Timor-Leste: Bungle in the Jungle - International Imperialism

It is fortunate that a number of black hawk helicopters were not used in the surprise 2am attack, otherwise Australian casualties would have exceeded those of the ‘rebels’. We can all be assured that Timor-Leste will descend into chaos and violence as a result of the botched Australian attack. Australia has spent far too much time ‘fighting’ illegal wars with the Americans, who are well known as the worst ground troops on the planet. We could expect nothing less from a corrupted (by association) Oz force. Eleven l-o-n-g years of John Howard leading the nation may also have some bearing on the performance of the ADF.

Major Alfredo Reinado remains at large as chaos erupts in the capital, Dili. Fair warning of the consequences of such an attack was given by Reinado, but what would he know, he’s only the local rebel leader?

The Australian Foreign Minister, “cream puff” Downer, known for his remote control diplomacy in dangerous situations, has called on Reinado to surrender to occupying forces. A request any local would find difficult to accept -- Downer is well known in the South Pacific for making inane requests.

It’s been a bad week for the conservatives in Australia; the most dishonest Prime Minister the nation has had to endure attempted to gain the moral high ground against his opponent. Howard is the last person who should have taken this extremely ill-advised approach as various issues of aluminium tubing, illegal pre-emptive warfare, children overboard, complicity in corruption scandals may prove a heavier burden to carry than having lunch with a bent former Premier of WA. If nothing else, the week indicates that panic and desperation have clouded the usually clear duplicitous thinking of the Howard dog’s-hind-leg, government.

Failure in the South Pacific, Iraq and Afghanistan is the record that Howard and his front bench can take to their future trial for crimes against humanity, dereliction of duty and treason.

Australia’s bungled attack on Major Reinado has opened the door to Indonesian and Maoist intervention in the region – O, what tangled webs oil thieves weave!

"Tell the Aussie troops to stick surrender up their arse" he said. "There will be a civil war if anything happens to me."

Timor fighter tells
by skynews via rialator - Sky News Australia Sunday, Mar 11 2007, 10:07am

An East Timorese rebel fighter, loyal to military commander Alfredo Reinado, says three civilians were killed during the botched Australian-led hunt for the fugitive leader.

Nelson Galucho, a former military police officer, who deserted with Reinado last year, claims Australian troops shot and killed the civilians, along with rebel fighter Deolindo Barros.

Barros was killed when his house was stormed by international forces, during a hunt for Reinado.

The rebel leader, who deserted the army last year, has become a lightning rod for criticism of East Timor's government and has gained popularity since he became the target of the manhunt by Australian-led international troops.

He is charged with the murder of a soldier in a battle between rebel and loyalist troops outside the capital Dili in May last year.

Copyright Australian News Channel Pty Ltd

THE UN has been involved in secret talks with lawyers representing army fugitive Alfredo Reinado despite having agreed with the East Timor Government to stay out of any deal-making with the country's most wanted man.

According to a senior UN source in Dili, the head of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, met last week with the East Timor Lawyers Association president, Benivides Correia Barros, to discuss surrender terms for Reinado, who has been on the run for several weeks and is wanted over political violence last year.

Mr Barros, as a representative of the fugitive major, presented a memorandum written in perfect English seeking to negotiate surrender.

In exchange for a range of concessions, Reinado was willing to submit to justice, the UN source said. Another source confirmed the meeting.

The Australian understands Reinado's demands included provision of a house in the exclusive diplomatic suburb of Farol, round-the-clock security to be provided by New Zealand soldiers, military decorations commensurate with the rank of major and the dropping of an unspecified number of charges.

The Government is believed to have rejected the wish list and restated its demand that Reinado turn himself in and face justice before the court.

But the meeting with the UN is significant because it appears to be in breach of a pledge made last week to stay out of negotiations with Reinado following a presidential order for his arrest.

The UN had met Reinado during failed joint talks involving the Ramos Horta Government in December and January.

Reinado was surrounded by Australian troops and in the early hours of March 4 Australian special forces attempted to make an arrest.

Five armed Reinado supporters were shot dead during the operation and at least three others arrested. But Reinado and a small group of armed supporters managed to escape.

The Australian understands President Xanana Gusmao had requested Reinado should not be harmed during the operation.

As many East Timorese mourn the deaths, feelings in Dili are running high and expatriots fear the outpouring of grief by the family of slain rebel Deolindo Barros could create discontent across the country.

Reinado supporter Nelson Galucho said the rebel leader wanted to negotiate with Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta but feared he would be killed if he left his hideout.

Mr Galucho said the rebels would not attack international security forces but would respond if they came under fire.

© The Australian

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