[Kabar-indonesia] Alkatiri flies out after grilling on hit squads

[Joyo at aol.com]

Sydney Morning Herald
November 9, 2006

Alkatiri flies out after grilling on hit squads

By Lindsay Murdoch

EAST TIMOR's deposed prime minister Mari Alkatiri has flown
out of the capital, Dili, for Portugal a day after he was
questioned by prosecutors over allegations he set up a hit
squad to assassinate political opponents.

Mr Alkatiri, who holds the powerful position of secretary-
general of the ruling Fretilin party, is travelling to
Portugal for medical treatment, according to a statement
released yesterday by the Prime Minister, Jose Ramos-Horta.

Mr Ramos-Horta said East Timor's Office of the Prosecutor-
General had approved the travel. Prosecutors had questioned
Mr Alkatiri for two hours about the allegations on Tuesday
before he told reporters that he had "never ran away from
questions" and that if needed to answer more questions "I
will come again."

A United Nations inquiry into violence that erupted in Dili
in April and May recommended further investigation to
establish whether Mr Alkatiri "bears any criminal
responsibility with respect to weapons offences". Mr
Alkatiri denies the allegations.

Australian soldiers have been guarding Mr Alkatiri since the
allegations forced his resignation in June.

Mr Ramos-Horta, with the president of parliament, Francisco
Guterres, and members of Fretilin, farewelled Mr Alkatiri at
Dili airport yesterday.

Mr Alkatiri played a key role in preparing a statement by 80
Fretilin central committee members declaring East Timor's
leaders must reunite to defeat a "well-planned conspiracy"
aimed at making the country ungovernable.

The statement warned of the prospect of widespread violence
and called on all East Timorese to avoid being led by
destabilising groups or reacting to provocation.

Mr Ramos-Horta, the former foreign minister, threatened to
quit the Government at the height of a political crisis in
June unless Mr Alkatiri resigned as prime minister. He said
yesterday that he hoped Mr Alkatiri returned to Dili
"quickly as I value his presence and counsel".

"He is a very experienced man with much to contribute to our
country," Mr Ramos-Horta said.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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