TIMOR-LESTE -- INDONESIA ARRESTS THREE FOR ATTACK

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000795 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ID TT SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE -- INDONESIA ARRESTS THREE FOR ATTACK ON RAMOS-HORTA REF: JAKARTA 784 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Indonesian authorities arrested three fugitive Timor-Leste soldiers in connection with the February 11 attack on Timor-Leste President Ramos-Horta and PM Gusmao. Ramos-Horta also clarified his earlier comments and explained that he was not accusing the Indonesian Government of any involvement in the attack. He did, however, reportedly accuse Indonesia's MetroTV of assisting rebel leader Alfredo Reinado. END SUMMARY. THREE FUGITIVES ARRESTED ¶2. (SBU) President Yudhoyono announced late Friday, April 18, that the Indonesian National Police (INP) had arrested three fugitive members of the Timor-Leste military (FDTL) in connection with the February 11 attacks on President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Yudhoyono said Indonesian authorities had apprehended the three Timor-Leste citizens--Egidio Lay Carvalho, Jose Gomes and Ismail Moniz Soares--following a request by Timorese prosecutors. Indonesian officials are now reportedly waiting for a formal extradition request from Dili in order to transfer the men to Timor-Leste authorities. ¶3. (SBU) The three men were allegedly affiliated with FDTL rebel leader Alfredo Reinado. (Note: Ramos-Horta's bodyguards killed Reinado during the attack on the President.) The men now in Indonesian custody reportedly fled across the border into Indonesia sometime after the attack. CLARIFICATION OF EARLIER COMMENTS ¶4. (SBU) On Sunday, April 20, Ramos-Horta explained that he had not accused the Indonesian government of involvement in the attack. Instead, he had asserted that "individuals in Indonesia," who might be either Timorese or Indonesian citizens, were connected with the attack. Ramos-Horta criticized the media for misrepresenting his remarks. As reported by the press, Ramos-Horta's remarks provoked a strong reaction from Indonesian officials and parliamentarians last week (reftel). PRESS ANGLE? ¶5. (SBU) At some point--the media does not make this entirely clear--Ramos-Horta also charged that private Indonesian television station MetroTV had assisted Reinado in connection with a May 2007 interview. Ramos-Horta accused the station of paying for Reinado's travel to Jakarta and facilitating his entry into Indonesia with fraudulent travel documents. Desi Anwar, one of the MetroTV reporters accused of aiding Reinado in this manner, denied having helped Reinado enter Indonesia. Anwar told acting Information Officer she was bemused that anyone would think she had "Mata Hari-like capabilities." Also defending MetroTV, Presidential Spokesman Dino Djalal pointed out journalists were free to interview whom they chose and stated there was no evidence MetroTV had done anything illegal. HUME