On the 29th May 2006, as political leaders in East Timor were bunkered down in talks, chaos and fear gripped the country residents as they fled from their homes. It was reported a priest was injured in the violent rampage. The rampant destructions in Dili was caused by gangs terrorising, looting and setting homes and stores ablaze, reported the Australia Broadcasting Corporation.
The international peacekeeping forces including Australia were now in East Timor to try to restore law and order to a very tense situation where the demand for the Prime Minister Mari Alkitari was growing louder.
Caritas Australia, the overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church was on the ground in Dili as thousands of displaced families were fleeing from their homes. 50,000 people had been displaced and there could only provide limited support for those without shelter.
Mr Jack de Groot, Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Australia said: “Continued threats of violence, some burning of houses and intimidating behaviours towards displaced people made the situation difficult to judge and raised grave fears for the well being of the internally displaced people in the Church compounds.”
As reports of bloodshed continued, it had emerged that a local Catholic priest was amongst those wounded in the shootings.
“Father Lopez from the San Jose School, Balide was shot in the shoulder in Caicoli on Friday night. He had been operated on and had a slight improvement in his condition. We pray for his recovery and also for all those caught up in the violence, said Mr de Groot.
Mr de Groot expressed hope that once the Caritas Australia’s team in Dili, headed by Country Director, Jay Maheswaran was able to carry out further assessments there would be able to expand their activities to provide semi-permanent housing for the displaced families.