The Courier Mail
November 29, 2006 11:00pm
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIAN troops are adhering to a directive from East Timor's Government not to arrest the country's most wanted man, fugitive rebel leader Alfredo Reinado.
Australian troops have been filmed shaking hands and chatting with Reinado at a reconciliation seminar in the town of Suai, 175km south of Dili.
But they made no attempt to arrest him, in line with the wishes of East Timor's Government, Australian Brigadier Mal Rerden said.
"That's a matter for the Government. They have decided that it's appropriate for him to participate in that event because they are looking for ways to develop the dialogue and to bring Reinado back into the justice system," he told the ABC.
Reinado and more than 50 other inmates have been on the run since August, when they escaped from a prison near Dili.
He led a group of deserting troops in May and has been blamed for much of the violence that divided East Timor earlier this year. He was charged with murder and illegal arms possession at the time of his escape.
Reinado looked relaxed as he chatted to Australian troops and said that East Timor's recent problems were the fault of its former political leaders, including former prime minister Mari Alkatiri.
"I'm the one that obeyed the law and order, and they're the ones named by the UN as responsible for the crisis," he said.
Earlier this month, East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta said Reinado was not being arrested because the country's current military commander had called for dialogue.
"Because there was a wish from Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak for a dialogue with him, so that he can return to base and surrender, the government is giving him another chance," Mr Ramos Horta said.
He said such a dialogue was aimed at getting Reinado to surrender and "contribute to justice".
The United Nations, in its report into violence in East Timor, called for Alkatiri and a slew of senior government and security force members to be criminally investigated.
The report, carried out at the request of a government reeling from bloodshed in April and May which left 37 people dead, also said the crisis could largely be explained by the frailty of the young nation's institutions.
Alkatiri stepped down as prime minister in June amid allegations that he had ordered and armed a hit squad to kill his political opponents, but he has consistently maintained his innocence.
The UN Commission found no evidence that Alkatiri gave such instructions nor did it recommend he be prosecuted for the illegal movement of weapons.
"Nevertheless, the Commission recommends further investigations to determine whether Mari Alkatiri bears any criminal responsibility with respect to weapons offences," the report said.
The report also said Reinado could be "reasonably suspected of having committed crimes" during an armed confrontation on May 23.
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quarta-feira, novembro 29, 2006
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The Courier Mail
Novembro 29, 2006 11:00pm
Artigo da: AAP
As tropas Australianas estão a aderir a uma directiva do Governo de Timor-Leste para não prenderem o homem mais procurado do país, o líder amotinado em fuga Alfredo Reinado.
Tropas Australianas foram filmadas a apertar a mão e a conversar com Reinado num seminário de reconciliação na cidade de Suai, 175 km a sul de Dili.
Mas não fizeram qualquer tentativa para o prender, em linha com desejos do Governo de Timor-Leste, disse o Brigadeiro Australiano Mal Rerden.
"Isso é uma matéria do Governo. Decidiram que é apropriado ele participar nesse evento porque procuram maneiras de desenvolver o diálogo e de trazer Reinado de volta ao sistema de justiça," disse à ABC.
Reinado e mais do que outros 50 presos têm estado em fuga desde Agosto, quando escaparam duma prisão perto de Dili.
Ele liderou um grupo de tropas desertoras em Maio e tem sido acusado por muita da violência que dividiu Timor-Leste anteriormente neste ano. Foi acusado com assassínio e posse ilegal de armas na altura da sua fuga.
Reinado pareceu relaxado quando conversou com tropas Australianas e disse que os problemas recentes de Timor-Leste eram da culpa dos seus antigos líderes políticos, incluindo o antigo primeiro-ministro Mari Alkatiri.
"Sou quem obedece à lei e à ordem, e eles são quem foram indicados pela ONU como responsáveis da crise," disse.
Anteriormente, neste mês, o Primeiro-Ministro de Timor-Leste José Ramos Horta disse que Reinado não estava a ser preso porque o corrente comandante militar tinha apelado ao diálogo.
"Porque houve o desejo do Brigadeiro General Taur Matan Ruak de um diálogo com ele, de modo a poder regressar à base e render-se, o governo está a dar-lhe uma outra oportunidade," disse o Sr Ramos Horta.
Disse que tal diálogo visava levar Reinado a render-se e a "contribuir para a justiça ".
As Nações Unidas, no seu relatório à violência em Timor-Leste, apelou para que Alkatiri e demais membros de topo do governo e das forças de segurança sejam investigados criminalmente.
O relatório, realizado a pedido de um governo enfraquecido pelo derramar de sangue em Abril e Maio que deixou 37 pessoas mortas, disse também que a crise podia ser largamente explicada pela fragilidade das instituições da jovem nação.
Alkatiri saiu do cargo de primeiro-ministro em Junho entre alegações de que tinha ordenado e armado um esquadrão de ataque para matar os seus opositores políticos, mas tem consistentemente mantido a sua inocência.
A Comissão da ONU não encontrou qualquer evidência que Alkatiri tenha dado tais instruções nem recomendou que ele fosse processado por movimentos ilegais de armas.
"Contudo, a Comissão recomenda mais investigações para determinar se Mari Alkatiri tem qualquer responsabilidade criminal em relação a crimes de armas," diz o relatório.
O relatório diz ainda que Reinado pode ser "razoavelmente suspeito de ter cometido crimes " durante confrontos armados em 23 de Maio.
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It is known to all concerned that major Mark Stone allegedly and ostensibly with the Defence Cooperation Porgram of the Australian Government (he certainly drives around in one of their vehicles and wears their uniform and all) visits Alfredo regularly and was in touch with Alfredo during the whole time of his escape. Such a cosy relationship begs many questions. The one, which as an Australian Serviceman I want to ask is, how can this be so when we are guests in this country and should behave in the interests of this nation and its people's welfare? That does not surely include regular rendevous with a fugitive from the law in the country.
Secondly, an Australian DFAT Official, Greg Wilcock has maintained in similar regular contact. Is this similarly ethical from an Embassy point of view. These are all known to PM Horta and he is less than impressed. Is this the way to build up a good relationship over this very difficult time for this young nation? I think not.
Major Stone's activities are even more bizzare, as he wroks with "youth groups" and is seen with all of them, including the nototrious John Becora, or John Choque. A real thug! The question some F-FDTL and Falintil Veterans are asking me is, "is this guy suppose to be developing the skills of the defence forces or that of rebels and trouble makers for the nation?" I empathise with them on this one.
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