East Timor's Parliament meets as fighting persists in the capital

The China Post Online
2006/6/5
DILI, East Timor (AP)

Parliament convened Monday to discuss violence in East Timor's capital, as foreign troops fired tear gas to break up clashes between rock-throwing gangs who set fire to buildings near the airport.

Lawmakers said some colleagues could not attend the session because they were holed up in compounds and Parliament Speaker Francisco Guterres, a leader of the ruling Fretilin party, said authorities should investigate.

"We have to find out what happened and where they are," said Guterres, as a quorum of at least 45 lawmakers in the 88-seat Parliament met.

One lawmaker expressed concern about reports of weapons caches in his district and another asked for security to escort him to future Parliament meetings.

"Without any security we cannot do anything," lawmaker Antonio Cardozo said.
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, who has faced repeated calls for his ouster, announced over the weekend that Parliament would convene in a bid to revive the workings of a government that has been virtually paralyzed by factional rifts and security concerns.

Lawmakers would analyze "the current situation in the country and make some decisions," he said.

At least 30 people have died and an estimated 100,000 have fled their homes in the last month, taking refuge in squalid camps in Dili or with relatives out of town.

A U.N. High Commission for Refugees cargo plane arrived early Monday with 220 tents and 1,000 plastic sheets, said UNHCR spokeswoman Arlane Rummery, adding that it was impossible at present to say how long people would be staying in camps.

"We hope people can return to their homes, but there is really no sign that is going to be possible," she said.

Australian forces fired three rounds of tear gas at dozens of rock-weiling youths at a bridge near the airport early Monday, breaking up the clashes. There were no known injuries.
Despite the flare-up, violence has tapered off since the arrival of more than 2,000 troops from Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia more than a week ago.

They have confiscated hundreds of weapons, and have temporarily detained gang members, but have so far refrained from firing their weapons and have often driven by scenes of looting or vandalism.

Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson urged Asian and Pacific countries not to allow East Timor to become a failed state, warning it could turn into a haven for terrorists and criminals.
"It's in all of our interests to see that we do not have failed states in our region," Nelson said at a regional security conference in Singapore. "We cannot afford to have Timor-Leste become one of those, and in doing so become a haven, perhaps, for transnational crime, for terrorism, and indeed humanitarian disasters and injustice."

Meanwhile, the Fretilin party said that it had adopted a motion to "reiterate total support for comrade Mari Alkatiri as prime minister."

Alkatiri has been accused by some of triggering some of the recent unrest by approving the dismissal of 600 striking soldiers in March. The soldiers clashed with loyalist troops, and rival gangs took to the streets as law and order broke down last month.

He has repeatedly refused to stand down.