[Kabar-indonesia] E Timor's Lobato Under House Arrest [incl: UN mission extended]

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

also: Australian Federal Police officers to leave East Timor

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(with AFP)
June 21, 2006

E Timor's Lobato Under House Arrest [incl: UN mission extended]

By Anne Barker in Dili and wires

East Timor's former interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, is under house arrest 
over allegations he illegally armed a civilian militia group.

Prosecutors in East Timor have issued an arrest warrant accusing Lobato of 
giving weapons to civilians. 

The allegations against him and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri come from former 
anti-Indonesian guerilla leader Vincente da Conceicao.

Mr Conceicao, who heads a group of 30 men, says he received weapons. 

The group has also alleged it was ordered to warn off or kill opponents of Dr 
Alkatiri.

Defence Minister Dr Jose Ramos Horta, who met Mr Conceicao on Monday, says 
the situation is "serious and delicate". 

"I find it hard to believe it is true, but this group seems credible," Dr 
Ramos Horta said. 

In his first written statement on the issue, Dr Alkatiri has denied the 
allegations and refused to step aside while investigations proceed. 

"I never gave the order to kill anyone whomsoever," Dr Alkatiri told the 
Portuguese radio station RTP. 

"My conscience is clear."

Dr Alkatiri says he is ready to work with a committee of inquiry set up under 
the aegis of the United Nations (UN) to uncover the causes of the recent 
violence in 
East Timor. 

UN mission extended

The UN Security Council has extended the mandate for its mission in East 
Timor, UNOTIL, until August 20, "with a view to planning for the role of the 
United Nations following the expiration of the mandate of UNOTIL".

UN secretary-general Kofi Annan last week said "a larger police and military 
mission" would have to be sent to East Timor and said its deployment would 
first require the dispatch of an assessment team.

The Security Council has also expressed full support for Australian-led 
peacekeepers trying to end the ethnic violence in the country. 

In a unanimous vote, the 15-member council has expressed "deep concern" over 
the volatile security situation and called on rival Timorese parties "to 
refrain from violence and to participate in the democratic process". 

It welcomes UN secretary-general Kofi Annan's call on UN human rights chief 
Louise Arbour to help set up an independent inquiry commission to probe the 
violence.

Council members have also urged donors "to respond urgently and positively" 
to a UN appeal for humanitarian aid to East Timor. 

Chaos

East Timor was plunged into chaos after Dr Alkatiri in March sacked 600 
soldiers following their desertion amid claims of discrimination. 

Fighting between rival and loyalist soldiers as well as between soldiers and 
police 
left at least 21 dead and led to a total breakdown of law and order, with 
gangs rampaging in Dili. 

Mr Lobato, along with the defence minister, was effectively sacked on May 30 
when President Xanana Gusmao announced he was taking over their portfolios. 

At the time Mr Lobato, who had responsibility for the police, said that he 
accepted responsibility for rifts in the security forces which had sparked 
the 
unrest. 

Some 2,200 combat-ready foreign peacekeepers led by Australia are now 
patrolling Dili, where the police force has ceased to operate. 

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ABC
June 20, 2006

AFP officers to leave East Timor

The federal Justice Minister says the Australian Federal Police (AFP) will 
start to withdraw its officers from East Timor, as reinforcements begin to 
arrive this week. 

There are currently 200 AFP officers working to restore law and order in the 
troubled nation.

Chris Ellison says about 80 state and territory police will arrive in East 
Timor by the end of the week. 

He says they will be joined by around 250 police from Malaysia and 50 from 
New Zealand by the end of the month.

"We will then draw down some of our AFP in view of that," he said. 

"We have put in 200 initially, the state and territory police are committing 
further police, that will then offer some relief to the AFP."

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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