Timor church leaders dismayed at rape of girls, burning of buildings

Published: 2007-08-14

DILI, East Timor (CNS) -- Officials of the Diocese of Baucau have expressed dismay over the rape of girls at a convent school and the burning of church property following the announcement of the appointment of East Timor's new prime minister. Father Francisco Pinheiro da Silva, vicar general of the Baucau Diocese, told the Asian church news agency UCA News that unidentified men raped about nine girls -- one of them only 8 years old and the others 15-17 -- at around 2 a.m. Aug. 10 in the Salesian-run convent school in Baucau. "Indications show that the brutality and immoral actions were done by Fretilin (former ruling party) supporters," said Father da Silva. The British news agency Reuters reported Aug. 13 that police arrested a 16-year-old male on suspicion that he raped an 11-year-old student at an orphanage attached to the convent. Father da Silva told UCA News Aug. 13 that apart from the attack on the convent school there had been attacks on church and public buildings. During Aug. 7-9, the offices of the diocese, the Caritas aid agency and the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services, and a Catholic-run kindergarten were burned down, he said in a telephone interview.

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