Attack on the President and Vice-President of the Democratic Party in Timor-Leste

Fernando de Araujo (La Sama) and Samuel Mendonca, the President and Vice-President of the Democratic Party (PD) in Timor-Leste, were attacked by mobs in Dili on February 20, 2007.

Although La Sama was unharm his Deputy President Samuel Mendonca sustained serious wound in the head. La Sama's car was smahed.

La Sama has informed the UN Police of the incident and requested a thorough investigation.

It is bad to target political leaders as the country is preparing itself for Presidential and Parliamentary elections. It is important that the UN provide proper protection to Fernando de Araujo and others during the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. It is equally important to find out weather or not the attack was politically motivated.

PD is the largest oposition party in Timor-Leste. It was founded in 2001 a few months before the constituent assembly election. PD curently holds 7 of the 88 seats in the National Parliament.