Subject: Indonesia extradites 4 suspects
Indonesia extradites 4 suspects in East Timor plot
05 May 2008
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesia extradited four rebel soldiers suspected in the attempted assassinations of East Timor's president and prime minister, the police chief said Monday.
The East Timorese men, who were detained after illegally crossing the border last month, were flown to the capital, Dili, where they will face trial in the Feb. 11 shootings, said Gen. Sutanto, who like many Indonesians goes by a single name.
They face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
President Jose Ramos-Horta almost died after being shot by men led by rebel commander Alfredo Reinado, who was killed in a shootout with guards. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped unharmed from an ambush on his motorcade the same day.
The motive for the attacks is yet to be determined.
The violence showed the continuing volatility of East Timor since it declared independence in 2002 following decades of harsh Indonesian rule. Dozens of people have been killed in clashes between government troops and mutinous soldiers since then, and tens of thousands of citizens still live in squalid tent camps after fleeing their homes.
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05/05/08 14:14
Indonesia extradites four Timor Leste rebels to Dili
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has extradited four Timor Leste soldiers suspected of involvement in last February 11`s attempt on Timor Leste President Ramos Horta`s life to their country, National Police Chief Gen Sutanto said.
The four men had fled to Indonesia but were captured by Indonesian police in East Nusatenggara and Jakarta recently at the the Timor Leste government`s request.
Speaking to reporters at the presidential office here Monday morning, Sutanto said they had been put on a plane that was to take them to the Timr Leste capital of Dili via Denpasar, Bali.
Meanwhile, it was reported from Denpasar, the four Timor Leste soldiers - identified as Egidio Lay Carvalho, Jose Gomes, Ismail Sansao Moniz Soares, and Pito Tilman - arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport before noon for a stopover.
They were sequestered at the airport`s VIP room while waiting to be flown to Dili at 2 pm local time, the report said.
Sutanto said Indonesian police were leaving the job of investigating the four men`s role in the assassination attempt fully to the Timor Leste authorities.
President Ramos Horta was shot twice in the back, and one of the bullets tore through his abdomen.
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was also attacked elsewhere at the same time but he escaped unhurt.
Horta was taken to Royal Darwin hospital in Australia`s Northern Territory for emergency treatment. He underwent initial surgery at an Australian military hospital in Dili before making the one-hour flight from Dili to Darwin, Australia.
Killed in the February 11 attack were a presidential bodyguard and two of the attackers. One of them was rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado.
Reinado, the Australian-trained former head of Timor Leste`s military police, joined the revolt and became its leader.
He was later captured but broke out of prison and returned to lead a disaffected troops. (*)
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