East Timor Capital Under Curfew

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 05, 2002

East Timor Capital Under Curfew

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Security forces fired on student protesters in the East Timorese capital Wednesday, killing two people and prompting angry mobs to loot shops and set fire to several buildings, including the prime minister's house.

The unrest in Dili was the worst in East Timor since it became the world's newest nation in May, and highlights rising discontent with government. Most of East Timor's 800,000 people are desperately poor and have seen little benefits of independence.

The rioting broke out despite a plea for peace from President Xanana Gusmao, who led the country's struggle against Indonesian rule and enjoys huge popularity. Gusmao visited the scene of the fighting and urged calm, but was greeted with flying rocks.

U.N. police declared a nighttime curfew and vowed to arrest anyone on the streets.

The unrest started on the second day of protests by about 500 students, who demonstrated outside police headquarters demanding the release of a colleague arrested for allegedly stabbing another student.

Some students threw stones at East Timorese and U.N. police guarding the headquarters and the officers opened fire, killing two people, including a 16-year-old boy who was shot in the head, witnesses said.

U.N. police chief Peter Miller said only one person had been confirmed killed. Hospital officials said they were treating at least 24 wounded.

U.N. military peacekeepers were deployed in Dili to "assist the Timorese and international police in maintaining order," Fred Eckhard, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said in New York.

"The secretary-general calls on the Timorese political leadership to pursue its efforts to restore calm," Eckhard said.

The United Nations assists with security in East Timor after administering the former Indonesian province for two years. There are several hundred international staffers on the island and around 750 police officers from 35 countries.

The shootings unleashed rioting that quickly spread through the city as residents joined students in a rampage targeting stores, hotels and government buildings. Crowds also set fire to the private residence of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, said a senior U.N. source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Gusmao arrived at police headquarters to try to restore order. Dodging rocks, he held his arms aloft to appeal for calm, but the students ignored him. The president was then escorted inside the headquarters by police protecting him with riot shields, his eyes smarting from tear gas fired to disperse the mob.

Gusmao blamed "forces with ulterior motives" he said had taken advantage of the demonstrations, but did not elaborate.

By mid-afternoon, large clouds of black smoke were seen rising over parts of the normally sleepy seaside city.

Mobs set fire to the Australian-owned "Hello Mister" supermarket, which sells mostly imported goods to U.N. workers and other foreigners in the country. At least one police car also was burned.

They looted nearby shops and hotels, taking televisions, motorbikes and bottles of beer.

Vic Josey, the U.N. acting deputy commissioner, said an investigation had been ordered into the unrest, which by nightfall had subsided. He said there were no plans for foreigners to be evacuated from the city.

Minor unrest is not uncommon in East Timor, but Wednesday's violence was unusually brutal and shows the challenges facing the country's fledgling government, which has been criticized for alleged corruption and incompetence.

Source: Agencies

Questions?Comments? Click here

East Timor Becomes No. 191st UN Member State

China, East Timor to Boost Military Ties

Another Leap Forward for China's Development ( 4 Messages)

Countdown Begins for Damming Yangtze River ( 2 Messages)

Shanghai Wins World Expo 2010 Bid ( 8 Messages)

Beijing Has 1st On-campus Confucius Research Institute ( 15 Messages)

China, Russia Issue Joint Statement ( 2 Messages)