Australians kill four in attack on rebels [East Timor]

The Australian ^ | March 04, 2007 | anon

[BlackVeil]

AUSTRALIAN troops have killed four East Timor rebels, but their leader Alfredo Reinado has escaped an attempt to capture him. President Xanana Gusmao today said Reinado remained a fugitive after escaping a raid on his camp in the East Timorese town of Same. Four people fighting with Reinado were killed by Australian troops, he said. No civilians were injured. The president said the operation to capture Reinado was continuing. A Defence spokesman in Canberra said no Australians had been killed or wounded. "The purpose of the operation was to apprehend Alfredo Reinado and his associates," he said. "We have not at this stage apprehended him but we will continue operations until he is apprehended." The spokesman said the International Security Force in East Timor had been augmented by additional Defence personnel from Australia in recent days, but would not disclose the nature of the personnel for operational and security reasons. There have been reports of a deployment of 100 SAS troops to the nation. The troops moved on Reinado earlier today after a tense stand-off at Same, about 50km south of Dili. Village chief Domingos da Silva reported tank and helicopter movements. He said he had also heard gunfire. The rebel leader has previously refused to surrender and vowed to fight to the death.

[BlackVeil]

The situation in East Timor is not stable, and there are going to be significant difficulties in the future. The East Timorese leaders were glamorous in exile, but, ironically, are much diminished now that they have power.

[buccaneer81]

I have no idea what you're talking about, but as long as Aussie forces are OK, I like it.

[BlackVeil]

I have no idea what you're talking about ...

The politics of the islands north of Australia are not well known at all! This seems obscure - a small newly formed nation split off from Indonesia in 1999. But there are quite significant regional forces involved.

but as long as Aussie forces are OK, I like it.

I trust they are safe. Chasing guerillas through the hills of East Timor is a fool's game. Ironically, Australian troops themselves were out there during WW2, and the Japanese could never pin them down.

[Brad from Tennessee]

When I was a lot younger I had a friend who was an Army World War II veteran of the Pacific campaigns. I used to get him to tell me war stories. On one of the islands he was on they captured a Japanese soldier who spoke English. My friend asked him who the Japanese feared most, the Army or the Marines. He said the soldier told him: "Neither. The only white people we fear are the Australians."

[FLOutdoorsman]

Reinado and his crew are all former military trained by the Aussies. They actually get along with the guys, however ET has asked Aust. to arrest them.

Reinado wants to change the Gov't because, well they are corrupt.

There is mounting unrest in Dilli and other portions of the land. You basically have the Eastern portion of the area that is the political party [Fretilin] who has the power. They are ALL of Portugese descent and speak and write Portuguese, which is the langage of the laws.

And you have pretty much the Western areas which speak Tetun, the native language.

There is high unemployment and the sense of distrust toward the political elite(Fretilin) and the like. And throw in the Chinese, who are buying up the area and resources and you have a nice problem waiting to happen.

[Jacob Kell]

What rebels are they referring to?

[BlackVeil]

And throw in the Chinese, who are buying up the area and resources and you have a nice problem waiting to happen.

I fully agree.

[Fred Nerks]

thanks for the ping. East Timor reminds me of Israel. A tiny nation desperately trying to survive surrounded by islam.