JAKARTA - Indonesian police detained 48 youths yesterday after a violent "anti integration" protest at a hotel in the East Timor capital of Dili where a United Nations envoy was staying, police said.
"There was a demonstration outside the Mahkota Hotel where the envoy was staying," the East Timor deputy police chief, Col Atok Rismanto, said by telephone from Dili. He confirmed there were shots fired by police during the incident but denied reports from residents that people had been killed, seriously injured or suffered broken bones.
The East Timor police chief, Mr Jusuf Muharam, later told local journalists 48 people had been arrested and 11 required medical treatment in hospital for light injuries.
The UN special envoy on East Timor, Mr Jamsheed Marker, arrived in East Timor at the weekend to meet senior government and community leaders in the former Portuguese colony. He has described the trip as a "familiarisation" visit. Residents said the youths had wanted to meet Mr Marker.
"They were dissatisfied because the UN envoy was only meeting with government officials and Bishop [Carlos Ximines] Belo," a senior community leader, Mr Manuel Carrascalao, said. Other residents said tables, chairs and glass panes in the lobby were smashed after the Timorese entered.