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Gangs rampage as Timor urges rebel soldiers to lay down arms

Posted on: Saturday, 27 May 2006, 05:22 CDT

By David Fox

DILI (Reuters) - Gangs of youths allied to feuding East Timor police or army units went on the rampage in parts of the capital on Saturday, torching houses and vehicles as Australian and Malaysian peacekeeping troops stepped up patrols.

Youths armed with machetes, swords and knives patrolled neighborhoods near government buildings against what they said were rogue army elements planning to return from the hills surrounding the capital of the world's newest independent nation.

Black smoke billowed above the city in the morning, but residents were generally calm, gathering on street corners to hear gossip and news about the situation.

By mid-afternoon the clashes appeared to have ended, although Australian helicopters circled the city and three navy ships cruised along the waterfront.

Residents say a rebellion by soldiers angry about being sacked has turned into a protest against the government of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, who they say has failed to deliver any economic or social development since East Timor became an independent state in 2002.

An election is scheduled for early next year, but some diplomats say the government cannot last that long.

Earlier this week the government asked Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia to send troops to help restore order. On Saturday, those foreign military patrols were the only sign of any real authority.

CABINET URGES END TO VIOLENCE

A foreign ministry official said the cabinet had met on Saturday and repeated a call for rebellious troops and police to lay down their arms and return to barracks.

An ailing President Xanana Gusmao, a hero of the independence struggle, was trying to broker peace talks.

An aide said Gusmao was furious that Alkatiri had not dealt more swiftly with the soldiers' grievances. The aide added: "This situation has been simmering for months. It could have been dealt with in a much better way, without this violence."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has also been particularly outspoken against the government's handling of the situation. Alkatiri appeared stung by the criticism.

"We are now being accused of not being able to govern!" he told a news conference.

Citing praise last month by World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, Alkatiri said: "Does this mean that in only one month we have ceased to be an exemplary case of success and are now a case of clear incapacity?"

Alkatiri also appeared to take a swipe at Gusmao, who told Timor radio on Friday he was in command of the army and police.

"What is in motion is an attempt at a coup d'etat," he said. But asked if he was accusing Gusmao of staging a coup, he replied: "No, I am not."

A Portuguese colony for centuries, East Timor was annexed by Indonesia in 1976 in a move the United Nations condemned and much of the population resisted.

Australia led a U.N.-backed intervention force to East Timor in 1999 to quell violence by pro-Indonesian militias after a referendum vote for independence. This was finally achieved in 2002 after almost three years of UN administration.

BLOODY

The trouble started last month when 600 of the 1,400-strong army were dismissed for protesting over what they said was discrimination against soldiers from the west of the country. Most of the military leadership is said to come from the east.

The simmering revolt turned bloody last week when police were routed after they tried to disarm the sacked soldiers. Officials say around 15 people have been killed in the past three days.

There was concern that the army divide was mirrored among citizens, with gangs of youths from the west fighting the east.

"Today's incidents are truly saddening because the youths have destroyed the image of tolerance and peace," Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta, winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, told reporters before the cabinet met.

At least three houses belonging to relatives of army officers were torched by gangs. Scattered gunfire could be heard, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

"There is going to be a lot of this revenge stuff going on," said one businessman who had shuttered up his office supplies shop against the possibility of looters.

Residents of neighborhoods affected by the fighting fled their homes for sanctuary in the grounds of the scores of churches that feature prominently in this Roman Catholic country.

"I feel safer here, I have brought my car and my family," said Emil Soares, among thousands at Santo Carlos Church.

A convoy of around 30 heavily armed Australian troops in civilian four-wheel-drive vehicles drove around the streets outside the government secretariat, but they appeared to steer clear of the neighborhoods where houses were being torched.

One Australian unit rounded up about two dozen youths and took away their weapons -- mostly machetes or axes.

"We're not chasing after them as such," said one soldier. "If we come across them, we'll persuade them to drop their stuff."

Malaysian troops were also out on patrol for the first time since arriving on Thursday. They drew curious stares, and children ran behind their cars as they cruised through suburbs.

Source: REUTERS

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