MONTH.
U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONSIDER INCREASING THAT NUMBER, IF
THE SECURITY SITUATION REQUIRES A LARGER PRESENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
09-May-99 7:59 AM EDT (1159 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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