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Subject: Australia wants E. Timor threat 'neutralised'; Protest; Growing
anger
AFP: Australia wants Timor threat 'neutralised' Also: Australia wants Timor threat 'neutralised' DILI, March 5 (AFP) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Monday that troops should "neutralise" the threat from East Timor's rebel leader as hundreds protested over the Australian-led force hunting him down. Major Alfredo Reinado is on the run after elite Australian troops stormed his mountain base in Same, 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of the capital Dili, on Sunday. Four Reinado supporters were killed but he eluded capture. Australia leads the international peacekeeping force sent into troubled East Timor last year after weeks of unrest, some of it blamed on Reinado, that killed at least 37 people and caused 150,000 to flee their homes. The Timorese government recently gave the force the green light to capture Reinado, who instead has been calling for face-to-face talks about the crisis after refusing to surrender to foreign troops. "We prefer taking people into custody and we are hopeful that objective will be achieved," Howard said in a television interview Monday. "But he is a fugitive. He did escape, and he does have people around him. His continued activities are a threat to the security of East Timor, and it is preferable that that threat be neutralised." Around 500 mostly young people took to the streets of Dili on Monday, chanting support for the fugitive rebel leader. They hurled stones, burnt tyres and blocked streets in the capital. Some shouted "Viva Alfredo!" while others yelled "Australians, go home!" before criticising East Timor's president and premier for allowing the weekend attack. Armed police and members of the international security force mobilised to disperse the crowd, according to an AFP photographer on the scene. The troops have been using helicopters and foot patrols to comb the slopes and jungles around Same to hunt Reinado down. Indonesia's state Antara news agency, quoting an unnamed source in Dili, said Reinado was unhurt and in an area south of Same, where he enjoys popular support. Indonesia's border security unit was on a higher state of alert in case Reinado tried to cross over into neighbouring West Timor, a senior officer from the unit told Antara. "It has gone past the point where negotiation is likely to achieve very much," said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. "Major Reinado's best, most sensible and most rational course of action, particularly now that he has been separated from his support group, would be to surrender." Julio Guterres, a radio correspondent in the tense town of Same, told AFP that Reinado's former base had been sealed off by the international force but added that a team from the International Red Cross had been allowed in. Officials in East Timor had feared an outbreak of violence, possibly even civil war, following a move against Reinado and ahead of presidential elections scheduled for April 9. East Timor, occupied by Indonesia from 1975 to 1999, is one of the world's newest -- and poorest -- independent nations. President Xanana Gusmao gave the international force the green light to capture the leader after accusing him of raiding police posts and stealing weapons last month. Reinado was arrested on weapons charges after last year's violence but escaped from jail with more than 50 other inmates. ------------------------------------- Protests in East Timor after raid on army rebel DILI, March 5 (Reuters) - Thousands of angry supporters of East Timor rebel leader Alfredo Reinado burnt tyres and threw stones in the capital on Monday to protest against a raid by international troops on the fugitive's hideout. Reinado, who led a revolt that plunged the fledgling nation into chaos last year, escaped Saturday's raid on his Same base by an Australian-led international peacekeeping forces in which four people were killed. Supporters gathered in the heart of Dili, shouting "Long Live Alfredo", and denounced President Xanana Gusmao, who ordered security forces to arrest Reinado following accusations the former army major led a raid on a police post and made off with 25 automatic weapons and ammunition last month. Armed peacekeepers patrolled the streets and tried to disperse the crowds, but Reinado's supporters said they would not call off their protest until Gusmao withdrew his arrest order. "You better go back to your country instead of making people suffer," said one of Reinado's angry supporters, pointing to Australian peackeeping troops. Streets emptied as international police moved to secure the city and protesters blocked roads with wrecked cars, preventing government officials from going to work, a Reuters witness said. "It's nothing that hasn't been anticipated and it's certainly nothing that can't be responded to," Alison Cooper, a spokeswoman for the U.N. mission in East Timor, told Australian radio. Troops are still searching for Reinado, who has been on the run since he escaped from jail in East Timor's capital Dili in August along with 50 other inmates. He has denied any of his men were killed in the raid. After Saturday's raid, Gusmao urged Reinado to surrender, saying the government would treat him with respect. But Reinado has said he will not surrender to international troops. "NO SURRENDER" "I will only surrender to the law, not to any international power," Reinado told Reuters on Saturday. "I will not surrender for the president and prime minister's interest. I will surrender only for the peoples' interest." Australia, which has 800 troops in East Timor, said Reinado was a threat East Timor's security and should surrender. "It is preferable that that threat be neutralised. But the objective obviously is to take him into custody," Prime Minister John Howard told Australian television. Reinado has made several public appearances since the escape, including a meeting with the country's military chief. Security forces did not make any attempt to arrest him. The standoff between Reinado and the troops has raised fears of violence ahead of a presidential election next month. Indonesia has temporarily closed its border with East Timor to prevent Reinado and his group sneaking into Indonesian territory at the request of East Timor's government. Australia has warned of increased violence ahead of the poll after clashes between its peacekeepers and East Timorese refugees left two civilians dead last month. East Timor voted in a 1999 referendum for independence from Indonesia, which annexed it after Portugal ended its colonial rule in 1975. The country became fully independent in 2002 after a period of U.N. administration. But an east-west divide in the impoverished nation erupted into chaos and gang violence in May following the sacking of 600 soldiers. High youth unemployment also plagues the country, where more than 100,000 people are displaced. (Additional reporting by Rob Taylor in Canberra) ------------------------------------- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News Monday, March 5, 2007 Reinado's supporters lead protest in Dili Reinado says he will not surrender to international troops. Thousands of angry supporters of East Timor rebel Alfredo Reinado have burnt tyres and thrown stones in the capital to protest against a raid by international troops on the fugitive's hideout. Reinado, who led a revolt that plunged the tiny nation into chaos last year, escaped Saturday's raid by an Australian-led international peacekeeping force in which four people were killed. The protesters gathered in the heart of Dili, shouting slogans such as "Long Live Alfredo" and made speeches against President Xanana Gusmao, who ordered security forces to arrest Reinado following accusations the rebel had led a raid on a police post and made off with 25 automatic weapons last month. International police have moved to secure the city where traffic was thin as the protesters blocked roads with wrecked cars, preventing many government officials from going to work. Troops are still searching for Reinado, who has been on the run since he escaped from jail in East Timor's capital Dili in August along with 50 other inmates. He has denied any of his men were killed in the raid. After Saturday's raid, Mr Gusmao urged Reinado to surrender, saying the Government would treat him with respect. But Reinado has said he will not surrender to international troops. "I will only surrender to the law, not to any international power," Reinado said. "I will not surrender for the President and Prime Minister's interest. "I will surrender only for the peoples' interest." Australia has 800 troops to keep peace in East Timor following last year's violence. Reinado has made several public appearances since the escape, including a meeting with the country's military chief. Security forces did not make any attempt to arrest him. The standoff between Reinado and the troops has raised fears of violence ahead of a presidential election next month. Indonesia has temporarily closed its border with East Timor to prevent Reinado and his group sneaking into Indonesian territory, at the request of East Timor's Government. Australia has warned of increased violence ahead of the poll after clashes between its peacekeepers and East Timorese refugees left two civilians dead last month. East Timor voted in a 1999 referendum for independence from Indonesia, which annexed it after Portugal ended its colonial rule in 1975. An east-west divide in the impoverished nation erupted into chaos and gang violence in May following the sacking of 600 soldiers. ------------------------------------- Joyo Indonesia News Service Back to March 2007 menu |