33 CANOSSIAN SISTERS SAFE IN INDONESIA. SALESIAN SCHOOLS BURNT TO THE GROUND (BRIEF, CHURCH/RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS)
Thirty-three Canosian Sisters managed to escape East Timor and yesterday reach Kupang (West Timor, Indonesia). As referred by our MISNA sources, 4 of the sisters are Italian: Sister Jolanda Vezzoli of Fontanella al Piano (Bergamo); Sister Maria Chioda of Pompiano (Brescia); Sister Clementina Vassena of Lecco; Sister Luigina Guerrini of Cologno Monzese (Milan). The last two have already arrived in Jakarta (Indonesia). The Canosian Sisters were evacuated from their home and until now there had been no news regarding there whereabouts or safety. While confirmations arrived concerning the destruction of the schools of the Salesian Fathers in East Timor, all burnt down like the Churches. According to Bishop Hilton Deakin, Australian Caritas Director, the attacks against members of the Church are part of a `much vaster genocide. Once they have eliminated the people of the Church that sheltered the Timorese, there will be no respect for life in East Timor'. Unconfirmed rumours place the death toll at 20.000, so far. (BO)
MISNA - Missionary Service News Agency