Throughout January, the Indonesian regime has been on a campaign of harassment in the streets of Dili in East Timor. Many locals have been shot at by thugs, and several young East Timorese have been arrested and are still missing. BEN WEBSTER was in Dili in December and witnessed the increased tensions following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Bishop Belo, a further legitimation of the struggle of the East Timorese people to self-determination.
The establishment media have been carrying reports that in at least two incidents in Dili on Christmas Eve, members of the police force and military were attacked, and one killed, as they peacefully mingled with the people. Fretilin supporters are being blamed.
I was in Dili on December 24, celebrating the homecoming of Bishop Belo with the East Timorese people. The streets were chaotic.
Scores of trucks overflowing with enthusiastic passengers made their way around town, spreading the excitement. I was surprised at the pro-Belo banner displayed openly on the front of the vehicle I was in, and at the shouts of "Viva Timor!" and thrusting of fists every time we passed a military checkpoint.
I did not expect to see such an openly defiant spirit amongst a people who have been suppressed so heavily and for so long.
The atmosphere at the airport was amazing. At least 100,000 people from all over East Timor waited to greet Belo, whose return as a Nobel laureate was a moment of triumph, not only for himself, but for all the people of East Timor.
At least three attempts have been made on Belo's life since he won the Nobel prize, two by intelligence men dressed as priests.
At one point in the Christmas Eve celebrations, the chief of police took it upon himself to drive through the crowd, armed. The crowd attacked the car, but he escaped unhurt. A soldier in plain clothes at the cathedral was later beaten to death by the crowd.
When I asked people outside the cathedral why the man had been attacked, almost everyone replied: "He was carrying a concealed hand gun. He was overheard saying something like 'Should I wait until he comes back outside?' to a companion. And a quick search found him in possession of a sizeable wad of cash."
The incidents occurred because weapons of war were brought to a celebration of peace. I cannot say whether the dead man was there to assassinate Belo, but the people in the churchyard certainly believed he was.