PM says gov't probe of December riot is now criminal
investigation
Dili, March 3 (Lusa) - Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said Monday that
separate government and parliamentary inquiries into a Dili riot last
December, that caused two deaths, have been handed over to judicial
authorities to begin criminal investigations.
Alkatiri told Lusa the two investigations had "given some clues,
but are
not complete".
"It is necessary the investigation now becomes a criminal one",
said
Alkatiri, adding that the two documents have been sent to Attorney
General Longuinhos Monteiro.
The Timorese head of government was speaking after a meeting with
President Xanana Gusmao and the speaker of the Dili Parliament,
Francisco Guterres, on the reports of the events of December 4 in Dili.
Groups of protesters were involved in violent clashed with police and
several buildings in the capital were looted and destroyed, including
Parliament and the home of Mari Alkatiri.
Alkatiri said it would be necessary to fully probe the involvement of
students from the Escola 28 November in the Dili disturbances.
Pupils from this school were involved in confrontations with police the
day before the riot, after a student was arrested and accused of murder.
"The involvement of this school appears more significant in the
Dec. 4
riots than the report would make believe", said Alkatiri, adding
that
the police's role in the lead up to the riots also needed a thorough
examination.