Timor-Leste: Reinado, the expendable operative - International Imperialism

The night before Ramos-Horta’s departure from Australia, a local current affairs program, Dateline, aired a segment on the shootings (see link). It is clearly evident from the footage that the principal protagonists and antagonists in the real-life drama are all lying through their teeth. From Reinado’s second in command, reputed to have shot the president, through prime minister Xanana Gusmao, to the (accused by Australian authorities) lawyer/girlfriend of the rebel leader. It was obvious they were all withholding important information and lying to protect themselves – such is the nature of politics in this Indonesian region.

In a way it was amusing watching the amateurish performances of these inept liars, especially the pathetic performance of the prime minister, Xanana Gusmao, notwithstanding the high camera angle and close shot of his lying face! [We cite these camera tricks for the reader’s benefit, media experts are able to make devils appear as angels and angels appear as devils]. Nevertheless, Gusmao’s feeble lying was evident from the first contortions of his lying face!

It should not be forgotten that Xanana Gusmao is the Western pawn/puppet/lackey in this multi-zillion dollar grab for the richest oil and gas reserves in the region – the exploitation of which has been severely hampered and delayed by the antics of the now dead rebel leader! ‘We got him out of the way at last,’ BUT his second in command and the majority of his men are still in the hills – Viva Timor-Leste!

The program featured older footage of Reinado accusing the hierarchy of the present Timorese government, especially Gusmao, of employing him to subvert the former government of leftist, Mari Alkatiri -- a mission accomplished without too much difficulty. But the Australian trained, unruly, rebel leader should have been aware that the success of his mission would seal his own fate – Reinado had served his purpose the powers had no further use for an unpredictable combatant! Nonetheless, one could imagine the lying promises made to Reinado at the time, promises the principals had no intention of keeping.

With Alkatiri properly trounced and out of the way a very paranoid and disgruntled Reinado became the problem – such is the nature of Timorese politics! The Australian/U.S. solution of course was KILL HIM! But the failures of Aussie forces carrying out the dictates of U.S. oil companies are now infamous!

Reinado continually made fools of Australian ‘peace keeping’ forces assigned to kill or capture him. The situation was becoming intolerable and untenable!

Well, Reinado is now dead but the intrigues are not over by any stretch, all that lovely money lying in the ground promises that the situation will only deteriorate until either the West is forced to expose its bloodied hands or the tiny nation achieves REAL INDEPENDENCE. Inviting Russia and China to PARTICIPATE in the development of the tiny nation would strike a political balance that would see more benefits flow to the people instead of to the Transnationals, as occurs in Australia.

Failing the strategy of playing the superpowers against each other the second strategy would be to allow the West to install essential oil and gas infrastructures and then stage a coup and 'appropriate the means of production!' Regardless of who takes government the oil and gas reserves must be tapped if the nation is to prosper.

The situation in Timor-Leste is extremely manageable – western puppets and traitors can be executed after due process -- Viva!

Viva, Timor-Leste!

Associates of East Timor's former rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who were involved in an attack on the country's top political leaders, say they never had orders to kill them and claim they were shot at first.

In an exclusive interview with SBS's Dateline program Gastao Salsinha, once deputy to Reinado and now rebel leader, told journalist Mark Davis that, contrary to reports, the alleged attacks were not assassination attempts.

On February 11 this year Reinado and his followers left their mountain hide-out and came to President Jose Ramos-Horta's home in Dili. A fire-fight that ensued left the president seriously wounded and the rebel leader dead.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was confronted in a separate but related incident. He escaped unharmed.

Salsinha claims he was sent to Mr Gusmao's residence on that morning, but not to attack the Prime Minister.

"Major Alfredo Reinado did not say we were going to capture Xanana, the prime minister, or to kill him. He didn't say. He only said that we should go to the Prime Minister's place," Salsinha told Dateline.

He said the rebel leader's order was not clear.

"At 9:30 (the night before) Major Alfredo came to our place. He came drunk and told me to prepare the soldiers to go to Dili. That is what he said but he had no special instructions that we were going to kill anyone or take up arms," Salsinha said.

"When we were at the back of the prime minister's house we didn't shoot one bullet to the house or to the prime minister," he said.

It's believed that Reinado was angry that Mr Ramos-Horta had apparently backed away from an amnesty for rebel soldiers and he wanted to confront the leader.

Another rebel, known as Teboko, says the order from Reinado was not to attack. Teboko was sent to President Ramos-Horta's residence on February 11.

He told Dateline they went for an "appointment" with the president and said the rebels did not fire the first shot.

"As we know it was the FDTL that shoot us first, and killed Major Alfredo and the member Leopoldino," Teboko told Dateline.

While recovering from his shooting injuries in Australia Mr Ramos-Horta blamed Reinado's girlfriend, Angelita Pires, for influencing the rebel leader's actions.

In her first interview since the shooting, Pires told SBS she had nothing to do with the attacks and that she now fears for her life. She remains a "person of interest" to police.

She denies allegations that she manipulated Reinado and said that the rebel leader looked forward to being pardoned.

"Well I think he was a decent person," she told Dateline. "I think he had the right intentions … but I don't know him in a military sense, I don't know what occurred," she said in reference to the February 11 attacks.

Salsinha is on the run and is still wanted by East Timorese police. But he says he will surrender to President Ramos-Horta, who is due to leave Australia this week to return to East Timor.

"I'm waiting for the president to come and say one or two words and after that we can come down," he said. "If we surrender early this government could condemn us and could take us to prison."

© 2008 Special Broadcasting Service

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