New Year's Eve Violence in Dili

Radio UNTAET

01 Jan, 2001

Dili -- An emergency meeting was being held in Dili this afternoon following gang attacks on the Annur Mosque and a venue hosting a New Year's Eve party, which left a number of civilians and police injured.

At the mosque, three residents were hurt and cars parked in the compound extensively damaged after a gang attacked at about 6 o'clock this morning, with stones and broken bottles.

Earlier in the night residents of the mosque had been threatened.

At the Dynasty Restaurant, scores of New Year's Eve revellers were warned not to try to leave the venue for about an hour as Civpol and the Rapid Response Unit battled a gang armed with rocks and machetes.

A number of people were injured, including Civpol officers, and vehicles parked outside the venue extensively damaged.

This afternoon senior UNTAET officials were meeting with Civpol and the PKF to discuss the attacks and means of boosting security.

Meanwhile a Muslim leader has appealed for a 24-hour CivPol presence in Kampong Alor, in the wake of this morning's violence at the Annur Mosque.

Haji Arham Appe made this appeal after a group of 15 attacked the mosque in Kampong Alor at 6:00 am, with stones and broken bottles. Three people were injured and extensive damage caused to cars parked in the compound.

Arham wants CivPol to maintain its 24-hour presence in the area for at least a week because of fears that there could be further reprisals.

The mosque is home for about 60 Muslim families in Dili and this is the first reported attack in Kampong Alor since last September's violence.

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