---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, JULY 21 1999 E. Timor: Police Secure Release Of Civilians Kidnapped By Anti- Integrationists Dili, July 20 (ANTARA)- Security officers in Liquica, about 38 kms from west of dili, have succeeded in peacefully securing the release of three East Timorese civilians who had been abducted by anti-integration elements. Capt Widodo, chief of the East Timor Police's information service, said here Tuesday the three were kidnapped last Sunday, July 18. Mario Pereira (40), a resident of Vatuvou village in Maubara subdistrict, Antonio Gustavo (24) and Sebastiao Hendrik (28), both from Lotela village in Liquica Kota subdistrict, were set free by their abductors at about 4 pm local time. The three farmers were released after police communicated with the kidnappers and persuaded them to let their prisoners go. The kidnappers who belonged to the anti-integration group handed over the three to police in Hatukesi village, Maubara subdistrict, Liquica district. Afterward the three victims were taken to police headquarters in Liquica for questioning, they were taken to their own families witnessed by local village administration officers. Flag Incident Meanwhile, police are investigating an incident in which an Indonesian national (red-and-white) flag was hauled down and torn up by members of the anti-integration group. Witnesses said as many as 26 members of the anti-integration group were involved in the incident which occured at Leorema village, Bazartete subdistrict, Liquica district on July 16. One of the witnesses, Roberto dos Santos (54), said the culprits escaped to Atkapu hamlet in Leorema village. "They tied the red cloth around their heads and threw away the white cloth," Capt Widodo said quoting Roberto. At the time, he said, the witness wanted to go out but saw 26 people lower the flag which had been flying from a pole standing in front of the Leorema State Elementary School where voters for the scheduled UN-administered direct ballot were being registered. "The cause was that the Falintil group objected to the hoisting of the flag where the registration was being conducted," he said. The police will keep on investigating the case and pursue the culprits in accordance with existing law, said Widodo. (U.DLI-02/PTU05/INT-KT/15:40/INT-AJM- 18:10/NN01/19:28/TB04) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 23 Jul 1999 jam 06:45:40 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
