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BELO CLARIFIES NUMBER OF LIQUICA VICTIMS
Dili, Kompas Online (Fiday, 9 April 1999). Bishop Mgr. Carlos Filipe
Ximenes Belo SDB of the Dili Diocese clarified the statement of the Military
District Commander IX/Udayana, Major General Adam Damiri, which the latter
made in relation with the Liquica killings. The explanation was made to
foster cooperation and understanding among the warring groups in efforts to
reconcile them and bring peace in East Timor (Timtim).
Commander of the Armed Forces, General Wiranto, said on a seperate occasion
that security troops successfully restored order in the situation.
"The incident belongs to the past. Now, we have to put things straight, to
prevent other groups from twisting the incident in their own interest," he said.
A press release read by Belo at his home in Lecider, Dili, Thursday (8/4),
disclosed a.o. that he had received a letter from the Commander Military
Resort 164/WD, Colonel Tono Suratman, relaying the number of victims before
his departure to Liquica. The letter mentioned that there were five dead and
25 injured. The numbers tallied with the figures from the Territorial
Commander of Udayana. However, Belo's number underwent a change after his
return from Liquica when he mentioned a total of 25 victims.
"We differ in the number of the dead. Reports from eyewitnesses, whose
identity I'll keep confidential, the number of people who died counted at
least 25 persons. another source claimed that there were 200 victims," said
Belo.
The press release held six points. Of the second, Belo said, "We request
the Territorial Commander of Udayana to hand over the remains of five
victims in order to give them a decent burial in the tradition of local
customs and culture."
Relatives of the victims do not know where the dead victims have been
taken. These are human victims, they argued, and therefore, they have to be
treated humanely.
Arms and lootings
The Armed Forces Commander also said that two G3 arms of theFretilin were
found at the home of priest Rafael after the clash,quoted Belo.
"No weapons of any brand and ownership had been stored in the home of
priest Rafael at the time of the clash," Belo stressed.
"It maybe possible that the finding had been setup. Who found the weapons,
where were they found, and when the weapons were discovered, was the finding
witnessed by the priest, why was the priest not aware of the weapons.
Another question pressing for clarification, was the incident at the home of
priest Rafael a clash or an assault and lootings by a certain group,"
stressed Belo.
The assisting priest in Liquica, priest Yoseph Daslan, admitted that Rp. 8
million belonging to an educational institute SMPK, has been robbed as well
as his own money.
No manipulation
Referring to the incident in Liquica, Armed Forces Commander General
Wiranto said here yesterday, that troops have restored order in the area.
"We have to face the problem squarely in the face and in proportion.
Various informations are going around. So, believe the informations from the
security authorities overthere as they are based on real figures," said Wiranto.
To prove their sincerity, the international Red Cross has been invited to
the location to question and witness the situation for themselve with the
security authorities.
Rally
Thousands belonging to the pro-integration party with roots in 12 districts
of Maliana, the capital of Bobonaro Regency, 130 km in the west of Dili,
have held a massive rally. It was a merry occasion which proceeded orderly
and peacefully, in the audience were the pro-integration commander, Joao
Tavares, and other figures of the same group. The event was crowned with the
installation of the United Democratic and Just Forum (FPDK) Bobonaro branch,
and the socialization of autonomy.
Pro-integration groups comprise Mahidi from Ainaro Regency, Alfa from
Lautem, Besi Merah Putih from Liquica, Makikit from Viqueque, Saka from
Bacau, Sera from Manatuto, Ablai from Manufahi, Aitarak from Dili, Laksaur
from Covalima, Halilintar from Bobonaro.
Ambeno Regency was not represented because of the distance from Maliana. (*)
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John M. Miller
Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
PO Box 150753, Brooklyn, NY 11215-0753 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668 Fax: (718)222-4097
Web site: http://www.etan.org
Send a blank e-mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to find out how to
learn more about East Timor on the Internet
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