The Australian
Mark Dodd
September 13, 2006
THE UN has admitted it failed to capture any of the 56 prisoners who escaped in Dili two weeks ago with Australian-trained army rebel Alfredo Reinado.
The UN Commissioner of Police in East Timor, Antero Lopes, said friends and families were believed to be helping the escapees, who include nine serious criminals.
"It's a mixture of individuals, some of whom committed serious crimes, although most did not," Mr Lopes said.
"So far, there has been no news that any have perpetrated acts of violence against the population."
Mr Lopes said no escapees had been recaptured since the breakout on August 30 and it was feared they had fled Dili, with many thought to be hiding in remote jungle.
A list of the escapees, obtained by The Australian, shows at least nine convicted murderers were among the fugitives, who also include arsonists and two rapists.
Mr Lopes said the arrival of additional UN police would allow a broader, more intensive search in rural areas.
Police claim they lack the resources to hunt for Major Reinado, despite The Australian's interview with the rebel in a hideaway last weekend.
Labor foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said if The Australian could track down East Timor's most wanted man, then "the buck stops with John Howard to give the men and women on the ground in East Timor more resources to do the job that they were sent in there to do".
Mr Rudd urged Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to reconsider the plan to reduce Australia's military presence before the next East Timorese election, due in May.
"The escape and evasion from security forces of Major Reinado in East Timor emphasises the fact that security is still not under control," Mr Rudd said.
Mr Downer and Justice Minister Chris Ellison said it was important to be realistic about the the search.
"East Timor's mountainous terrain hampered operations," the ministers said in a joint statement.
"While significant progress has been made on reducing the availability of weapons in the community, a number have not been surrendered.
"And tensions between some groups within East Timor society remained high.
"Australian authorities were intent on managing the operation to minimise the risk of violent confrontation."
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quarta-feira, setembro 13, 2006
UN draws a blank on Dili prison fugitives
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A ONU fracassou nos fugitivos da prisão de Dili
The Australian
Mark Dodd
Setembro 13, 2006
A ONU admitiu que falhou na captura de qualquer dos 56 presos que fugiram em Dili há duas semanas com o amotinado treinado pelos Australianos Alfredo Reinado.
O Comissário da Polícia da ONU em Timor-Leste, Antero Lopes, disse que acredita-se que amigos e familiares estão a ajudar os fugitivos, que incluem nove criminosos graves.
"É uma mistura de indivíduos, alguns dos quais cometeram crimes sérios, apesar de a maioria não o ter feito," disse o Sr Lopes.
"Até agora, não houve notícias de terem perpetrado actos de violência contra a população."
O Sr Lopes disse que nenhum fugitivo tinha sido recapturado desde a fuga em 30 de Agosto e receava-se que tivessem fugido de Dili, com muitos a esconderem-se no mato remoto.
Uma lista dos fugitivos, obtida pelo The Australian, mostra que pelo menos nove assassinos condenados estavam entre os fugitivos, que também incluem incendiários e dois violadores.
O Sr Lopes disse que a chegada de adicionais polícias da ONU permitirá uma mais alargada, mais intensiva buscas em áreas rurais.
A polícia queixa-se que lhe faltam recursos para caçar o Major Reinado, apesar da entrevista do The Australian com o amotinado num esconderijo no último fim-de-semana.
O porta-voz dos assuntos estrangeiros do Labor Kevin Rudd disse que se The Australian conseguiu encontrar o homem mais procurado de Timor-Leste, então "o balde pára com John Howard para dar aos homens e mulheres no terreno em Timor-Leste mais recursos para fazerem o trabalho que foram enviados para lá fazerem ".
Mr Rudd urgiu ao Ministro dos Estrangeiros Alexander Downer para reconsiderar o plano de redução da presença militar na Austrália antes das próximas eleições Timorenses, previstas em Maio.
"A fuga e evasão das forças de segurança do Major Reinado em Timor-Leste dá ênfase ao facto de a segurança não estar sob controlo," disse Mr Rudd.
Mr Downer e o Ministro da Justiça Chris Ellison disseram que era importante ser-se realista sobre a busca.
"O terreno montanhoso de Timor-Leste embaraça as operações," disseram os ministros numa declaração conjunta.
"Enquanto foi feito um progresso significativo na redução do acesso das armas na comunidade, umas tantas não foram entregues.
"E as tensões entre alguns grupos dentro da sociedade de Timor-Leste permanece alta.
"As autoridades Australianas têm a intenção de geris a operação para minimizar o risco de um confronto violento."
That is non sense what Ellison and Downer have said. Reinado has no support and they always get information of where they are but never act in a timely fashion. They get too late, as has been admitted by both AFO Commander Lancaster and ADF spokespersons. There is no doubt that care must be exercised because the man with XXX tatooed on the back of his neck is a war monger and he would love nothing more than to have a firefight with whomever (witness the Fatoahi firefight provoked by him captured on SBS's dateline Program). But that is what being in the business of law enforcement, of enforcement of good against evil, is all about. So....get on with it! There are enough resources, it is just how they are used. Senior F-FDTL figures say that if they were involved in the hunt, Reinado would be captured within days. But that may not suit the image some wish to portray about the F-FDTL, because it will show that F-FDTL still have the confidence of the people and are not the evil force that some foreign interests have wanted to portray them as being. But they have no choice. Only F-FDTL can help them to capture Reinado....they only have to be humble enough to accept some help from them. Its not resources that is the problem...it is the trust, confidence and ability to dialogue with Timorese....that is where the problem has always been with the Australian Forces in East Timor. The success of INTERFET was due entirely to the involvement of Timorese as their partners, many of whom are now in the F-FDTL. That too has been a tradition, if one harks back to World War II when a handful of Australian comandos were kept alive by their Timorese helpers. This enabled them in turn to keep tens of thousands of japanese soldiers tied down, at a great cost to tens of thousands of Timorese who died in reprisals from the Japanese for the help they gave the Australians.
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