January 24, 2007 - 1:44PM
Australia's army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy says East Timorese rebel leader Alfredo Reinado can still play a part in the shattered country's reconstruction, despite his threat to kill Australian troops if they try to force his surrender.
Reinado has been on the run since he escaped from a Dili prison along with more than 50 others in August last year.
He had been detained on weapons charges following bloody violence which erupted in the tiny nation in April and May.
Negotiations for Reinado's surrender are continuing, with the United Nations and the East Timorese government reportedly holding talks with the rebel leader in recent days to try to persuade him to hand himself in.
Reinado warned he would take on Australian soldiers who tried to force him to surrender.
"This is my country. I am proud to die for my country, to defend the right of my country and my people," Reinado told ABC television this week.
"But my promise is, whenever you bring the thousand, I will take some with me."
Lt-Gen Leahy said the Australian Army remained willing to talk to him, despite his threats.
"I think it's an unfortunate thing that he said," Lt-Gen Leahy told AAP in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I know there's a lot of work being done to try and persuade Reinado to come back and be part of the justice process and the reconciliation that's going on in East Timor and I encourage that he do that, that he come in and be part of the process of restoring law and order, of helping East Timor get ahead as a new nation.
"I'd like to see him back down and participating in that reconstruction," he said.
Australian soldiers have set up roadblocks in the area around Reinado's camp in a village four hours drive west of Dili, where he is under restricted movement.
Reinado was said to have cancelled a meeting with the UN last week because UN and Australian troops were trying to arrest him.
"I think they are so powerful, they're well-trained as they are and I'm ready for it, as I am myself also," Reinado said.
© 2007 AAP
.
quarta-feira, janeiro 24, 2007
We're willing to talk to Reinado: Leahy
Subscrever:
Enviar feedback (Atom)
2 comentários:
Enough with the talking. Arrest him already. Imagine if prisioners start breaking out of prison and start saying that there is no need to go after them because they will surrender someday. What would this country become? And why should we trust someone who escaped from prison?
If the police or whoever is in charge is here just to talk and not go after the fugitives the they might as well go back to their own country.
Enough is enough. No more talking, arrest him.
This is bizzare. The most senior defence force officer in Australia's structure making such a comment. Would he have done the same with a terrorist in Australia who deserted from his army armed without lawful auhtority and then sot at his troops? Would he ave done and taken te same view with a common criminal escaping lawful custody such as Chopper Reed, who is very much Reinado's criminal analogy? I think not. It is interesting to note why his conduct would have been different. Its very much the outlook whic has developed in the Howard Canberra establisment and this view is very much eveidence of the partisans they ave promoted to igh office. That outlook is that what applies in Australia does not apply elsewhere in the neighborhood. what is good for te goose, is definitely not goos for the gander. This is why Howard and his government are so despised in the Asia Pacific. Look at the Pacific nations and their leaders pronounciations of Howard's regime. Just listen to Indoensian political leaders and malaysian leaders. They barely tolerate them....just to be civil. For the good Australia, this has got to change. Leahy's remarks and his total lack of consistency with te notions of the nation he represents is symptomatic of all that is worn gwith Canberra's foreign policy outlook. No respect for anyone or any principles wich we Australians value so much when it comes to dealing with your neighbors in the region we live in.
Enviar um comentário