By Jon Land
Tens of thousands of East Timorese marched through the streets of their capital city Dili on February 16. They were accompanying the coffin of 25 year-old Benedito de Jesus Pires, who was killed during an incident involving a paramilitary gang.
Suara Pembaruan reported that 50,000 East Timorese came onto the streets early on the morning of the funeral. The crowd swelled to 150,000 as it marched towards Santa Cruz Cemetery.
The solemn procession marched via government and military buildings. AS they marched, people sang hymns and occasionally chanted pro-independence slogans. The march concluded peacefully, with a large number of activists acting as marshals to ensure there was no violence.
The shooting of Benedito occurred after locals in the Bairro-Pite district were provoked by the Mahidin paramilitary gang on February 14. The paramilitaries had been driving through the neighbourhood earlier in the day, firing their guns into the air. When chased by locals, the paramilitaries fled to the nearby Brimob (mobile police) dormitory.
Benedito was killed by a bullet in his head which is believed to have been shot by a police officer from inside the dormitory.