Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA795
2008-04-21 09:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

TIMOR-LESTE -- INDONESIA ARRESTS THREE FOR ATTACK

Tags:  PREL PGOV ID TT 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHJA #0795 1120949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210949Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8769
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2372
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY 0952
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 2987
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1857
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2566
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2616
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 0728
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
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

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