Q: (by David Wimhurst) There have been reports during the course of the day that a number of incidents have taken place in Maliana between militia and pro-independence groups, that the CNRT office was attacked and that the students had been attacked. There have been reports of injuries and there is even one report that somebody had been killed. Could you confirm any of this and, if not, could you explain what the situation is?
Ian Martin: There was certainly serious disorder just outside of Maliana town at a place called Ritabou last night and then in Maliana itself this morning. This involved pro-integration militia and pro-independence supporters. We are not yet able to get a clear account of exactly what happened last night or, indeed, this morning. One thing that is clear is that the student centre in Maliana has been attacked and destroyed. The CNRT office has not yet opened in Maliana, so it is the student centre not the CNRT office that was attacked and destroyed.
I visited Maliana in the company of the chairman of the Indonesian Task Force and senior Indonesian police officials also. In fact, we visited three of the places that have been of greatest concern to us for the moment – Viqueque, Suai and Maliana. In all three places we and they had very serious discussions with the local police, military and administration regarding the additional measures that are necessary to get the security situation in hand, including discussing with them the threats to our own international and local staff, which have been particularly acute in Maliana. They have undertaken to strengthen the police presence in Bobonaro district, but also to discuss back here in Dili at the senior-level what additional action is necessary in those districts.
Q: Just one more point. Have you any information about injuries to people in the area during the attack last night at the student centre?
Ian Martin: Certainly, people came to the UN office in Maliana with injuries. We cannot confirm the report of a death. There is a report that someone there had been killed last night, but we do not have definite confirmation on that.
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