[East Timor authorities have imposed a curfew and sent troops onto the streets of the capital Dili, following a day of rioting in which as many as five people have died. Several businesses, including the ANZ bank, were targetted, after a large crowd which was demanding the release of an arrested student went on the rampage. Some government officials have blamed a radical group known as CPD-RDTL for the violence, but local East Timorese are frustrated by unemployment and poverty. The riots are the most serious challenge to East Timor since independence from Indonesia on May 20.]

Presenter/Interviewer: Sen Lam

Speakers: Maria Pires, from Plan International, Dili

Bernardino: "Initially when two students this morning were shot and then the group proceeded to enter into the assembly and they stoned the building and broke everything that was in sight."

Lam: Why have the demonstrators directed their anger against the parliament?

Bernardino: "Yeah mainly because they're not happy with the situation, they're not happy because there is corruption and nepotism and so on inside the government. They say they are still suffering even after independence, they don't see any benefits going to them, they don't feel that they are part of the reconstruction of East Timor, they've been discriminated upon, they don't have employment."

Lam: So are these demonstrators largely students or do they comprise of large numbers of members of the local communities as well?

Bernardino: "They are students as well as large numbers of local communities and 10,000 of them have come from the districts, from the mountains and for the 28th of November commemoration here in Dili and have remained."

Lam: I understand the authorities have imposed a curfew?

Bernardino: "Yes the curfew means people have to remain inside the houses and not come outside."

Lam: But you just got off a motorbike outside?

Bernardino: "Yes I've been out on the streets actually since this morning, I went to work as a normal day and then because of the tense situation and because our office is in the area of the Prime Minister's house and the focus was there early on, we had to close the office and move out and then again I couldn't get into the area where I'm living because the roads have been blocked, so I have to come back to some relative's house, which is close by the assembly. Xanana has called a meeting earlier on and it seems like there's still a lot of tension but at least they stopped the burning."

Lam: On this issue of burning I understand that a supermarket has been attacked and also a bank, what can you tell us about that?

Bernardino: "Yes the ANZ bank has been stoned, which is a foreign owned and then the Harvey World Travel, which is I believe Australian owned has been stoned and then some other foreign businesses have been targets."

Lam: And would you say that this is very damaging for East Timor and for the local economy?

Bernardino: "I would say so yes, it is very damaging but unfortunately the locals don't see that, they see that businesses come in, they are bringing in foreign workers, the benefit is going to the business and the foreign workers and there's very little going on to the local community, and they're very angry with that."

Lam: But they are also particularly angry with the police, why do you think this is so?

Bernardino: "They're angry with the police – they have told me because the police is using violence, is using force, it is using bullets to control the situation and control the riots and the crowds. The government has met several times in the last few days to try to address the issue, unfortunately it's being very slow coming onto the communities and that I guess has added to the tension and by the way the police reacted and responded to some of these demonstrations it's added to the problem, which we saw today."

Lam: We also received reports that the police were hated because it's perceived that amongst their numbers were former supporters of the Indonesian regime? BERNARDINO: "Yes actually, while we are standing in front of our house there was a group of people running on the streets and chasing the police cars and pointing at them saying that these are militia, militia, apparently some ex-militia members have managed to get jobs as policemen."

Lam: Is there a feeling of panic in Dili tonight?

Bernardino: I believe so, there are some families at least where I am now in my relatives home, there are families around, these local people are scared, some of the local pawn shops have closed and I think the foreigners here are very terrified that you know, if something happens to them – they don't feel safe."